“Being involved and giving back to our local communities is at the core of being a State Farm Agent Good Neighbor” said Chris McCafferty, State Farm Agent-Deerfield Beach. “The looks on Maddie’s brothers and sisters faces when they saw their new room for the first time is what makes all the hard work this weekend worth it.”

In addition to the new bedroom for Maddie, 33 State Farm agents joined forces with the Marty Lyons Foundation, to donate $4100 to send the family of 11 to Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. The participating agents requested their donation to be matched by the State Farm Matching Gift program, which matches charitable monetary contributions made by State Farm associates 100%, up to $4,500 per associate.

Watch more of the story here.

“I met Katie when she came over to meet my roommate’s pup, Cole. We hit it off right away and I asked her to the movies.”

The relationship blossomed - and in 2011 the pair wed.

“Marrying Katie was a packaged deal. I got a wonderful wife and her Labrador border collie mix, Riley,” smiled Stephen. "I became an instant dog dad.”

Life marched on. Stephen worked as a contractor. Katie, an accountant. “Great with numbers, wise with money - that’s Katie.” So it didn’t surprise Stephen when Katie arranged a meeting for the couple to discuss their financial goals with State Farm® agent Rose Goheen.

“I knew Katie before she met Stephen, because I helped write her homeowners insurance,” said Rose. “She was analytical, logical, and practical. She wanted to ensure they had a strong financial foundation.”

During the meeting, they discussed life insurance. That didn’t sit well with Stephen. “I thought the whole thing was a waste of time and money,” he said. "I told Katie, ‘We’re young! We’re healthy. We don’t need this.’”

Katie won the debate. They took out two term policies. Life marched on.

In 2014, the Millers celebrated the birth of their first child, a son named Chase. Shortly after, they met Rose for another financial review.

“Stephen and Katie did it right. Life insurance matters. It is important to look at policies to determine a comfortable figure for your budget and changing circumstances,” said Rose.

Three years later, the Millers welcomed their second child, Reid. “It was an exciting, busy time,” said Stephen. “But we had health concerns about Katie.”

A few months after giving birth to Reid, doctors found a tumor near Katie’s stomach. Following surgery and testing, it was determined to be Ewing’s Sarcoma. The rare cancer, which occurs in and around the bones had metastasized to other parts of Katie’s body.

“The word cancer…it’s numbing,” said Stephen. “But Katie never lost her light.”

With the help and support of family, friends and her medical team, Katie fought the disease hard. But the cancer continued to spread. On July 28, 2018, Katie passed away at the age of 30.

Her final request was to remember the good times, remember her.

“We continue to do that every day,” said Stephen. “I started a nonprofit called ‘Katie’s Crew.’ Its purpose is to raise awareness and support for cancer research. We will win this fight.”

Stephen says Katie’s legacy is all around him. And, her forward thinking, to ensure they had life insurance means the family is secure and protected.

“Chase, Reid, Riley and I can stay in our house. I’m so grateful for that sense of the familiar during this unbelievably hard time,” said Stephen. “Because Katie thought ahead, Chase and Reid can go to college. Their education is taken care of. We also have the financing to take vacations, and do fun activities. I know Katie would want that. Because of life insurance coverage, our boys are protected. My wife was right all along.”

And, as life continues to march on, Stephen says the joy Katie brought to the world continues to be recognized and celebrated by those near and far.

“She taught us so much. Taught us how to appreciate the small things, laugh whenever possible and love always,” said Stephen. "Her legacy will never be forgotten.”

“So you’re telling me, what we did…turned into a thing?” asked Cheryl Pisko.

Doing good is a powerful thing.

Pisko, is among a group of workers whose decision to volunteer served as the inspiration for a State Farm commercial. "On the Board" depicts a friendly competition between two employees. They do activities ranging from neighborhood cleanups, to wildlife conservation, charity fun runs, and supporting the fight against cancer. While the employees are portrayed by actors, the acts of good are real performed, by people like Pisko.

“Typically, I fly under the radar! But when I learned about an opportunity to record my actions and share those stories, I jumped in. It’s energizing.”

Leading up to the State Farm 100^th Anniversary in 2022, employees and agents are performing acts of good in the communities where they live and work. As part of the process, they share their experiences through an online portal.

“Giving back is something many of us have been doing for a long time, we just haven’t always talked about it,” said Pisko. “This is a way to do that, and support coworkers in the process. But I never knew my submissions would receive national attention!”

Small acts can have a big impact.

Like Pisko, Customer Care Rep Shawna Meiners couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the commercial.

“I had to watch it a second time so everything could sink in! How cool to be part of something so special.”

From donations to fundraisers – Meiners says a little bit, goes a long way.

“Growing up, I was one of the people who needed help – and didn’t always get it. Now that I’m established, it’s my prerogative to give back. That’s why I give an extra dollar, stop to help someone cross the street, or donate clothes. What might be small to you, means the world to someone else. I know it. I lived it.”

Being a good neighbor feels good.

As they re-watched the national commercial, the acts of good triggered memories.

“The charity run for Parkinson’s!”

“I save turtles!”

“I support cancer research!”

But what stood out most to employees wasn’t one action. It was the underlying message.

“This isn’t about where we work or where we’re from. At the heart of it all is humanity,” said Pisko. “Acts of good create a generous spirit. And that spirit grows and multiplies and changes lives when we make a decision to help.”

“Anyone can make a difference,” added Meiners. "And maybe, just maybe, this commercial is what people need to put that lesson into practice."

It’s estimated that more than 250,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year. And it’s rare to find someone who hasn’t been affected by this disease in some way.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was established to increase awareness of the disease and to encourage women to be proactive about their health.

After 112 days, 18 states and approximately 6,300 miles of bike riding, Eric McIntyre has finally ended the Pancreatic Cancer Victory Tour right where he started, in the comforts of New Orleans. “The best part of being home is being with Liz, eating her cooking, sleeping in my own bed and being with my cat and dog again.” Eric goes on to say that normal life stuff is “absolutely fabulous.”

The second half of Eric’s ride was a real challenge on him physically. Once he left Oregon and hit Southeast Washington, it was excruciatingly hot and dry with temps reaching as high as 120 degrees. “I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. I was in strictly survival mode during those three days of riding in the heat,” Eric recalls. But once out of the heat, Eric had eight rides where he clocked over 100 miles in a day, with his longest ride being 114 miles. Not too bad for a 58 year old grandfather.

High temperatures were just one obstacle he had to overcome during that last half; another were the road conditions. The last seven states that he rode through did not allow cyclists on the interstate, so rural highways and back roads were his only options. When we say back roads, we are talking about, in some cases, dirt and gravel farm roads that made riding quite difficult.

With high heat and poor riding conditions, Eric never once thought about quitting. At times he was concerned that his body might give out, but never once did he think about giving up. “There were too many reasons to keep riding. Several days I rode in honor and remembrance of people who had lost their battle [with Pancreatic Cancer], and that was too much motivation to think about quitting.” Eric was amazed by the strength he got from doing something he truly felt ordained to do. His purpose was far more important than quitting.

Eric’s ride didn’t only touch people across the country, but to date has also raised around $40,000 for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation and cancer research. “I’m not done. The ride might be over for now, but I am not done.” Eric explains that the relationships and awareness that the Pancreatic Cancer Victory Tour built are amazing and he plans to keep the momentum going.

When asked, “What’s next?” Eric responds with, “Liz is my largest priority. Being here for her is first and foremost.” They will continue to be there for others and stay open to opportunities to be of service to those fighting cancer. This tour opened the doors to many options and Eric and Liz will work to cultivate relationships so that others will be helped.

Eric is still recovering from the tour and reflects on the abundance of gifts he received along the way. Not just the gift of donations in many forms, but on the support, kindness and reaction of others. The Pancreatic Victory Tour was not a memorial, but a fight and celebration. It was a celebration of those who have fought or are fighting for their lives.

Eric started this tour wanting to change the trajectory of pancreatic cancer by bringing awareness and raising funds for research. He got much more than that. He also gave much more than that. The story of Liz and Eric McIntyre changed the lives of those that crossed their path and for that, many are very grateful.

Just ask Ryan “Shipwreck” Shupe. He has been at Camp Journey, a special camp in Idaho tailored to the needs of pediatric cancer patients, for 11 years – one of those years as a camper himself.

At the age of 10, Ryan was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. While that can be difficult to deal with as kid, Ryan found some relief when was introduced to Camp Journey. “Camp helped remove those barriers I faced between being a kid with a disease and just being a kid,” he said.

A camp counselor for the past decade, Ryan watches on as 6 year-old Micah Woertink and his friends climb rope courses, swim and enjoy group activities with other kids their age going through the same thing.

This is a much welcome change from the hospital environment Micah is used to, says his mother Grace. “It’s definitely a reward for all of the junk he’s been through,” she said. “He’s so excited to be here and already can’t wait until next year.”

A community of hope, a safe environment

Camp Journey provides a community of hope where children diagnosed with cancer, both on and off treatment, can leave their worries behind. For one week they can enjoy a fun-filled outdoor camp experience tailored to their needs. What makes the camp unique is its entire medical team of pediatric oncology nurses and doctors who are on site at all times to take care of any medical needs. The kids can fully experience the outdoors in a safe environment.

“For us to be able to see that child in a happy setting as well as in our professional setting completes the picture for us of why we love to take care of these kids,” explains Ruth “Rowdy” Seignemartin, R.N ., Director of Nursing at Camp Journey.

The other thing Camp Journey provides is opportunity. Cancer is an expensive disease. Families are often hard-pressed to pay for an experience like that at Camp Journey.

“Coming up with money to send your child to camp is probably something most parents couldn’t do,” says Kari “Kool” Allen, Camp Journey Camp Director, “so we find the funding elsewhere so parents don’t have to worry about it.” The camp runs on 70-80 volunteers like Ryan, and funding from grant programs like State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist.

This year State Farm awarded Camp Journey $25,000 to help give kids the opportunity to spend a week in the outdoors, participating in typical camp activities while making friends who understand and share their situation.

During their time at camp, these kids develop independence and confidence, learn new skills and make memories to last a lifetime. As Kari says, “Until there’s a cure, there’s camp!” Learn more about Camp Journey and how you can help at the camp’s website.