This season we are tapping into the idea that people tend to live life based on our own assumptions – but sometimes, they're wrong.

“State Farm is debuting its new NBA ad campaign during the NBA’s popular Christmas Day games,” said Alyson Griffin, Head of Marketing for State Farm. “Not only will fans hear about how State Farm has surprisingly great rates that fit any budget from Jake and Chris Paul, but they’ll also see some of our new friends, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young and Dallas Mavericks center Boban Marjanović.”

State Farm will own NBA Christmas Day across all ESPN platforms as the brand will have full ownership of ESPN.com/NBA and SportsCenter on Snapchat for 24 hours. State Farm will also serve as the presenting sponsor of ESPN’s NBA Hoop Streams Digital Live Show, which will air on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and the ESPN App.

State Farm and Trupanion are offering pet owners the gift of pet safety this season with simple tips to keep your furry family happy and healthy.

Oh, Christmas Tree: If you celebrate with a live Christmas tree, make sure it is secure so it doesn’t fall. Keep tree water clean and fresh but don’t add aspirin, sugar, or other additives to the tree water. If you prefer an artificial tree, don’t let your pets chew on the branches or on any ribbons or tinsel.

Candle Cat-astrophe: Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the room, blow candles out!

Poisonous Pretty Plants: Mistletoe and holly can be mildly toxic to pets when ingested. Poinsettias can cause mouth irritation if chewed on. Lilies can cause life-threatening kidney failure in cats. If you have holiday plants, consider placing them in rooms or locations where your pets don’t have access.

Wired Up: Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach.

Leave the Leftovers and Skip the Sweets: Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans. Bones, fatty and spicy human foods, and chocolate should not be fed to animals.

No Cocktails for Kitties or Canines: If your holiday celebration includes adult beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them.

A Place for Peace and Quiet: With all of the holiday activity, guests, and parties, it isn’t just people that get stressed out. Give your pet his or her own quiet space to retreat to away from all of the activity. If your pet is excitable or scared, consider putting your pet in another room with some toys and a comfortable bed.

You want to enjoy everything the holiday season has to offer with your furry friends but the unexpected can happen. If your pet does become sick or injured, you want to get your furry family member the medical care they need. Consider how pet medical insurance can be there for your pet when they need it most.

Fast Facts

• According to data from Trupanion, there is an increase of 294% in veterinary emergencies because of pets eating chocolate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
• Ingestion of foreign material (ribbons, tinsel, wrapping, and more) is 10% higher than the daily average on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
• Burns to pets are 64% higher than daily average on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Are you sitting down?

If that’s how a conversation starts, it doesn’t usually end well. But in Shauntona Wagner’s case, it ended with four pounds, eight ounces of tenacity named Benjamin.

Shauntona, a Texas-based State Farm employee, was working from home in mid-October when she got a call from her son-in-law’s mother with some shocking news.

Her oldest daughter and son-in-law were arrested. Her daughter was transferred from jail to a hospital where she had, and then left, a baby.

No one knew the couple was expecting. The couple both suffer from drug addiction and Shauntona hadn’t heard from them in years.

Shauntona’s 6-year-old, autistic, non-verbal grandson was being raised by the other grandma, who had recently lost her husband. She told Shauntona she could not take on another child.

“I knew right then and there we had to take the baby. But we thought about it for a couple of days as a family then reached out to the social worker,” Shauntona said. “Born premature, and drug exposed, he experienced withdrawals, which are especially painful for newborns."

“The very first day we spent with Benjamin he improved drastically. He got back to birth weight and never needed oxygen,” Shauntona continued. “We were expecting him to stay another week in the hospital after we started spending time with him, but he was released two days later.”

The Wagners brought their new grandbaby home just before Halloween; after two weeks in the NICU. Their youngest child was 18 so they no longer had any of the necessary baby items. They quickly bought diapers, a few onesies and a pack ‘n’ play.

Thankfully their State Farm family came to the rescue. From coast to coast, colleagues past and present were busy online shopping for the rest of the baby essentials.

“It was a complete surprise! Not just current teammates, but people I hadn’t worked with in years gave gifts,” Shauntona shared. “We were so touched by their kindness, we took four Giving Tree wish lists to keep paying it forward.”

Shauntona is also eternally grateful for Benjamin’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and the Warren Center, which serves children and families impacted by developmental delays and disabilities. The Wagners hope to adopt Ben legally when he turns 1. Until then, he has a volunteer CASA advocating for his needs, the specialists at the Warren Center and his grandparents.

State Farm employees are among the nearly 100,000 CASA volunteers in the U.S. One is Patti McKendry, also of the Dallas area.

“We meet with the child, the schools and hospitals, and provide guidance to the courts and judges on the best plan for the child,” Patti said. “Given what we learn and experience, it can be quite emotional at times but it is so rewarding to be that one person who is solely concerned and focused on that child.”

Patti says the training is around 30 hours, but it’s a manageable commitment. She has shared her CASA story with others inside and outside of State Farm and looks to inspire others to become CASAs. Patti and Shauntona hope others will be motivated so more children can benefit from CASA services.

“We've settled into our sleepless, yet beautiful routine with our little guy,” Shauntona shared. “And he’s thriving! He's grown from 4.5 pounds to 7 pounds in three weeks.”

Sometimes, it really does take a village.

2020 has been a record high for adoptions. It’s also been a record low for surrendered and abandoned dogs. All in all, a bang up year for man’s best friend.

Demand was so high for dog and cat companionship, many shelters at one point had waiting lists! But it wasn't alwasy so.

To Me, You Are Perfect

A white and tan pit bull, Dash was one of the longest residents of the Maricopa County Shelter in Arizona. Older pit bulls are often shelter veterans, as many adopters are looking for small dogs and puppies.

Molly Romine, a State Farm® HR employee and shelter volunteer, knew Dash would be a great addition to someone’s home. Molly and other volunteers organized the 12 Dogs of Christmas adoption push which included Dash in Dec. 2018.

The shelter’s 12 longest-term residents were all pit bulls ranging in age from two to 10. The team spruced up their kennels with eye-catching decor, gave the pups holiday make-overs, and shared social media posts to gain attention. The shelter also offered stockings full of donated leashes, collars, and free training sessions.

“I worked a couple of hours a night to get these dogs a home for the holidays,” shared Molly. “It was a lot of hard work but it was worth it to see Dash and all the other dogs adopted just before New Year’s Eve!”

Helping local shelters during Covid

Volunteering has been difficult during Covid due to social distancing and other safety measures. But there are other ways to give back. Owner surrendered and abandoned pet numbers are starting to creep back up. There are plenty of pets available for adoption at your local shelter.

“If you’re not sure adoption is for you, consider fostering! It’s a short term commitment with long term impacts,” Molly recommended. “If you foster a pet, you are giving that animal a much needed respite from the stressful shelter environment. You can also provide the shelter with helpful intel. Maybe the dog is great with kids but scared of car rides. This can really help match the pup with the right family.”

Is your home feeling a bit empty due to covid? Reach out to your local shelter to see if you can fill it with dogs or cats for a long “howliday” weekend of fostering and cuddles.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

After this year, we can all use a silver lining. Odds are you, or someone you know, have adopted a new pet this year.

2020 has been a record high for adoptions. It’s also been a record low for surrendered and abandoned dogs. All in all, a bang up year for man’s best friend.

Demand was so high for dog and cat companionship, many shelters at one point had waiting lists! But it wasn't alwasy so.

To Me, You Are Perfect

A white and tan pit bull, Dash was one of the longest residents of the Maricopa County Shelter in Arizona. Older pit bulls are often shelter veterans, as many adopters are looking for small dogs and puppies.

Molly Romine, a State Farm® HR employee and shelter volunteer, knew Dash would be a great addition to someone’s home. Molly and other volunteers organized the 12 Dogs of Christmas adoption push which included Dash in Dec. 2018.

The shelter’s 12 longest-term residents were all pit bulls ranging in age from two to 10. The team spruced up their kennels with eye-catching decor, gave the pups holiday make-overs, and shared social media posts to gain attention. The shelter also offered stockings full of donated leashes, collars, and free training sessions.

“I worked a couple of hours a night to get these dogs a home for the holidays,” shared Molly. “It was a lot of hard work but it was worth it to see Dash and all the other dogs adopted just before New Year’s Eve!”

Helping local shelters during Covid

Volunteering has been difficult during Covid due to social distancing and other safety measures. But there are other ways to give back. Owner surrendered and abandoned pet numbers are starting to creep back up. There are plenty of pets available for adoption at your local shelter.

“If you’re not sure adoption is for you, consider fostering! It’s a short term commitment with long term impacts,” Molly recommended. “If you foster a pet, you are giving that animal a much needed respite from the stressful shelter environment. You can also provide the shelter with helpful intel. Maybe the dog is great with kids but scared of car rides. This can really help match the pup with the right family.”

Is your home feeling a bit empty due to covid? Reach out to your local shelter to see if you can fill it with dogs or cats for a long “howliday” weekend of fostering and cuddles.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

After being displaced by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and having a lousy holiday, 3-year-old Bridges and his mother, Christie, were due for a positive experience.

And this Christmas had all the signs of being a good one.

Christie had saved and bought Bridges new toys and clothes. She was excited to surprise him on Christmas morning. As part of the holiday spirit, she encouraged him to gather up toys he had outgrown to give to charity.

New and old, everything was locked in Christie’s car overnight to keep Bridges’ curiosity at bay.

Then the unimaginable happened.

Thieves broke into Christie’s car and took everything as part of a burglary spree in her neighborhood. Christie was distraught and heartbroken.

She had renter’s insurance and called State Farm Claims. The record of her call showed up in Agent Lad Drago’s office in Spanish Fort, Ala.

Agent Team Members Rebecca Grizzle and Cat Holladay saw the claim first that morning.

“It immediately pulled at our heart strings,” Cat says. “Because her deductible exceeded the value of the items stolen, we couldn’t help from an insurance standpoint, but we still wanted to do something.”

With Lad’s permission, Cat and Rebecca pooled their money and asked other agent team members if they wanted to donate. The pair went shopping over their lunch hour and that evening, wrapped the gifts at home that night and brought them back to the office the next morning.

The next day, Rebecca called and told her they had a few questions about the break-in and asked her to stop by the office.

“She came to the office that morning and brought Bridges with her,” Cat says. “We sat her down, and Lad told her all the gifts under the tree were for Bridges. She broke down crying right there in the chair. She kept saying over and over about how no one had ever done anything like that for her.”

“It made my holiday season that we could do this for her,” Rebecca says. “Her face was so full of gratitude.”

“I know I have a great team,” Lad says. “But it was a reminder of how much they care about customers and people in general.”

And this Christmas had all the signs of being a good one.

Christie had saved and bought Bridges new toys and clothes. She was excited to surprise him on Christmas morning. As part of the holiday spirit, she encouraged him to gather up toys he had outgrown to give to charity.

New and old, everything was locked in Christie’s car overnight to keep Bridges’ curiosity at bay.

Then the unimaginable happened.

Thieves broke into Christie’s car and took everything as part of a burglary spree in her neighborhood. Christie was distraught and heartbroken.

She had renter’s insurance and called State Farm Claims. The record of her call showed up in Agent Lad Drago’s office in Spanish Fort, Ala.

Agent Team Members Rebecca Grizzle and Cat Holladay saw the claim first that morning.

“It immediately pulled at our heart strings,” Cat says. “Because her deductible exceeded the value of the items stolen, we couldn’t help from an insurance standpoint, but we still wanted to do something.”

With Lad’s permission, Cat and Rebecca pooled their money and asked other agent team members if they wanted to donate. The pair went shopping over their lunch hour and that evening, wrapped the gifts at home that night and brought them back to the office the next morning.

The next day, Rebecca called Christie and invited her and Bridges to stop by the office.

“She came to the office that morning and brought Bridges with her,” Cat says. “We sat her down, and Lad told her all the gifts under the tree were for Bridges. She broke down crying right there in the chair. She kept saying over and over about how no one had ever done anything like that for her.”

“It made my holiday season that we could do this for her,” Rebecca says. “Her face was so full of gratitude.”

“I know I have a great team,” Lad says. “But it was a reminder of how much they care about customers and people in general.”

Join the conversation on Yammer!

We are fortunate to live in a world where various cultures and populations celebrate diverse holidays and recognize different observances. Learning about the traditions of others helps us better connect. In this video, State Farm^® employees talk about what’s important to them this time of year. Visit the Holiday Highlights site to learn about celebrations taking place in the last quarter of the year.

“Christmas. Christmas is my favorite holiday,” said Conely. “It’s filled with hope.”

Conely, a social service daycare provider, knows what Christmas and the winter holiday season, means through the eyes of a child. By day she looks after children ranging in age from babies to Pre-K. By night, she raises three kids of her own.

“It keeps me busy,” smiled Conely rocking a baby in her arms, coaxing it to sleep. “I’ve worked in daycare since 2008. I love children. Their imagination, their innocence, their humor…and just like Christmas trees, they really light up this time of year.”

But Conely knows, the holidays aren’t always a happy time for children and families.

Tight budgets, hectic work schedules and bills to pay can make the season of giving anything but jolly.

“I found myself in a tough spot last year,” she explained. “I couldn’t afford to buy my children anything extra. I was working so hard, but could not get ahead financially to buy gifts.”

But hope found Conely during the holidays. It came in the form of an evergreen, from the hands of strangers she’d never met.

“It’s called the Giving Tree,” Conely smiled. “It brought light into my family’s life.”

The Giving Tree is a State Farm holiday tradition. The program sprouted in the fall of 1992 – as a means to fulfill the gift wishes of families in need. Since its inception, the spirit of giving has blossomed and grown.

Each November, evergreen trees adorned with paper ornaments pop up at State Farm facilities. The ornaments contain wish lists from children, families or senior citizens who might otherwise receive no gifts during the holidays. State Farm employees pluck an ornament or two from the trees and go shopping.

Some ornaments contain practical requests like soap, shampoo and socks. Others ask for warmth and comfort – in the form of mittens, hats, blankets and stuffed animals. Either way, employees make sure the items they purchase are suited for the special families they’ve never met.

“Last year, my youngest son, JaKaleib received a teddy bear,” said Conely.    “But it wasn’t an ordinary bear. This one sang the ABC’s. JaKaleib loved it. He also received a play table and chair.”

In 2016, State Farm employees granted nearly 1,700 gift wishes for Bloomington, Illinois families. Many also volunteered to pack and prepare the presents for delivery.

“It’s like having the magic of Santa and the North Pole here in town,” said Conely. “This kindness has meant so much to me and my children. After experiencing the good will of others, now my 13 and 10-year-old are inspired to give back. I tell them, ‘You have the power to make a difference. We all do.’”

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the Giving Tree. A program that started from an evergreen tree, paper ornaments and a choice: to listen and help. But Conely says it’s not about the packages one receives, nor who the gift giver is that matters…

“The beauty is knowing there are people out there who love and care about others – no matter who they are, or where they come from. That kind of gift lasts long after the holidays are over.”

To help your community this holiday season, check out NeighborhoodofGood.com^®. 

Until then, life ran smoothly for the Phillips family. Their children excelled in school. They were healthy. There was no shortage of food, warmth and love under their roof.

"Then one day, everything changed," said Phillips.

With their two income household now down to one, the family finances began to dwindle. "Mark began rehabilitation therapy - and we have five children to raise," said Phillips. "I did everything I could to keep this household running. I rationed, cut coupons, shopped at thrift stores. Failure was not an option."

But fatigue was.

Frustration, exhaustion, and feelings of hopelessness swept over the Phillips family. They wanted their world to be normal. They wanted their children to thrive. As their worries deepened...a different surprise came along...“This time it was a good surprise,” smiled Stephanie. “We met the Promise Council.”

The Promise Council is a network of caring adults who assist children and families in central Illinois schools. Volunteers donate their time, talents and resources to ensure families have basic essentials like food, clothing and shelter.

“The Promise Council is positioned to meet the unique needs of students,” said volunteer Garry Hendricks. “If a child needs a    winter coat and hat, the Promise Council provides it. If they need a mattress to sleep on, we’ll get one to the family. If there’s a shortage of food for the weekend, – we’ll send them home with a backpack of healthy items.”

“There are so many needs in front of us – it’s eye opening,” added Promise Council volunteer Reg Washington. “We help with clothing, hotel vouchers, transportation – we even purchased a small refrigerator for a family after learning they’d been filling a sink with ice to keep milk cold for their children. At the time, that’s the only solution they had.”

Both Washington and Hendricks have been Promise Council volunteers for nearly a decade. By day they work at State Farm^®. By night they join forces with caring adults across their central Illinois community to help students and families thrive. “Parents and children should not have to face this kind of worry,” said Hendricks. “The Promise Council assists so parents can focus on getting ahead and students can focus on learning.”

A light at the end of the tunnel

As for the Phillips family, the Promise Council gave Stephanie and Mark gas cards to fill up their van. Their children also received food, clothing, classroom supplies and after-school mentoring.

“The generosity helped us immensely,” said Stephanie. “With the gas cards, we could get to doctor appointments, run errands and I could go to work. The clothing and food also eased our strained budget. We started to breathe easier.”

As the weeks went by, Mark began to heal. The kids made honor roll.

As for Stephanie?

“I became a recess supervisor at the school,” she smiled. “It was my second job, and a way to support the place that gave us so much.”

Today, the Phillips family has made it their mission to give back to the Promise Council. They donate food, clothing and are involved in school activities.

“We want to pay it forward to the Promise Council so it can continue lifting families up,” said Stephanie. “Mark and I tell our kids, no matter what obstacles you face…never give up.”

For this family, the spirit of giving is a lifelong promise.

“And we plan to keep that promise,” said Stephanie.

Residents of Murphy, Texas log onto Facebook for the same reasons as millions of others across the country – for entertainment, gossip, conversation and to share news big and small.

But what makes one group of women in this Dallas suburb stand out is they’ve also tapped the power of social media to help their real-world neighbors. From helping families in need to sock drives for the homeless, they have made a major impact in the lives of hundreds of deserving people.

Coining themselves the Moms of Murphy (MoMs), the secret Facebook group was started in August 2012 by Hedy Berg as a hyper local buy/sell site. A short while later, Hedy connected with a fellow photographer, Sarah Toth who became the second admin for the page.

With Sarah taking on a leadership role, the focus of the group shifted as well. In addition to its buy/sell origins, the group began to focus on networking and philanthropy.

“It’s not all about selling baby clothes anymore. People are so eager to be a part of the group now. We had to limit membership to Murphy residents only,” shared Sarah.

All through online organizing, Moms of Murphy have held several drives and craft fairs to help those less fortune. Recently they held a sock drive.

“We learned the most needed but least donated item in shelters were socks. So we pulled together and donated more than 2500 pairs of socks to area shelters,” said Sarah.

In 2013, Sarah had an idea to take their positive impact via social media even further.

“We have a community that is very giving and has the ability to do so,” Sarah said. “So, let’s give someone a great Christmas; let’s bless a family.”

Since the initial idea, every holiday season, the MoMs “Bless a Family” with a connection to Murphy. The first year, they helped two families who were in dire need of help.

One Garland, TX family was led by a grandma raising her deceased daughter’s three children. The MoMs gave them a memorable Christmas and even paid for daycare for the two younger children for five months.

All through networking and organizing via the Facebook group, the MoMs were able to turn the family’s water back on and fill their house with much needed furniture, groceries and Christmas presents.

In 2014, the MoMs selected the Mullen family. The parents of three children both had stage four cancer. The MoMs went above and beyond for the Mullen family by paying several months of their mortgage, donating and buying children’s furniture and clothes, and cleaning out and re-organized the garage and pantry, ultimately stocking both with groceries.

“It all came from the MOMs and our connections. Sadly, Dwayne Mullen, lost his battle with cancer in March 2015. We still help out the family with meals and other things as needed,” shared Sarah.

Throughout the year they adopt “mini-bless a families.” Recently the home of a family member of a MoM was hit by a tornado and another local family had a house fire. The MoMs stepped up to help.

What the MoMs are doing has grabbed national news attention., but they are humble and continue with their good works.

This year, through a new application process, the MoMs picked a family from neighboring city Sachse with ties to Murphy to bless this holiday season. Mom Kristina has breast cancer and the financial and caretaking impacts of the disease have hit the family hard.

The MoMs came together and have been able to grant the family almost everything on their Christmas lists, something the family will NOT be expecting on Christmas morning.

The MoM who nominated them, Shari, was even able to take the girls on a shopping spree to get some wardrobe essentials, thanks to the money raised at the MoMs November Craft Fair and other generous contributions by members of the group.

“We have been able to take some of the stress out of the holiday season,” said Sarah. “Not only from a financial standpoint, but physically having to worry about shopping for the three children, wrapping gifts and all the details that go into making a holiday great.”

Kristina finished her last round of chemotherapy in mid-December and was thrilled to “ring the bell” which indicates the official end of her chemo treatment.

To date, the group has more than 1700 members, several who work for State Farm. State Farm is one of the larger employers in the Dallas area, with approximately 7,000 employees. Jodi Wooten, is one of those MoM/employees.

“Being a part of the MoMs of Murphy is a natural extension of being a State Farm employee,” shared Jodi. “Both my company and my Facebook community really believe in giving back and serving.”

“The Bless a Family events are an outcome of Sarah’s great idea but that’s the great thing about the group - someone brings up an idea and then says, ‘Hey would you like to join me and make this happen in our community?’ The power of social media to do good is amazing,” shared Jodi.

The MOMs encourage other towns and Facebook groups to take the initiative and make a difference year-round!

Look for opportunities right around you – you can also make the most impact on your immediate neighbors. Whether it’s donating socks for the homeless, taking a meal to someone in need or organizing a charity event – it will make a difference!

What do you do when you are feeling blessed by the career you chose? Seven State Farm agents in Nashville, Tennessee, chose to give back to the community where they live and work. They created their own 501©(3) non-profit called “Nashville Community Partners”.

“Our purpose is to promote and solicit donations to support the exceptional work of people and organizations which impact our community in profound ways,” says group leader Valinda Burks. “As independent business owners, we recognize the importance and the power of involvement.”

One of their most rewarding events is the annual Santa Store. During a two-hour party each December, they provide toys and other gifts to children ages 0-12 from 100 families.

The group publicizes the Santa Store via television spots asking for nominations of worthy recipients.

Darnell Clay explains, “As agents, we hear of families that are in need. The Santa Store is our way to try to help them and others that are dear to them.”

“Parents and children watch Christmas movies, have treats, take photos with Santa, and select free gifts in the Santa Store,” says participating agent Terry W. Jones.

According to agent Dejuan Buford, “The best part of the day for me is I get to play Santa. It’s such an awesome feeling to see the kids’ faces when they get to see Santa and take a picture. It makes me feel good and takes me back to my own childhood. Some of the parents are really happy to see Santa too!”

“This non-profit group has made a positive impact in the Nashville community since 2010. I’m excited to be a part of it and hope to bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm as we move forward into the new year,” said Darian Horne, the newest member of the group.

Current members of the group are State Farm agents Valinda Burks, Dejuan Buford, Darnell Clay, Darian Horne, Terry W. Jones, Leonard E. Jordan, and Bryson McCarley.

As she lifted her gift’s cover and removed a huge green bow, Philicia was trembling. She had an idea of what was coming; however, she could not hold back her tears, knowing it would help lift a huge burden. Underneath, a 2007 Chevy Impala was full of Christmas gifts for her and her five-year-old daughter.

“I now have the freedom to take my daughter, Ezyiah, to dance class and school activities without having to take three to four buses each time” says Philicia. “I can drive back and forth to work without having to depend on public transportation or my mom picking me up each time.” She added, “I had no idea how much a car would help me spend more time with my daughter and mom.”

One year after graduating from a Tampa, FL high school, Philicia got married and joined the Army. She proudly served two years in the Army, spending one year in Afghanistan as a Convoy Security Driver and Gunmen.

Philicia’s responsibility was to lead and protect the lives of soldiers and valuable military trucks as they traveled through dangerous Afghanistan terrain. During her service, Philicia’s mom took care of her daughter.

While she was on leave in US, Philicia’s husband suddenly handed her divorce papers and gave her full custody of their daughter, Ezyiah. As the sole provider for her daughter, Philicia honorably discharged from the Army.

After her ex-husband broke his agreement to pay car payments, Philicia’s car was repossessed. She was devastated but did not lose hope.

Philicia did not want to depend on others for financial support, so she quickly found a job and a new place for her and her daughter to live. She relied solely on public transportation to get to work and take her daughter to school. Fortunately, Philicia could rely on her mother to take care of Ezyiah while she worked late shifts and to pick her up from work when there was no bus service.

She did this for about one year until she learned about the Wheels of Success – Vehicles for Veterans program started by Gregory Griffiths, a State Farm Auto Estimator in 2009.

“Being an Air Force Veteran myself, I felt compelled to provide the resources within my reach to help my fellow Veterans maintain a quality of life during a difficult time in their lives,” said Gregory. “This car will give Philicia the freedom to move around much easier and live a more productive life.”

This is a “Pay it Forward program”, says Susan Jacobs, founder and CEO of Wheels of Success. Based on their income, veterans in the program pay a low monthly fee for a one-year period. The fee veterans pay help the program repair and obtain cars for other veterans. Veterans are also required to volunteer 36 hours annually with Wheels of Success or another community organization.

In the past five years, State Farm has donated 25 vehicles to the Wheels of Success Vehicles for Veterans and its Build- A-Car program. Since 2003, Wheels of Success has provided over 622 vehicles and 568 car-related services to Tampa Bay area families.

The organization offers a full range of transportation solutions, including vehicle replacement, car repairs, licensing and car payment assistance to low and moderate income working families.

“What a perfect gift for Christmas; the gift of independence and the ability to prosper in 2015,” shared State Farm agent, Dick Martin.

Based on a “wish list” provided by Philicia and her daughter, twelve State Farm agents surprised the Veteran with donated toys and gifts to fill the entire back seat of the car.

“My daughter is going to be extremely happy to see gifts under the Christmas tree. We had no gifts until today,” said Philicia. “Santa has arrived early this year at our home. I’m very grateful and appreciative to everyone at State Farm for donating the car and gifts. This is a Christmas I will never forget!”

Left to Right: State Farm Agents Elizabeth Lawson, Joyce Coleman, and Herma White, Veteran Philicia Burton, and State Farm Agent Dick Martin Back row (left to right): State Farm Auto Estimator Gregory Griffiths and State Farm Community Specialist Jose Soto