Good Neighbor Stories

CDOT Secures State Farm™ as Sponsor of Motorist Safety Patrol Program

Wed, 24 May 2017 08:58:00 -0500

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) today announced a new sponsorship working with State Farm for its Motorist Safety Patrol Program, a service offering free roadway assistance to motorists in need. Formerly known as the Courtesy Patrol, the new program is now the “CDOT State Farm Safety Patrol.”

“We aim to make traveling in Colorado as safe and efficient as possible for motorists,” said Shailen Bhatt, CDOT executive director. “We’re proud to join with State Farm in support of a program that delivers on this objective. In addition, this innovative funding approach reduces the cost to state taxpayers, all while providing the same high-level of service.”

The CDOT State Farm Safety Patrol helps to reduce congestion and enhance safety by proactively patrolling the highways, assisting stranded motorists, and providing traffic control and safety at incident scenes. It also offers free, limited roadside assistance to drivers in need, including providing fuel, changing flat tires, jump-starting vehicles, providing lockout assistance, and moving vehicles to the shoulder or nearest interchange. The CDOT State Farm Safety Patrol is expected to assist more than 30,000 motorists in 2017 alone.

“Our support of the CDOT State Farm Safety Patrol program embodies our ‘good neighbor’ philosophy,” said Ed Gold, State Farm advertising director. “It also underscores the continued commitment State Farm has to auto safety, while helping people recover from the unexpected, which is the heart of the State Farm mission.”

State Farm support will offset the state funding costs used for operation of the program. Each weekday, CDOT State Farm Safety Patrol vehicles patrol the metro areas of Denver, Colorado Springs (I-25) and Ft. Collins (I-25). On weekends, the patrol covers additional areas of I-25. In addition to assisting stranded motorists, the Safety Patrol also helps the Colorado State Patrol work more safely and efficiently by providing back-up at incident scenes, and freeing troopers up to handle more urgent calls. The Safety Patrol also clears debris from the highway in an effort to improve traffic flow and prevent future incidents.

Now, with State Farm sponsorship, motorists can learn more about the program at www.AssistPatrol.com. Motorists who are assisted by the patrol can share their stories on social media using the hashtag #AssistPatrol. State Farm also sponsors Safety Patrols in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, Nevada, Louisiana and Kansas.

Volunteer Work Is Part Of His DNA

Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 -0500

What moves us from caring about something or someone in need to taking action? Walking through the door and helping.

For Bob Blume, the momentum was a combination of DNA and chance.

His parents were involved in mission work when he was growing up. Traveling as far as India at times, tirelessly volunteering to help those in need.

Today, Bob, a team manager at State Farm, continues his family’s legacy. A chance opportunity in 2001 opened a door for Bob to volunteer with Goodwill Industries of Denver. He spent the next eight years preparing kids for job interviews, exploring career opportunities, and teaching the basics of insurance.

In 2009, Bob saw another chance. He walked across the threshold of another open door by becoming a mentor with Goodwill’s Youth Career Development Program. One hour a week, he meets with high school students facing unimaginable challenges.

“Encouraging students and pointing them in the right direction is a big part of what I do. I enjoy getting to know them, watching them progress over the school year,” says Bob, who’s currently mentoring two high school seniors.

“The students can come from some pretty tough home environments — different from my youth,” he adds. “I wondered if I’d be able to help or relate to them.”

It turns out relating to the kids was easy. Bob finds they want what we all do – a chance to see their hopes and dreams come true.

“Regardless of their challenging situations, these kids all have similar hopes and dreams like I did at their age,” Bob shares. “It’s rewarding to see how hard they work to achieve what’s important to them.”

Because of his long time service, more than 500 volunteer hours, Bob received an awar d from a local television station.

“Goodwill is committed to providing metro-area, at-risk students real-world experience and guidance to help them envision a future career. We can’t do this without volunteers like Bob Blume,” says Stuart Davie, the President & CEO of Goodwill. “I’ve volunteered with Bob in our classrooms, and his dedication to our students year after year is inspiring. Goodwill is so thankful for people like Bob and businesses like State Farm who are committed to serving our students and ultimately changing lives and empowering our future workforce.”

“If you know how to smile and shake a hand, you can be a volunteer. It feels good to help others,” Bob said. “Even if you only have an hour a month to volunteer, I believe it can have a profound impact on the community.”

Want to be like Bob? Visit Neighborhood of Good to find volunteer opportunities in your neck of the woods.

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"Day in Towne" Experience 5th Grade Style

Thu, 07 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0500

What fifth grader doesn’t look forward to a field trip? Even if it means doing some homework before so students will get the most out of the day.

Ask a number of students from Denver elementary schools, and they’ll tell you they don’t mind the extra homework. “I’ve been waiting to do this since second grade,” said an 11-year-old student.

What is he waiting for? The Young AmeriTowne experience and his day in Towne. This unique financial literacy program focuses on educating students early. The kids learn about various topics like supply and demand, job skills, and banking procedures.

Students also learn to give back. They are encouraged to consider donating a percentage of the wages they’ll earn at Towne, to a non-profit of their choice.

Participating fifth grade classes go through a 30-hour curriculum. It prepares them for the day-long trip. They learn about the democratic process as students’ campaign to serve in specific jobs at Towne.

Another student, who won his classroom’s Mayoral election, shared, “It was the most exciting thing we did in school.“

Students arrive for their day at Young AmeriTowne, headquartered at Young Americans Center for Financial Education in Denver. The students-turned-citizens apply the principles they’ve learned in the classroom to operate a 17-business town.

“The students instantly take their jobs seriously and focus on their duties as a Young AmeriTowne citizens,” says Melissa Castro, a teacher at Fulton Academy. “They apply real world scenarios in a way that is meaningful to them.”

“I’ve taught the Young AmeriTowne curriculum to students from two schools with very different demographics, yet the results are the same; an interest in learning and connection to real life,” shared Melissa. “Students who usually take a back seat in the classroom are taking charge and leading others.”

Each year, more than 25,000 fifth grade students visit Young AmeriTowne. As the students’ day in Towne comes to a close and they board the bus, the lessons learned will leave a lasting impression. One day they will be the leaders of our community.

State Farm® Introduces Transportation Network Company Driver Coverage in Colorado

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:00:00 -0600

Denver, Colo., February 1, 2016 – Beginning February 8, State Farm will offer customers a new coverage endorsement in Colorado to help fill insurance gaps for policyholders who use their personal cars to provide rides for a Transportation Network Company (TNC), like Uber and Lyft.

The TNC industry is rapidly changing the livery/taxi industry by using the latest mobile technology to facilitate rides for hire. With these new transportation services in the marketplace, drivers are exposed to new risks. Insurance provided by TNCs may be limited in scope and coverage. Personal auto policies generally do not extend coverage to the use of personal cars as taxis or livery vehicles, including their use in TNC services.

The new, optional State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement in Colorado enables a policyholder to have his or her personal auto policy fill in the coverage gaps left by TNC-provided insurance. This cost-effective endorsement provides the driver with the full liability coverage limits carried on their auto policy during the period of time when the driver is available for hire, and provides the driver with all other coverages applicable to their auto policy during all periods of TNC driving.

"Adapting and innovating to our customers' changing needs is critical," said company spokeswoman Angela Thorpe. "This new product is an example of our commitment to our customers and provides them coverage, and peace of mind, when they use their personal cars to provide TNC services."

TNCs in Colorado may provide high liability coverage limits while a paying passenger occupies the driver's vehicle or when the driver has been connected with a passenger and is on the way to pick that person up. But TNCs tend to provide a much lower limit of liability coverage when drivers are just available for hire and may not provide the drivers with any medical payments, comprehensive, or collision coverages at all. The TNCs may not be providing coverage for injuries to the driver or coverage for any damage to the driver's personal car.

Colorado customers who drive for a TNC should contact their local State Farm agent to learn more about the new State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement.