State Farm® and Amazon settle patent lawsuit under mutual agreeable terms

This litigation has been settled under mutually agreeable terms, the details of which are confidential. We are pleased to have reached a compromise agreement that successfully served to protect the intellectual property rights of State Farm.

Amazon willfully infringed State Farm patented technology at heart of Elder Care Technology to launch a competing product.

State Farm, the largest insurer of vehicles and homes in the U.S., has filed a lawsuit against Amazon.com and affiliated companies for willful patent infringement. The case involves technological innovations in elder care known as Sundial®. State Farm does not take litigation lightly and this is the first time the company has filed a patent infringement lawsuit.

The complaint alleges Amazon copied State Farm patented technology to launch its own competing product to its millions of users. State Farm believes Amazon’s Care Hub and Alexa Together service willfully infringe six State Farm patents issued between 2021 and 2022.

Consistent with its longstanding commitment to research and development, State Farm invested multiple years of research and development in technology to help older adults live independently and remain in their homes longer.

Initially a partnership to introduce State Farm innovations for use with Amazon’s Alexa-enabled devices, Amazon observed State Farm engineers and senior product personnel adapt patented technology to work on Amazon’s Alexa platform. State Farm released Sundial® in June 2020 while Amazon launched its competing Alexa Care Hub product in November of the same year.

State Farm informed Amazon that Care Hub infringes State Farm patents, but Amazon was undeterred, and in December 2021, despite full notice of its infringement of patents of State Farm, Amazon launched another competing product, Alexa Together, in blatant disregard of State Farm intellectual property rights.

As set forth in the complaint filed, Amazon’s conduct in copying and profiting from State Farm technology constitutes willful patent infringement. Through its complaint, State Farm seeks to stop Amazon’s improper use of State Farm patented technologies.

State Farm has continued to develop innovative technologies since its founding and Sundial is just another example of how, throughout its 100-year history, State Farm has consistently invested in innovation to help serve its customers. State Farm, along with its technical subsidiary BlueOwl, has been awarded over 1,500 U.S. patents for key technical innovations to date.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. State Farm is represented in this matter by Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

We can’t wait to see how the Jake-O-Lanterns turn out, so don’t forget to post a photo and tag #JakeOLantern for us to see!

State Farm is introducing the Personal Price Plan in several new commercials including national advertising and football. In the new commercials, Jake from State Farm can be found trying to hang out or assist the other characters but is instead bombarded with information that is way too personal, Jake, of course, sets the record straight with that there is no need to overshare in order to qualify for the Personal Price Plan.

Just like the national advertising, the new football commercials showcase hilarious instances where Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes feel like they have to overshare personal information with Jake to get the State Farm Personal Price Plan.

In the Spanish language commercials, we use cultural superstitions around money/finance to stress people don’t need to rely on superstition to get the Personal Price Plan.

To get the State Farm Personal Price Plan customers can call an agent or visit statefarm.com.

State Farm^® is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022 by building State Farm Neighborhood Assist bigger. This year, the program will award 100 $25,000 grants (vs. 40 grants in previous years) to nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood improvement projects. Additionally, we’re doubling the number of cause submissions to 4,000.

Submissions for this year’s program will be accepted starting February 16 at 1 p.m. ET and will end once 4,000 submissions are received. The voting phase will follow from April 27-May 6, where the public can vote for their favorite causes from the list of 200 finalists. The 100 winners will be announced June 7. For more information, please visit https://www.neighborhoodassist.com.

“At 100 years young, State Farm is harnessing the power of groundbreaking tech - called the metaverse,” said State Farm® Technology Manager Matt Burns. “We’re reimagining how to connect with people using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to create an immersive environment where people can work and play.”

Burns leads a team of software engineers who specialize in a suite of technologies like VR and AR. State Farm Labs and Enterprise Technology have been working since 2016 to develop and deploy these capabilities and create memorable interactions.

“State Farm is an early adopter, making big strides in virtual and immersive experiences,” added Lead Software Engineer Jacob Parra.

Parra is a member of Burns’ team, blending tech into community outreach efforts and training tools.

Quoting in the Metaverse

Recently, engineers developed a proof of concept (POC) designed to help users, like State Farm agents, properly quote a new small business insurance policy. Using the POC, people can travel to, and interact with multiple businesses…from their desk.

“No car keys needed,” smiled Parra. “A VR headset and a controller teleports someone to a restaurant, for example. They can enter the kitchen to see what safety equipment it has. Think: smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and emergency exits. No physical visit required.”

Burns says the training has made learning efficient and effective.

“The experience has really resonated with users, and there are other scenarios too. For example, we can use the technology to train claim handlers. They can put on a headset and instantly be walking on a roof inspecting hail damage as part of an immersive training scenario.”

Images from the proof of concept (POC) designed to help users, like State Farm agents, properly quote a new small business insurance policy

Education in the Metaverse

In 2021, the company hosted a summit for girls dedicated to exploring science, technology, engineering and math. The virtual STEM event called Tech Astra™, featured an interactive rocket launcher.

The 360 degree experience also turned into an augmented reality experience.

“Each girl could make their rocket blast off and fly it around the room,” said Burns. “Considering Astra means star, it’s only fitting to reach higher for new possibilities. Setting sights on the next 100 years, we want to weave more of the metaverse into our future.”

Images from the inaugural Tech Astra event that State Farm hosted last October, which features an interactive 360 degree experience.

It was progressive for the times but from a 2022 mindset, the doors of diversity could have opened much sooner. After 44 years, State Farm the country’s biggest insurer, would finally have an African American agent in their ranks.

Sherry Ann Devouse-Dennard

Nearly 50 years after Ray Adkins knocked on his first door in Chicago’s south side to sell insurance, Sherry Ann Devouse-Dennard was opening her doors in a south suburb of Atlanta.

“I never saw (being a person of color) as a challenge, but instead a chance to really capitalize on what I saw was the greatest opportunity. I got in front of influential people, involved in local events, and tried to make the biggest splash in a small community I could make. It saddens me we still live in a society where skin color is more important than a person’s character to some people,” shared Devouse-Dennard. “But I have had more wonderful experiences with customers than bad, by far.”

Devouse-Dennard is part of the more than 1,500 African-American, State Farm agents across the country. She joined State Farm because she wanted to be a part of something special that would allow her to not only build a legacy for her family, but also have a meaningful impact in her community.

Alyssa Holloway

Alyssa Holloway, just outside of Birmingham, Ala., became an agent for similar reasons. “Becoming an agent has given me the opportunity to educate our customers, team members – or whomever I encounter – to not give up and continue to run the race and go after their dreams.”

Holloway also loves to give back to her community each year by providing hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies so children have all the essentials for a successful school year. She and her team also give back to the Downtown Birmingham area by bringing food, clothes and warmers during cold winter months to those in need.

Holloway also donates to and sponsors a Breast Cancer Awareness event annually and has made it a tradition at her agency. “African American women have a 31% breast cancer mortality rate, being the highest of any U.S. racial or ethnic group,” shared Holloway. She said she feels it is her duty and assignment to provide in all ways possible to her local community.

Dwan Johnson-Bell

Chicago Agent Dwan Johnson-Bell echoes the opportunities to educate as a community leader. “I grew up without a lot of means and wondered how I could change the plight of my own family and others around me. I always felt that it was my purpose to educate my community.

“When I was introduced to State Farm, I felt it was the perfect platform to educate.”

When others wonder about becoming a State Farm agent, Dwan says, “Go for it! Agency has truly changed the trajectory of my life. It has allowed me to gainfully employ others and to give back to my family and my community in a way that I had not been able to do before.”

“Black History Month is a celebration of achievements by Black Americans like our amazing, agents Dwan, Alyssa and Sherry, and it’s a time to recognize African Americans’ central role in U.S. history,” said State Farm Chief Diversity Officer, Victor Terry.” We know there is still much to be done and more doors to be opened as we continue to work together to build a better future. Coming together to celebrate both our 100th anniversary and our future is where we’ll see real progress.”

That’s exactly what Christopher Schafer provides to men every Wednesday.

Christopher makes custom suits for a living in Baltimore. His passion for clothing, and the need to find an organization to donate unwanted suits, pushed him to create Sharp Dressed Man.

“I was bringing new suits to a client who had a couple bags of old clothes he didn’t want to wear because he told me I spoiled him with new custom suits. It was quite a compliment, but it came with trying to find a home for these clothes,” Christopher says.

Christopher discovered many organizations provided everything for men who were in need of a job – resume building, practice interviews and setting interview appointments – but they didn’t have the clothing to make the right first impression, so he created his own nonprofit.

“At Sharp Dressed Man, we focus on the finishing touch. Other organizations are bringing us guys going through a transformation, and we’re there to send them out the door to their interviews,” he says.

Sharp Dressed Man has suited more than 8,000 men, and is on track to dress 2,000 men this year. The men come to Sharp Dressed Man with a referral from a partnering organization. Every Wednesday at noon, Christopher sees a line of men stretching down the street. And all of them are waiting for a suit.

“We bring the guys back one at a time, working one-on-one with a stylist who measures them, sizes them and finds options. I want them to try the suits on for fit.

“If the clothes fit, we’ll give them all kinds of stuff, but they have to have clothes they want to wear and feel confident in.”

Sharp Dressed Man received a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist^® Grant in 2018 to help impact more lives in their community. Part of the State Farm Neighborhood of Good^® initiative, State Farm Neighborhood Assist is back for its eighth year in 2019. The program awards $25,000 grants to 40 nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood education, safety and community development projects.

The grant helped keep Sharp Dressed Man open.

“The grant covered our overhead costs – paying the rent and electric bill – and we got a new spot. It’s really hard to focus on trying to help people when you’re worried about paying the bills,” Christopher says. “Now, we can work on planning for the future.”

With more submissions and more grants, State Farm Neighborhood Assist^® is going bigger on building stronger neighborhoods together in 2022. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of State Farm^®, we’re awarding 100 $25,000 grants (vs. 40 grants in previous years) to causes making a difference in their communities. We are also doubling the number of submissions to 4,000. Submissions open on Feb. 16 at 1pm ET!

This year, the program will award 100 $25,000 grants (vs. 40 grants in previous years) to nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood improvement projects. Additionally, we’re doubling the number of cause submissions to 4,000.

“State Farm Neighborhood Assist truly embodies the spirit of what our company has been about for 100 years-being a good neighbor,” said Rasheed Merritt, assistant vice president at State Farm. “We are excited about expanding the program in 2022 to help even more neighborhoods.”

Here’s how the program works:

Submission Phase: Starts February 16 and ends when 4,000 submissions are reached

Individuals can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com starting February 16 at 1pm ET. You can prepare now by going to the website and downloading the submission guide. We will accept the first 4,000 submissions. The State Farm Review Committee will then narrow the field to the Top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric.

Voting Phase: April 27-May 6

Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days, from April 27-May 6, for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Winners Announced: June 7

The 100 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 7, at www.neighborhoodassist.com

Last year, 125,000 people cast more than 3 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Since the program began in 2012, more than 380 causes have received a total of $10 million to enact change in their communities.

Crushed, you toss the plans in the fireplace. But someone believes in you and rescues the dream from the ash heap, literally and figuratively.

Can you relate? In 1922, a small-town farmer found himself in this very situation.

It started with the seed of an idea

The small town farmer was G.J. Mecherle, from Merna, Illinois. He believed farmers were charged too much for insurance premiums and had a plan to level the field. After his wife saved his plans from the fireplace, G.J. disrupted the insurance industry in a major way. He followed his dream and started his own company – State Farm^®.

Today, State Farm is the industry leader with a century of experience, financial strength and agents all across the U.S. That one seed grew into a Fortune 50 company with more than 19,000 agents helping communities, consumers and small businesses realize their dreams.

State Farm agents understand small business because they are small business

As small business owners in so many communities, State Farm agents know the passion needed to start your own business. And the grit and dedication needed to make it successful. They help business owners go after and protect their dreams. They provide not only insurance products and help planning for financial security, but in many cases help spark community engagement.

“As a small business owner myself, I can relate to their issues. I explain we’re more alike than different,” shares veteran State Farm Agent Buster Nelson, of Fredericksburg, Virginia. “We have similar challenges and rewards. It’s scary when you decide to go after your dream, when you first start out. I know a little guidance or help can go a long way.”

Going after your doughnut dreams

Agent Buster Nelson celebrated National Doughnut Day by giving away doughnuts from a local bakery (a State Farm customer). Not just any doughnuts, but the crème de la crème limited edition red velvet doughnuts made especially for Buster and the lucky doughnut recipients!

“A bakery, and its owner, have been insured through my office since it opened 30 years ago,” Nelson said. “So we worked together on a mutually beneficial event.”

“On my Facebook page, I invited customers to come by the bakery to pick up a free red velvet doughnut,” he said. “State Farm red…get it😊?”

“When my team and I set up a table outside at 7 a.m., people were already lined up to go into the shop. We passed out doughnuts along with State Farm branded items and got more customers in the bakery doors for more sweets. Win, win, win.”

“Every few months, I buy gourmet popcorn from a local small business I insure. Then I stop by other businesses I work with and give them a bag of popcorn with a note that reads, ‘Just popping in to say hello.’ It’s a social call more than a business call, but again, it helps everyone out and lets them know I’m there for them when they need me.”

“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there^®” is more than a slogan; it is who we are. You’ll see us supporting and attending local youth sports games, mentoring other entrepreneurs, sponsoring community events and more.

Restoring lives, rebuilding neighborhoods, renewing hope, investing in communities, advocating for consumer safety, and supporting education where we live and work is what being a 100-year good neighbor is all about.

"From doughnut shops to beverage distributors, from hair salons to warehouses, State Farm agents are perfectly suited to help small business owners protect their dreams, their livelihoods and their families,” said Chief Agency, Sales & Marketing Officer and former State Farm Agent Rand Harbert.

“Our founder would be proud of how his dream continues to unfold,” Harbert continued. “Today, we remain as committed to making life better for people as we were in 1922. This includes the millions of small business owners across the United States. We’ll keep finding new ways to honor that commitment and serve more customers as we begin our next 100 years.”

Small businesses thrive when they are supported by the community

Share this story and tag a small business you support to encourage others to check them out. #ShopLocal

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.

When Christine Lopez woke up Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, she didn’t expect the day to be so life-changing; literally upside down.

It started as a nearly perfect day in East Los Angeles. The sun was shining, a light breeze, barely a cloud in the sky. Christine and her five-year-old Leilani spent most of the morning looking for a special gift at the mall.

Around one o’clock in the afternoon, Christine decided it was time to head home. With Leilani buckled into her car seat enjoying a snack, she got behind the wheel of her SUV. She queued up Leilani’s favorite playlist, and headed for the nearest intersection.

The mother and daughter laughed and sang along to the music while waiting for the traffic light to turn green. When it finally did, Christine lifted her foot off the brake pedal, started to make a left turn — and then it happened…

In the blink of an eye, Christine’s wonderful day turned into a nightmare. A vehicle ran the red light and broadsided the Lopez family at 40 miles per hour. The smaller gas-electric hybrid impacted the SUV’s rear passenger side door and quarter panel, causing it to spin around several times and ultimately flip over.

When the glass, metal, and plastic stopped flying and the dust settled, they were upside down and facing the wrong way in oncoming traffic on a heavily-traveled street.

“I must have lost consciousness for a moment or two, but once I came around, Leilani was all I could think about,” Christine recalled. “I was upside down, and the car was eerily silent. I was afraid to look back. But when I did, I saw my daughter’s smiling face staring back at me. She was also hanging upside down in her car seat — safe and sound — giggling, ‘I’m upside down, mommy. Wheeee. That was fun,’ just like she had just been on an amusement park ride or something.”

Montebello Police Officer Oscar Chavez was the first emergency responder to reach the crash site and was surprised to find no one seriously hurt.

"Not many people walk-away from such a wreck unscathed. Whenever there’s an overturned vehicle or car on its side, we expect the worst, often finding a severely injured person or persons inside the vehicle,” shared Officer Chavez. “But that wasn’t the case here. We don’t normally see a motorist involved in this serious of a collision walk away without a scratch, especially a child. It was amazing, and says a lot about proper use of restraints.”

Most would say Christine and her daughter were lucky, that fate was on their side that day. But Christine was also smart. Had she not been practicing what she learned from a child passenger safety seat inspection undergone a few days prior, the outcome could’ve been much different.

Just four days before and at the urging of a close friend in the California Highway Patrol, Christine decided to attend a child passenger safety/safety seat inspection event in her neighborhood sponsored by State Farm®.

Ninety-six percent of parents like Christine, roll up to an inspection station confident that the seats protecting their kids are installed and being used correctly.

Fajardo says most people don’t. “Some seats get passed down from kid to kid, borrowed from family members, or purchased at second hand stores, yard sales or thrift stores,” she explained. “We don’t recommended secondhand seats because you never know what you’re going to get. The effects of wear and tear or other environmental factors over the years could’ve compromised the straps, plastic, or locking mechanisms.”

During the inspection, Fajardo made one other change: she moved Leilani’s seat from the passenger side to the center of the back seat.

While sitting in the middle isn’t a safety requirement, it worked for Christine since Leilani was generally the only rear seat passenger – and as luck would have it, this was the reason Leilani wasn’t sitting by the door that was struck four days later.

After the evaluation was complete, Christine was a bit frustrated but grateful. Officer Fajardo replaced her expired booster seat with a smaller safety seat with a five point harness. Then, taught Christine how to install it and how to properly restrain Leilani in it.

“It was intense and humbling, learning that I was putting my daughter at risk,” admits Christine.

While the child safety seat played a pivotal role for Leilani, it wasn’t the only passenger safety restraint at work in this case. The seat belt and airbags played critical roles, too. It quite possibly saved Christine’s life.

It’s been ten years since Christine and Leilani dangled upside down on Montebello Boulevard.

While the physical bumps and bruises have all healed, the memories still linger.

“Every time we drive by that intersection, Leilani says, ‘Remember what happened here, Mommy?’ I say, ‘How can I forget, baby.’”

Leilani, now almost sixteen, like many teens, has no urge to drive herself. She’s more than content letting her mom stay behind the wheel.

Christine still wonders what could have happened if she had stayed in bed on October 22, rather than go to the child seat inspection.

“What if Leilani’s seat hadn’t been replaced?” wonders Christine. “What if her seat was anchored in the passenger side rear seat at the time of the collision? What if I hadn’t buckled up properly? Would we still be alive?”

What if, indeed.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. It's more than a slogan; it's who we are.

For the past 100 years, we've made it our mission to restore lives, help rebuild neighborhoods, invest in communities, and support education and safety initiatives – like car seat safety - where we live and work. It's what being a good neighbor is all about. 

Mentor for good.

Mentoring helps strengthen our communities today in order to make them even stronger tomorrow.

In June 2020, State Farm began working with Leap Year. The Atlanta-based nonprofit is dedicated to improving literacy and college enrollment in metro-Atlanta. A mentorship program is part of that relationship.

It connects members of our Young Business Professionals (YBP) employee resource group with area youth. They help with everything from improving test scores, giving career advice and providing valuable insight. The sessions help the teens further their education and determine their future goals.

“It’s fulfilling to know that I get the opportunity to be a positive impact on someone else's life,” said YBP mentor Glenn Gaston.

The relationships are a two-way street.

“If you're interested in being a mentor, whether it's with Leap Year or in your community in whatever way, do it,” said Brandie Bryant, YBP mentor.

“Everyone has something they can offer and instill into someone else, and you learn that it makes you a better person too.”

Mentoring is a great way to extend the good neighbor spirit all year long. Our Good Neighbor Day Toolkit suggests other ways you can share your time, talents and treasure to make a difference and be a part of 100 for Good.

Corey is a volunteer Wish Granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the famous non-profit organization that helps chronically and critically ill children live out their dreams.

“Hope is contagious,” says Corey, a truly amazing Good Neighbor and State Farm director. “By giving these kids something to look forward to, we’re helping take their minds off of their illness, even if it’s only for a little while.”

You read that right; she got a varsity letter in community service. Victoria’s been at State Farm^® for 5 years. She works on technical projects out of the State Farm Atlanta hub. She’s also a Girl Scouts Gold Award winner and has been donating, volunteering and generally good-neighboring for her entire life. That’s part of the reason she loves working at State Farm.

“Giving and giving back; that’s just a part of what I believe in” said Victoria. “And that’s what State Farm is all about, too, and that’s a big reason why I decided to work here in the first place.”

Why not give back?

Before coming to State Farm, she graduated from Georgia State University (GSU). Victoria’s grateful for the educational experiences she had at GSU and that’s why she’s a regular donor to her alma mater.

“I received some scholarships when I was in school that allowed me to study abroad,” Victoria said. “That experience was really transformational for me.”

So as soon as she graduated, Victoria didn’t think twice about showing her gratitude by donating money to help fund scholarships and programs that would help other students.

“When I realized that I could donate and help fund some of the programs that helped me out, I figured, ‘Why not?’”

To make her donation even more impactful, Victoria used the company’s Matching Gift Program. Available to all State Farm employees, the company will match an individual’s donation, penny for penny.

“I donated, and State Farm matched my donation, so I was able to donate twice as much, which was great.”

Another thing that’s great? Victoria uses the 100 for Good app to keep record of all her charitable work. Logging these acts and seeing the acts other people have recorded helps demonstrate the power of collective good. She hopes her service inspires others, as she’s been inspired to make a difference in her community.

Good Neighbor Day is Sept. 28. Make a plan to give back and join in the collective good.

State Farm and 1871, a Chicago-based non-profit that supports entrepreneurs, teamed up to sponsor and organize the “Hackathon for Good.” The event benefited the technical needs of True Star Foundation, a Chicagoland youth non-profit. 

“The Hackathon for Good gave us a glimpse into the future. It provided technology solutions that allow the organization to operate at a higher level, engage youth in ways that excite and inspire them, and allow us to reach more young people in a cost effective way,” said True Star Foundation Co-Founder DeAnna Sherman.

True Star's weekly after-school, in-school and summer programming teaches students about a variety of disciplines in the media industry. Students not only learn about the profession, they actually work cooperatively to produce professional-quality work in each area.

The hackathon teams provided True Star with several technical solutions. These included digitizing its curriculum, helping its students create digital portfolios, and providing the organization with a blueprint for a mobile app that will extend their reach and mission.

It’s all part of a commitment to build a better future for our communities through innovation.

“State Farm believes in supporting our communities, in being a Good Neighbor. We were excited to be part of the Hackathon for Good with 1871 and to support True Star Foundation,” said Fawad Ahmad, State Farm Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. “It was a great opportunity to observe innovative ideas that will ultimately benefit the students True Star serves.”

“At 1871, we support innovators that are building a better tomorrow for their communities,” said 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler. “Organizations like the True Star Foundation are doing the necessary, on-the-ground work to empower youth in Chicago to lead. We were proud to join our longtime and dedicated partner State Farm to create technical solutions for this important non-profit.”

“Doesn’t matter if it’s after a fire or a flood or whatever; when I’m talking to somebody, it’s usually because they’re having a pretty bad day,” said Jeff, State Farm^® claims adjuster.

“Pretty bad” turned out to be an understatement during a call last year. Jeff was in the middle of a virtual inspection. A customer’s roof leaked which caused some pretty significant damage to their West Virginia home. Using an app downloaded to the customer’s smart phone, Jeff was looking at pictures of the damaged area.

“We’re doing more and more of these types of inspections,” Jeff said. “It makes it easier for the customers to send in their info so we can process their claim, get them their money and help them recover quicker.”

Jeff was in the middle of the inspection when all of a sudden, he heard a loud crash. The customer had fallen down a flight of stairs, shattering her ankle.

“She’d dropped her phone and couldn’t reach it, but I could hear her yelling and screaming for help.”

Unfortunately, the only help available was Jeff, and he was hundreds of miles away at the other side of the state. “I didn’t really know what to do, but I knew I had to do something.”

“I kept yelling until I finally got her attention,” Jeff said. “I was trying to keep her calm and trying to keep her conscious.”

She couldn’t reach the phone to dial 911, so Jeff grabbed another phone and dialed for help.

After he got them on the line, Jeff acted as a go-between.

“They were asking things like ‘How far did she fall’ and ‘Can she move’ and ‘Is there any blood?” I kept relaying their questions and giving them her answers.”

When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics picked up the phone that was lying next to the customer on the ground, expecting to hear 911 on the other end.

“I told them, “No, I’m with State Farm; I’m her insurance adjustor.”

The customer was rushed to the hospital and once she arrived, one of the first things she did was write Jeff a heart-felt thank-you note:

Thank you so much for your help with calling 911 and staying on the phone. I dislocated my ankle and shattered many bones, I will need surgery. You were my angel 😇😇. You deserve an award for listening to me scream and crying.

“What an incredible Good Neighbor story this is,” said Jeff’s manager, Bill Lingenfelter. “We’re in the relationship and helping others-business, and this is what it’s all about!”

He wanted to survive Covid-19, too.

A chance encounter

Hank lives in in Corbin, Ky., a small town of about 8,000 people. He was born and raised in Corbin and after he joined the military, he settled in Connecticut where he and his wife raised their family. After she passed away, he decided to return home.

“I got tired of talking to the wall, so eventually I came back,” joked Hank.

In 2016, Hank got a new neighbor. Mayur Ramesh Shah moved to Corbin from Philadelphia to be closer to his work and two sons. The 45-year-old University of the Cumberlands professor, small business and health economics consultant, dad, lifelong volunteer, immigrant who speaks four languages, didn’t know anybody in town until he moved next to Hank.

“I was getting my mail one day, and I saw that I got Hank’s on accident,” Mayur said. He’d never met his new neighbor and when he went to return the misplaced mail, a bill from the local internet provider, the two got to talking.

“He told me how much he was paying for his internet access and I was like, ‘That sounds like way too much,’ so we took a look at it,” Mayur said. With a few quick calls, Mayur helped Hank cut his bill almost in half and a friendship was born.

Now on paper, they make a pretty unlikely pair.

“Pretty much everything about us is different,” said Mayur. Everything except, as Hank pointed out, a few key facts.

“We’re human beings, we’re neighbors and we’re friends,” Hank said. “That still counts for something.”

Coming together

Like the rest of us, Mayur and Hank’s world changed last year when Covid hit.

“I didn’t get out too much before, and now it was even harder,” Hank said.

When Hank heard from the VA hospital he was eligible for the vaccine, he initially felt conflicted; Lexington was the nearest site, and it’s 100 miles away.

“I’m not as mobile as I used to be,” he said. “I’m blind in one eye and don’t see so well in the other, so I figured I wouldn’t go.”

Mayur had other ideas. “I told him if he wanted to go, I’d drive him whenever he wanted.”

So, that’s what they did

Over the following few weeks, Mayur and Hank drove to Lexington twice, and Hank received both of his doses of the Covid-19 vaccines.

After returning from that first visit, Mayur found the 100 for Good™ app, a program developed by State Farm^® that encourages people to log their good deeds to inspire others to do the same and see the collective impact we all make across the country.

Mayur, a State Farm customer, was actually looking up information on Drive Safe and Save™ when he came across the 100 for Good app.

“I thought it sounded kind of cool, so I figured I’d download it and see what it was all about,” Mayur said. After downloading the app, he logged in the trip he and Hank had just taken and promptly forgot all about it.

“This was quite the first logged Act of Good by Mayur and exactly what we were hoping to see when we introduced 100 for Good app to the public…we were so proud,” said State Farm Senior Vice President Annette Martinez. “It is a great example of what being a good neighbor is all about, demonstrating human kindness in big and small ways.”

Mayur is going to keep logging his Acts of Good in the app as he has donated his time and talents a great deal over the years. “I got this instilled in me from my parents; they taught me to always pay it forward.”

Hank and Mayur encourage others to check out the 100 for Good program to be inspired by others’ acts and to see there are good neighbors all around.

For 24 years, the Winter Haven, Florida, State Farm agent has been volunteering with Meals on Wheels of Polk County, delivering nutritious, made-from-scratch meals to the elderly and those in need, and serving on its board of directors. But as Dan points out, there’s so much more to it.

“Almost all of these people are living alone,” said Dan. “It’s an opportunity not only to deliver a meal, but to do a wellness check to make sure that they look and sound OK.”

On a typical 18-meal delivery route, Dan offers to assist his recipients in many ways, from bringing in the mail to picking up something at the store.

“Many of these people simply appreciate the joy of a 10 minute visit,” Dan remarked. “It always helps me center back to what’s important in life.”

For recipients like Harvey Curtis, volunteers like Dan make a huge difference.

“Receiving Meals on Wheels helps me to live in my home. I am not able to shop for groceries or stand in the kitchen to prepare my meals,” said Harvey. “The volunteers are so friendly and some days, they are the only people I see and talk to.”

Unsurprisingly, the demand for Meals on Wheels services has increased markedly since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“It’s been a crazy time. Our meal count has gone from 300 to 450 a day,” said Dan. “And we make sure to follow all of the safety guidelines to ensure our recipients stay healthy.”

“Dan is a lifesaver for us,” said Susan Eldridge, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Polk County. “He’s very passionate about helping the people we serve.”

And Dan has made sure to pass on the importance of giving back to the next generation.

“My kids have grown up volunteering with me,” he said. “I would tell anyone interested in community service that you can truly make a difference and you always get back so much more than what you put in.”

In the News:

• Four Corners News-Sun: Meals on Wheels volunteer, recipients reflect on program's importance (08/27/20)

It’s called Good Neighbor Day.

Observed annually on the 28th of September, Good Neighbor Day is a reminder we all play a role in strengthening communities. It began in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter proclaimed September 28th National Good Neighbor Day by stating:

“We are mindful that the noblest human concern is concern for others.  Understanding, love, and respect build cohesive families and communities. The same bonds cement our nation and the nations of this world.”

This year, and every year – the observance provides an opportunity to give back.

Take part in the celebration! Here are three things to consider:

1. Volunteer: On Good Neighbor Day, consider giving back to your community. The State Farm Neighborhood of Good® can identify outreach opportunities near you. Here’s how it works: * Visit NeighborhoodofGood.com®

   • Select what you’re passionate about (for example: animals, education, the environment)
   • Enter your zip code to find volunteer opportunities related to your location and interests.
2. Give back in other ways: Small acts equal big impact. According to a State Farm® study, lack of time is one of the biggest barriers to volunteering. 77% of respondents also preferred to volunteer with people they know. With this in mind, here’s a few ideas to do good as a group:
   • Go outside: Find a park or beach that needs to be cleaned up. Feel great about making an immediate difference.
   • Meet your elders: Grab a board game and sign up to visit a nursing home or assisted living facility. Often, residents look forward to sharing their stories and making new memories.
   • Cook a healing meal: Help a family or friend after illness, injury or even birth by making dinner and bringing it to their home.
   • Get active: Volunteer as a group for a charity walk or run. Kids can hand out water or snacks and cheer on participants.
   • Invite others to the party: When planning birthday or block parties, ask for donations instead of gifts to fill care packages for a local cause.
3. Enlist others to join you: List it on NeighborhoodofGood.com! Find volunteers, get more exposure, and grow your cause. Visit st8.fm/NoGRYO  to get started.

Whatever you do, give back and have a Happy Good Neighbor Day!

In movies and daydreams, America in decades past was a land of open highways, stylish vehicles and a simpler life. It was an era of Route 66, drive-ins and cruising.

It was also an era when lots of people died in car crashes.

As a percentage of the U.S. population, traffic fatalities were more than twice as high in the 1960s than today. In raw numbers, 1972 was the deadliest year. That year more than 54,000 fatalities, compared with fewer than 34,000 deaths in 2012, despite having a much larger population base, occurred. And measured in deaths per million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), the current rate of 1.1. This is significantly reduced from the 7.2 rate of 1950 – and a fraction of the 1921 rate of 24.1 deaths per million VMT.

Making changes to save lives

So what’s changed, and how did it happen? Simply put, researchers pinpointed problems. Then engineers, policymakers and advocates tackled them one by one.

View Auto Safety Timeline

“It wasn’t that long ago that a lot of things we take for granted today didn’t exist,” said Anne McCartt, Senior Vice President for Research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). “Painted lines on the roads, shoulders, guardrails… By the 1960s cars had seatbelts, but people didn’t use them.”

And then there are technological improvements like airbags and child safety seats. Although required today, they were optional in the past.

In all these cases, researchers analyzed data from car crashes to figure out why injuries and deaths were happening. Then they determined what action to take to correct the source of the problem.

The power of “research to action”

A great deal of data came from insurance companies, which have unique insight into the often tragic results of crashes.

“Through our ‘research to action’ philosophy at State Farm, we focus on research to identify specific risks and evidence-supported actions we can take to achieve a positive impact,” said Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. “If you truly want to be a good neighbor – and we do – you want to help people avoid risks whenever possible.”

To show how far we’ve come and the cumulative impact of the “research to action” philosophy, State Farm created an interactive timeline that highlights key advancements in auto safety starting in the late 1800’s.

As a founding member of IIHS, backer of research, data source and advocate, Mullen said, State Farm has played a role in many critical changes, including:

• Airbags: A leading role in the early 1980s legal battle that resulted in the requirement for airbags today. This decision had even went all the way to the Supreme Court.

• Child safety: A joint effort with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia® to research child passenger safety in the late 1990s. This led to numerous changes in car seats, usage recommendations and laws in the years since.

• Teen drivers: Research and education related to young drivers and science-based efforts to make Graduated Driver Licensing. This is a program that lets new drivers gain experience gradually.

But changes don’t need to make headlines to be significant. McCartt noted that State Farm data on whiplash cases led the IIHS to review head restraints. This in turn led auto manufacturers to redesign them.

“The whole consumer awareness effort about auto safety is huge,” said McCartt. “Auto manufacturers now make it a selling point. It’s just phenomenal how much safer we are today.”

What’s next: Automated vehicle technology, engaged driving

McCartt said the IIHS is retooling to allow research on automated safety systems, like braking assist and other collision avoidance technologies. She said the technology side is the next big wave, and it requires entirely different facilities to test it.

On the driver side of the equation, Mullen and State Farm are focusing on the Engaged Driving Initiative (EDI).

“In 2012, the Auto Technology Research staff that I lead at State Farm conducted an environmental scan to identify significant auto safety research issues needing to be addressed. Distracted driving shot to the top of the list,” said Mullen. “Today drivers are challenged with demands on their attention by multiple devices and activities that may distract them from driving. We need to determine the best ways to encourage drivers to take personal responsibility in adopting safety-conscious behaviors.”

As part of EDI, State Farm is backing researchers exploring the causes and solutions of distraction, and even how best to research it. (The researchers presented their findings at the Engaged Driving Symposium (March 31, 2014, Washington D.C.)

It’s the first step towards future safety innovations– and a critical moment for those whose lives will be saved in years to come.