• Install surge protectors, including a whole-house surge protector if possible. Surge protectors can help protect appliances and electronic equipment from the surge of electricity caused by lightning strikes. 
• Add a lightning protection system: a lightning protection system, often including lightning rods and grounding systems, can divert lightning strikes away from the building, reducing the risk of fire or damage. 
• Unplug electronic devices during a storm and seeking shelter at the lowest point in your home if you are home during a storm.  

Lightning remains a costly and unpredictable threat for homeowners. Lightning strikes can cause extensive damage to electrical systems, appliances, and even structural issues. The damage underscores the critical need for homeowners to be aware of the risks, invest in protective measures, and stay prepared, especially in high-risk regions where lightning strikes are most frequent and damaging. 

After a lightning storm, homeowners are encouraged to look for these common signs of lightning damage: 

• Charring — a lightning-strike site is often charred by lightning's intense heat. If you believe your home was struck by lightning, consider inspecting the property for burnt patches and charring. 
• Damaged electrical switches — similarly, the power surges sometimes caused by lightning can lead to burnt electrical switches. 
• Roof and wall damage — lightning can damage a roof or wall to the point of causing holes or reducing a home’s structural integrity. 
• Report lightning damage/claim to insurance as soon as possible to begin repair and recovery process. 

Consider taking extra precautions to prep your home if you live in a top lightning state. The Top 10 states for lightning claims according to Triple-I’s national industry average based on State Farm claims data are:

1. Florida 
2. Texas 
3. California 
4. Georgia 
5. North Carolina 
6. Louisiana 
7. Alabama 
8. New York 
9. Pennsylvania 
10. Illinois 
 

A natural phenomenon, lightning can cause extensive damage to ecosystems, property, and sometimes lead to death. Knowing and managing the risks associated with lightning can help protect your family and property.

Lightning Safety Tips:

If lightning is common in your area, familiarize yourself with ways to reduce risk before and during a lightning storm. For example:

• Go indoors at the first sign of a storm.
• Avoid touching electronics or anything with a cord, such as your hair dryer.
• Stay away from water sources, including pipes, sinks and showers.
• Do not stand or lean on concrete structures. Metal bars inside the concrete can conduct electricity.
• Seek shelter in a hard-top vehicle if you're stuck outside. Also avoid sitting inside convertible cars, golf carts and motorcycles.
• If swimming or boating when lightning is present, get out of the water and onto dry land.
• Do not touch metal surfaces, such as a sliding door.
• Avoid touching anything served by gas lines, such as water heaters, ovens, furnaces and fireplaces.
• If you're outside and shelter isn't available, crouch down at least 100 feet from tall objects, tuck your head in and cover your ears.
• If someone has been struck by lightning, call 911 or your local ambulance service immediately. If you are qualified, give the person first aid. Lightning victims are safe to touch and need medical attention right away.

Invest in lightning protection

Your best bet for stopping lightning damage in its tracks may be a lightning protection system tailored specifically to your home's architecture. Such a system creates a pathway for lightning bolts, guiding them safely into the ground.

Install lightning surge protection devices

Lightning strikes on or near a power line or utility service are a frequent cause of power surges. Point-of-use surge protection devices (SPDs), combined with a good grounding system, should protect your electronic and electrical appliances from most electrical surges. An SPD does not suppress or arrest a surge; it actually diverts the surge to the ground.

Service entrance SPDs provide protection for your entire electrical system and are usually installed at the electrical panel(s) or at the base of the service meter. These devices help prevent the entrance of overvoltages, which can cause a fire. Surge protection devices are typically installed in conjunction with a lightning protection system.

Lightning Insurance

While there isn't a policy for lightning alone, your homeowners, condo, or renters’ policy can help get you get you back on your feet if lightning does strike. You can also contact your insurance agent if you have coverage questions about damage due to lightning.

From the outside, life for the Clevelands seems normal...

They’re a hardworking, active family who love spending time together. John’s a police officer, his wife Jodie’s a dental hygienist. Their kids are full-time students. But peel back the layers and you’ll discover, this family of four was once a family of five...

The year was 2012.

John, Jodie and their three children Katie (age eight), Gavin (age five) and Olivia (age three) were en route to a local restaurant. Out of the corner of her eye, Jodie saw a brown car traveling fast. So fast, it accelerated through the westbound lanes of traffic, bypassing a line of idle cars. The vehicle sped forward…heading straight towards them.

“I just braced on the steering wheel and closed my eyes. I knew we were going to get hit,” said Jodie.

In a matter of seconds, life for the Clevelands changed forever... 

...Their youngest child Olivia, had been killed by a drunk driver.

“This pretty, vibrant, funny, always happy little girl was now lifeless,” John spoke softly.

The days turned into months. The months to years...

While their physical injuries have healed, John, Jodie and their remaining children - Katie and Gavin say the emptiness of losing Olivia will never subside.

“Someone’s senseless act took our daughter, and now we live with that pain every day,” said John.

“Many nights I lie awake wondering what Olivia would have been like, what her interests and passions would be if she were still with us.” said Jodie.

"We can do more."

In spite of the heartache, John, Jodie and their children have chosen to honor Olivia’s legacy by speaking out. They’re sharing their story publicly to promote smart decisions, sober driving and safer roads.

“It’s not the same until you live it, see it, breathe it,” said John. “If we can make it personal…touch them with our message….maybe just maybe they’ll get the point. We can do more. We can prevent future tragedies from happening.”

Their youngest daughter, State Farm Agent, Beth Moloughney, who gave birth to the first grandchild only 6 weeks earlier, recalls their excitement as the closing date drew near. She also recalls a very important decision her parents made.

 “My parents were faithful and longtime State Farm policyholders. Both my sister and I have had life insurance since we were infants,” Beth said.

Martin and Dorothy approached their State Farm Agent, James Spera to place insurance on the home they were buying in three days. At that meeting, Mr. Spera presented them with additional life insurance quotes to cover the mortgage on their dream home. Martin, feeling they already had enough, said to Mr. Spera, “Every time we come in here you try to sell us more life insurance.” Mr. Spera replied it was his job to make sure that they were properly covered. After some back and forth, they purchased two policies.

The Sonnenbergs left with the binding receipts and went off to close on their dream home. They named it “The Shore House.”

This should be the end of this fairytale story, but like every fairytale, there is some tragedy. This tragedy was earth-shattering.

Three days after closing on their “dream home,” Martin died suddenly. Shattering the family’s world and Martin & Dorothy’s dream of growing old together in The Shore House. But because of the life insurance, the home was paid in full, and Dorothy never had to worry about that property.

At first, Beth was reluctant to spend time there. She felt it was a “death house.” “My Dad died for this,” she thought. But her grandmother sat her down and explained the best way to honor his memory was to do exactly what he had envisioned with the home.

Dorothy kept that home for the next 30 years where all the grandchildren spent their summers learning how to boat, fish, and enjoy all that is the Jersey Shore. It was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2011.

Life insurance changes lives in many ways. Not just the immediate, but sometimes setting us on the path we are meant to be on.

“This is why I am here today as a State Farm Agent. I was able to see firsthand the value of life insurance and how it has a generational impact and leaves a legacy of love beyond words. ” Beth said.

Visit https://www.statefarm.com/ and https://lifehappens.org/ for more information.

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.”

Submissions for this year’s program will be accepted starting June 2 at 1 p.m. ET and will end once 2,000 submissions are received. The voting phase will follow from Aug. 18-27, where the public can vote for their favorite cause from the list of 200 finalists. The 40 winners will be announced Sept. 29. For more information, please visit https://www.neighborhoodassist.com.

• They are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween compared to any other day of the year. 
• 23% of fatalities occur with children between the ages of five and eight.
• 70% of accidents occur away from an intersection or crosswalk.

Whether you're going door-to-door, driving or passing out treats at home, State Farm wants to help keep your little princesses, pirates, and police officers safe this Halloween with these tips:

If you're going door-to-door

• Always accompany young children.
• Exercise great caution during the "scariest" hours - between 5 and 9 p.m. It is especially dangerous for pedestrian accidents between 6 pm and 7 pm.
• Stick to neighborhoods with sidewalks. If you must walk on the street, keep to the far left, facing traffic.
• Practice safe crossing procedures - use crosswalks; wait for corners; and look left, right and left again before crossing.
• Stick reflective tape onto costumes to make your child more visible. Also have them carry a flashlight.
• Make sure costumes and shoes are the correct size to prevent tripping.
• Use face paint and leave the masks at home. They can obstruct vision.
• If an older child is venturing out without supervision, ask them to go with a group. Discuss the route and agree on a curfew. Give older kids cell phones so they can stay in touch.

If you're driving

• Drive slowly
• Be alert for children and eliminate in-car distractions.
• Practice extra caution at intersections and corners.
• Pull in and out of driveways carefully.
• Discuss these and other driving pointers with your teen driver. Drivers ages 15-25 were involved in approximately one-third of fatal crashes involving child pedestrians on Halloween.

If you're handing out treats

• Keep your home brightly lit indoors and outside.
• Clear debris and other obstacles from your lawn, sidewalks and steps.
• Opt for battery-operated candles in jack-o'-lanterns or other areas where costumed trick-or-treaters might stand.
• Keep pets kenneled or in another room.

In addition to protecting children from accidents, remind them of "stranger danger" on Halloween. Teach children to visit only well-lit homes. Tell them to avoid dark streets and to not enter unknown homes. Kids should show their candy to parents before eating it. Homemade treats from people they don't know shouldn't be eaten.

Several decades ago, Stephanie Hayhurst-Hall was one of them.

“I grew up knowing I was adopted and I always wanted to give back,” says the Clarksburg, W.Va., State Farm^® agent.

Stephanie was adopted from the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia. Six years ago, she and her husband, Jason Hall, decided to become foster parents through the same organization. The couple and their 5-year-old son, Carson, opened their home to two children.

“The adoption process can be emotionally taxing,” Stephanie says. “I can say that because I was adopted. You have to figure out how to deal with that your whole life. And there were times I didn’t feel good about it.”

A 7-month-old boy spent a bit of time with the family before permanently moving in with his biological grandparents. An 18-month-old girl found her forever home.

“We still have a relationship with the little boy and his grandparents. His grandmother sends us pictures so we get to see him grow up. It was so rewarding to help him reunite with his grandparents and still be a part of his life,” Stephanie says.

Stephanie and Jason got the call about their now daughter, Sophia, about two months after reuniting their first foster child with his grandparents. Their home is a foster to adoption home, which means any child they receive could potentially lead to an adoption.

“When you foster to adopt, you get a call out of the blue and they provide you with very minimal information about the child. You just have to follow your heart and take a chance,” she says. “The legal process to determine if the parents’ rights will be terminated to the adoption process took almost two years.”

Stephanie was open with her son about the adoption process and has been honest with her now 5-year-old daughter about her own experience.

“My parents were always open with me. When I was 5, I started asking questions and they answered them honestly. My children deserve the same honesty,” she says.

“It took several months to become a certified foster parent and Carson went through everything with us. We wanted him to understand that many children don’t have parents, shelter, clothes or toys. We wanted him to be empathetic with the children he goes to school with who may not have the things he has,” Stephanie says.

“As I’ve gotten older, I now realize what a gift adoption was, and I hope my daughter feels that way, too.”

The Hall family just moved to a new home and are feeling settled enough to begin the process of fostering again to adopt another child.

“We’re at a place where we want to welcome another child. We have the space in our new home and will be able to help a child who will be a good fit for our family.

“Adoption is a wonderful thing, but it often comes from a loss. A lot of children experience trauma, and adoption is where the healing can begin.”

That was a real-life look for Shane into the drug problem facing America, in particular youths.

Now a country music recording artist and live performer, Shane has connected with thousands of high school students through his music behind the support of State Farm^® agents in Ohio and West Virginia.

Shane performed a couple dozen live shows at 30 high schools earlier this year. There is no charge to the students or school. Shane and his band set up in the gym or auditorium and play to hundreds of students. He always plays his song “Tattoos” and shares a message about staying clean.

“I had such an incredible experience after the first one,” Shane says. “I never would have thought my favorite show of the year would be playing to a couple thousand sober high school kids.”

Shane’s tour was part of the Drug Free Clubs of America, a voluntary program established in 2005, in which high school students with parental permission submit to voluntary drug testing.

State Farm agents donated resources to keep Shane, his band and operation going from town to town.

Leigh Greene, Wheelersburg, Ohio, was one who supported the tour. Leigh and Shane first met when he became a customer.

“We talked about his risk of being on the road, and he also shared his idea for the concert series at high schools,” says Leigh. “He asked about a sponsorship and said he was going to take his idea to other agents.

“I wanted to get involved because our family had a State Farm agent when I was growing up who had a great impact on my family. He meant a lot to many people because he was so grassroots. I am trying to create an office just like he did.”

Other participating agents were Dave Strickland, Chillicothe, Ohio; Dan McPherson, Parkersburg, W.Va.; Lorri Grisell, Wheeling, W.Va.; Zach Bradley, Canal Winchester, Ohio; Matt Coyne, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

“The agents gave me the confidence that we could do this and it would make a difference,” says Shane.

More than 8 million children under the age of 18 live with at least one substance dependent or substance-abusing parent*.

Jhanise Cardona knows first-hand about these statistics.

“My mother fought with drug addiction my whole life, and my father was incarcerated,” says Jhanise,” so I was basically the adult in my family. After witnessing things a child should never witness, at age 11 I left my home to go live with my grandfather.”

After hearing about the State Farm^® Neighborhood Assist grant program, Jhanise nominated the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua, N.H. (BGCGN) for consideration.

Neighborhood Assist grants are awarded annually to amazing causes doing amazing work to help others. One of last year’s 40 winners, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua, N.H., used its grant to help those hurt most by a loved one’s addiction – the children.

The $25,000 grant helps support Camp Mariposa. Mariposa is a bi-monthly weekend camp started in 2016 by the BGCGN for 8- to 12-year-olds who have been negatively affected by addiction in their families.

“I went to the Boys and Girls Club to escape my reality and find a sense of normalcy,” says Jhanise. “At the Club, there are many opportunities to better yourself, from coding classes to cheerleading clinics. Kids who go there see there is something better for them out there. I knew winning the grant could really make a difference.”

State Farm Agent Dan Bantham, Merrimack, N.H., attends a fundraiser for BGCGN every year. “I noticed the Club was a contender for a Neighborhood Assist grant and helped get the word out in support of the cause. The community really got behind it and helped make the Club a winner."

“Five other agents joined me to attend the check presentation ceremony at Camp Mariposa,” says Dan. “We took a tour of the facilities and met camp workers, as well as many of the kids. Some of the kids have been through incredible hardships and this camp is a great place for them to get away from their current life situation and just be kids.”

Today, Jhanise is a counselor at the Camp.

“I’m so thankful Camp Mariposa is going to benefit from the grant,” says Jhanise. “The camp provides these children with counseling and caring adults some, like me, who understand what they are going through on a personal level. I’m so happy to be able to give back and show these kids it’s possible to be more than just their original story.”

*Sobernation.com

Es tiempo de regresar a la escuela. Una época emocionante para los pequeñines a medida que adquieren independencia, hacen nuevas amistades y aprenden. Pero puede ser estresante para los padres.

¿Estará seguro mi hijo en el autobús escolar? ¿Sabrá qué hacer cuando se le acerque un extraño? ¿Sabe qué hacer en caso de emergencia?

Estas son sólo algunas de las preguntas que se hacen muchos padres.

La Vernon Police Athletic League (PAL) de New Jersey, con el apoyo de State Farm, ayuda a contestar estas preguntas. Cada agosto, los estudiantes que entran a kindergarten participan, una semana, en el Safety Town de PAL.

Bajo el programa, profesionales tales como los oficiales de policía, los coordinadores de prevención de lesiones, los maestros de escuela y los agentes de State Farm conducen sesiones educativas para niños de cuatro y cinco años. Los temas incluyen bicicleta, autobús, incendio, agua y seguridad relacionada con la electricidad así como educación financiera.

“Yo creía que sería aburrido hablar de dinero, pero fue realmente interesante”, dijo Bella, una pequeña de cinco años, acerca de la presentación sobre educación financiera del agente de State Farm Tom Ziegenbalg.

Dog bites are one of the most preventable injuries to children. But without a basic understanding of dog body language and how to be a responsible pet owner, children are repeatedly put into harm’s way. In fact, the most common age for dog bite attacks is children between 5-12 years old.

Kindness is Powerful is a new joint effort to educate children on dog safety. State Farm is teaming up with celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, kindness ambassador Megan Blake with Super Smiley, and Leah Brewer with 2013 Hero Dog of the Year, Elle the pit bull.

Kindness is Powerful focuses on teaching the value of kindness, positivity, and how to be responsible around dogs. The campaign also focuses on children and providing messaging around the need for education on dog bite prevention. Dogs trained through the State Farm Arson Dog Program participate by conducting demonstrations and sharing information about working dogs.

What will event attendees learn about?

Celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, from the Animal Planet show “It’s Me or the Dog,” provides important information about how dogs see people and interact with us.

Ambassadors of Kindness Super Smiley and Megan Blake demonstrate how being kind and respectful to dogs can result in a life-long friendship with your pet.

The importance of a dog’s body language and proper etiquette to employ when approaching dogs is demonstrated by Leah Brewer and Elle the pit bull.

Kindness is Powerful works with local organizations (YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, community organization, schools, etc.) to host Kindness is Powerful events for elementary and junior high age school children.

For more information:

• All Dog Breeds Deserve a Chance

• Victoria Stilwell: Information and Resources to Help Reduce Dog Related Injuries

• Elle the Pit Bull webpage

• State Farm Canine Assist Team Starting 5

Your influence informs their perspective on being safe. You hear and see it in the way kids talk about and put safety into practice. Take action to keep kids safe from preventable injuries. Talk to them, demonstrate safe behaviors and share these State Farm tips so they will be safe, not “afraid anymore!

Find more tips on pedestrian and bike safety at SafeKids.org.

But the Vestal and Binghamton communities in the Southern Tier of New York state are more than up for the challenge.

The Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, one of the top equipped public observatories in the Northeast, opened its doors in 1974. Today, there are plans to expand the center, creating a science park with an outdoor learning facility, a playground and a (STEM) educational experience.

Currently, Kopernik serves 10,000 people annually. The goal is to double the visitors through expanded programming and the new science park.

Sounds like a great plan. But the community needed more funding. Fortunately, the Junior League of Binghamton heard about the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant program through a local State Farm agent, Dean Hurley.

Not only did they win one of the 40 grants, but the crowdsourcing program helped kick off the half-million dollar science park project campaign. It reenergized the community about the need and importance of STEM programs. “We will have playground equipment unlike any other playground in the area. It will be a destination for people of the Southern Tier and tourists,” said Rachel Consolazio, a member of the Junior League of Binghamton.

“There’s opportunities to have a merry-go-round that has a generator built into it, so as the kids are running around, they’re creating electricity and running devices. Or, they might learn about friction through a slide,” said Drew Deskur, Director of the Kopernik Observatory and Science Center.

Soon the new, expanded (and free!) park will be open. Those goals aren’t so lofty anymore.

Across the country, schools are teaching students, not just with a text book, but by getting their hands dirty. Literally. And, with the help of State Farm, they are helping their communities and the environment in the process.

Crellin Elementary teaches students how to keep the body and the planet healthy

Your chicken door needs to be closed each day at a certain time? What do you do? If you are a fifth grader at Crellin Elementary in Maryland, you build an automatic chicken door that runs on solar power.

From working in the greenhouse, cleaning the wool from a sheered sheep, to taking a walk to learn about the hemlocks, Crellin Elementary Students (K-5) are learning in unique ways.

The kids, along with their parents and teachers, learn about healthy, sustainable lifestyles and how to protect the environment. They feed the animals, plant vegetables and compost leftovers from school lunches. And the students don’t mind doing their chores…at school.At the school, they also have a lab the students use to study and collect data.

After spending time in the barn, first graders were curious about which roosting box the hens preferred when laying eggs. For two months, regardless of the weather, these little scientists went to the barn to collect data. Using the results, the second graders prepare the “Sunshine Farm” eggs to sell.

“Using the environment to teach content skills and processes is part of the approach to teaching and learning,” said Principal Dana McCauley. ”(They) strive to be self-sustaining at Crellin by tying agriculture into the curriculum.”

Virginia Chance School “Green Team” creates organic garden and compost system

The Virginia Chance School in Louisville, Kentucky has an eight-member “Green Team”. The chosen fourth and fifth graders annually lead the environmental and energy conservation charge at the independent school for children age two through fifth grade.

The Green Team’s first big undertaking in 2012 was overseeing the building of a 60-foot greenhouse to create an organic garden and compost system.

“The building of the greenhouse really changed our school and our learning environment for the better,” says Ms. Cummins, the lead teacher.

Subsequent Green Teams have introduced an Aquaponics system into the greenhouse, planted a rain garden, and built rain barrels. Next on the horizon is building a chicken coop.

The produce the students grow is used as fresh snacks for the student body, student-run farmers market, cooking classes, monthly taco dinners. Leftovers are donated to a local food bank.

In May of 2015, the National Energy Education Development Project named the Chance School the top elementary school in the country. “I think what made their project stand out is the ability to tie in growing their own food and conserving water into energy conservation,” said Ms. Cummins.

The school was honored by a visit from First Lady Jane Beshear of Kentucky in recognition of all of the great things the Green Team is accomplishing.

Tucker County High School grows 50,000 bedding plants

High school students can get into the action too. At Tucker County HS in Hambleton, West Virginia, students are learning valuable life skills.

Through the Farm to School program, the students sell their produce directly to the high school or other schools. The school’s cafeteria is now serving meals with produce grown in the greenhouse.

The culinary program, part of the career & technical education program, has also expanded with the addition of fresh produce from the greenhouse. Students learn how to can and preserve fresh produce for school meals.

Last year, 50,000 bedding plants were grown in the high school green house and sold to the community and surrounding counties.

With these programs in place, TCHS can make money from the greenhouse facilities and culinary programs to, ultimately, help support the students

Hope can come in many forms.

In Albany, Oregon, hope may show up in your driveway as a twelve-passenger, 2003 Lincoln Towncar driven by a charismatic, passionate and caring local insurance agent.

By day, Mike Speten can be found double-checking his customers’ coverages or helping them recover from the unexpected. However, by night, he is a willing chauffeur of families and individuals facing personal challenges in their lives.

Mike’s drive for helping his community is guided by more than a GPS. It is fueled by a combination of faith, positivity and an unwavering passion to assist.

Blessing others with a night out on the town

In March 2014, Mike and fellow insurance agent, Ron Brockman formed the nonprofit H.O.P.E. Albany. Typically the two are business competitors, but not in this effort. Together, their mission is to find people struggling. They then provide respite from illness, job worries, or a brush with tragedy by gifting folks a night on the town.

Focus on Community.

“A majority of my conversations with members of the community were about the negative things going on in the media. Crime, poverty, problems in schools, and family struggle were all reoccurring headlines in our community news. It weighs heavy on our hearts and minds,” says Speten.

H.O.P.E. Albany’s mission was born from the recognition of those challenges and takes action to help those in the community facing them.

Leads on who might need some H.O.P.E. come from the community. The organization is not only looking to help families with financial barriers, they look for where offering the gift of time together with family and friends can inspire hope. They then utilize the talent, resources, and goodwill of the community to make a special memory happen.

"Families and individuals facing challenges in life sometimes need a short break from it all which is exactly what H.O.P.E. Albany provides…along with a little bit of style and pampering,” says Speten.

The "P” in the organization’s name represents how these special occasions are realized. Partnering with local businesses and individuals is essential to success. H.O.P.E Albany’s partners - local, statewide and divine - are essential in making a request not just a reality but also a treasured memory.

No request has been more memorable than one made by the staff at South Albany High School. They were seeking help for a special student facing dire circumstances. Diagnosed with a brain tumor and given only months to live, the teen’s medical expenses were piling up. Her family could not afford for their daughter to attend her senior prom.

Not only did the organization help her and friends go to prom, but the school, police department and local businesses united to make sure they had a fancy dinner, limousine, and a fun activity to make it a special night for her and a cherished memory for the family.

Thanks are often paid to H.O.P.E. Albany with tears of joy, letters of gratitude, and long lasting friendships.

“After an event, emotions are all over the map. Sometimes, I get a chance to sit with these families for dinner and talk about life. Honestly, I feel I am more blessed spending time with them than they may feel after the event,” says Speten.

The goal is to make a difference in one family’s life when they are facing a tough time. However, it is often the case that theirs are not the only spirits lifted. After hearing about the experiences of those who get the H.O.P.E. treatment, others in the community are inspired.

"Sometimes a family we helped goes out and does something special for someone else that is struggling. At that moment we know we made an impact in this community,” concludes Speten.

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.

Driving enthusiasts are inspired by something different. Top end speed, exotic styling, precise handling and premium performance brand names find their way in the dreams and garages of those who have a fascination with the sports car.

With price tags sometimes in the six-figure range, the dream of driving a high-end car remains just that, a dream. For a select few, the passion for these specialized vehicles becomes an obsession and reality.

For Eric Peterson and his wife Amity of Portland, Oregon their passion for exotic automobiles has led to a garage with a dozen luxury high-end sports cars. Their collection includes dream rides like the Ferrari F430 F1 Spider, the McLaren MP4-12C Spider, and the Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe. To own just one of these vehicles is special, but to have a collection of them is a phenomenal blessing.

For the blessings the Peterson’s have been afforded in life through personal business and career ventures, they are equally driven by their passion to give back to the community. One of the many reasons they founded the non-profit, Dream Drives for Kids.

“Amity and I believe Dream Drives for Kids is our vehicle to give back to our community which is something we feel strongly about. The initial response and support we received locally let us know that we were definitely onto something,” said Eric.

So how does a garage full of luxury cars give back? It has been the Peterson’s experience in collecting these amazing cars; children are drawn to them. The mission of the non-profit is to create the greatest amount of joy, for as many children and their families as possible with the cars.

“It’s really a simple thing that we do — show off some fancy cars, go for a short drive, and give out some cool presents — but the response we get lets us know that it is working for everyone involved,” said Eric.

The children served by the Dream Dives for Kids program are racing toward more than just a finish-line, but recovery from significant medical challenges and life-threatening illness. By participating in a dream ride, they get to trade in being sick for smiles, laughter and joy for several hours.

The children are able to select one of the cars from the garage on the day of their Dream Drive. The kids and their families are encouraged to explore, ask questions and take pictures of the entire collection during their visit to the Dream Drives garage.

During the child’s drive, safety is the number one concern. Younger children are carefully buckled in using appropriate booster or child safety seats to both the parent’s and Peterson’s satisfaction.

“Sometimes the kids and I talk about the cars, sometimes we talk about their health, doctors and hospitals, but more often than not we just talk about life, tell jokes, and enjoy the ride. It’s important to me to make a sincere connection with each child so that they are comfortable, able to relax and have fun,” said Eric.

Families participate in the Dream Drive by following along, ensuring that the kids are never far from their parents. Both the roar of the powerful engines and excitement from the child’s experience is captured on video to create a memory of the child’s special day.

“My goal on every single drive is to see big smiles, hear laughter, and return the child to mom and dad; having them excitedly tell about what a great time they had,” said Eric.

The Peterson’s drive to give back does not stop with their own garage. Dream Drives for Kids has started to expand their efforts outside of Portland through the “Sit and Snap” program. “Sit and Snap” connects generous car owners with families across the country and gives children amazing access to rare and exotic sports cars.

The Peterson’s Portland garage of trophy cars continues to help create a scrapbook of happy memories a community can share in cherishing. “We have moms and dads in tears seeing their child smile for the first time in years, but they are tears of joy,” said Eric.

“There was a gentleman from a school district in Texas, and he said that they looked at the number of students that were not reading at grade level at fourth grade to determine the number of prison beds they would need ten years down the road,” said Debbie Clark, a retired teacher from Hinton Area Elementary School in Hinton, West Virginia. “The next day I looked into [how many of our students were reading below grade level,] and when I found out ours was above 57 percent, I thought, we have to do something.”

Soon thereafter, Clark and Pat Mick, a fellow retired teacher, decided to tackle this problem by addressing student’s nutritional needs, noting the link between nutrition and school achievement. “If you’re hungry, you can’t focus, you can’t do your schoolwork, you’re always thinking about your stomach growling,” observed Karen Bollinger, a reading specialist with the school.

“In the first three years of a student’s school[ing], they learn to read; after that it’s read to learn,” said Mick. The conclusion: these critical years help dictate future success.

Yummy Bags: Food for Thought

So this year, the two of them started Yummy Bags. Yummy Bags’ mission is to address both issues – education and nutrition. The organization provides nutritious meals to third and fourth graders with low reading proficiency at Hinton Area Elementary, in a community with a very high unemployment rate.

Select students get to take home meals for the weekend when they’re not in school and getting the food provided there. In addition, books are also distributed with the hope students will continue to read, or someone reads to them, until they’re back at school on Monday.

Launching in March 2014, Yummy Bags started their service to 15 students. By June, that number was up to 45 and now they are serving, on average, more than 60 students each week.

“Someone cares about them.”

The community has rallied to the cause as well. This past May, their votes of support helped Yummy Bags earn a State Farm Neighborhood Assist® grant of $25,000. To continue to build the education piece in tandem with the nutrition piece, this additional funding will help Yummy Bags launch an after-school tutoring program in 2015. Here, trained adult leaders will work with students on their reading proficiency.

Thanks to this program, teachers are already seeing improvements. “Attendance has improved, because they know every Friday they’re going to get it and they need to be here – and [they know] someone cares about them,” says Bollinger.

With programs like Yummy Bags, kids can focus on school work and not when they’ll be able to eat their next meal. As Bollinger puts it, “When we put the bag in their backpack, you see their face light up and a bright smile and you know that you’ve done something good for that child.”

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.

“I think that with the movement of the horse, and sitting on the horse, it’s making neurological connections, helping areas of the brain that control the balance,” said Lisa, Giovanni’s mother. “He’s now able to sit up straight on his horse, and he’s walking a lot straighter.”

The Nicholas’ are not alone in seeing the benefits of riding. They are just some of the clients of Therapeutic Riding and Off-Track Rehabilitation. T.R.O.T.R., based in Woodland, CA near Sacramento, specializes in the therapy.

“The children that we help have a variety of issues,” said Shannon Johnson, Executive Director for T.R.O.T.R. “I know quite a few of the kids I work with are on the autism spectrum.”

The benefits of therapeutic riding are seen by parents and instructors, and studies are helping to identify the scope of the improvements (see infographic). Researchers and advocates theorize that the combination of physical and mental stimulation, and the immersive environment inherent in riding, plays a role.

The operation differs from a normal stable in many ways. For one, instructors and staff are in close contact with the riders to protect them. And the environment is shaped to suit the needs of riders.

For example, T.R.O.T.R. recently underwent upgrades including a new softer riding surface, a ramp to help load kids onto the horses, and equipment to maintain the arena, funded by a grant won in the State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist program.

For some kids, these improvements are critical – larger children would be unable to mount their horses without the assistance of the ramp, for example.

But the effort pays off.

“It’s nothing but joy when you bring the kids out here and put them on the horses,” said John Bolden, president of Board of Directors of T.R.O.T.R. “The smiles come over their faces and they light up. That’s what it’s all about.”

With Who Let the Dogs Out blaring in the gymnasium and the friendly Neigh Bear dancing to the music, State Farm Fire Claim Representative Carolyn Pitre and her band of puppeteers take the stage at LaSalle Elementary in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in hopes of preventing dog bite injuries with children.

For nearly 15 years, this dog bite program has taught thousands of children dog safety. It all started with an old refrigerator box and the handy State Farm educational booklet “Fido – Friend or Foe?” Over the years, with the help of Carolyn’s dad, the puppets have earned a real stage and continue to develop their program. As a former school teacher, Carolyn feels right at home in front of 200 pre-K to first graders and loves carrying on this message year after year.

“It’s all about education and prevention. I’ve worked some really bad dog bite claims over the years, and we want to do our part to educate little ones on safety with dogs,” states Carolyn.

Careful Clara (Karen Hope), Safety Sam (Troy Alfred) and Watchful Willy (Barry Hunter) teach the kids all types of dog etiquette and safety. The kids learn how to let the dog smell their fist first like a “hand shake,” and how to roll up into a ball in case a dog does attack. With help from Cassandra Whitty and Marvin Snyder, the practice session helps to ensure that all the kids are prepared to interact safely with dogs. Karen, Troy, Barry, Cassandra and Marvin all know the facts about dog safety and share the knowledge they’ve learned on the job at State Farm.

Whether a dog is a family friend or a stray on the street, the kids of LaSalle Elementary leave the State Farm puppet show each year with knowledge that could save their life.

“You can imagine, I’m at the height [of success], you know what I mean?” remembers Rob. “And then one call. Boom. It’s done.”

In the months and years that followed, Sims struggled with the void left by his father, known in his playing days as the “Gentle Giant,” whom Sims remembers as “a real country man” from Union, South Carolina.

“He was just the best person you would ever meet,” Sims said. “He would take anybody in. He would feed anybody, clothe anybody, anything he could do.”

Finding help, delivering a message of hope

Despite his success in the years following his father’s passing, Sims found himself feeling empty – until he was able to work through his long-standing grief and focus his attention back out to the community, living the way his father would have lived and helping others who suffer loss like he did.

Sims and his family have learned to take their love of Mickey and focus it outward. Now, Sims honors his father by helping others who are on the same journey and raising funds for Cornerstone of Hope so that it can help others find peace.

Cornerstone of Hope, in Cleveland, Ohio, was founded by Mark Tripodi and his wife, Christy, after the loss of their son. The organization is supported by State Farm.

“When we tried to find support in our town, in our community, it was exhausting,” Tripodi remembers. “I’m proud to say that we’ve been in the community for many years now. And all of our programs are geared towards serving grieving children, teens and adults.”

A father’s lasting legacy

And Sims reminds others through his words and deeds what it means to be a father and to leave a lasting legacy: from the memories of a life well lived that children carry, to ensuring the economic security of the family through life insurance and financial responsibility, to doing good works in the community that last long after a man is gone.

“Everybody’s got a time, everybody has got a day when it’s going to be over,” Sims says. “But you leave your mark, just by being the person you are while you’re here and setting your family up for the future.”

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It’s that time of year…the sizzle of the grill, the smell of fresh cut grass, flowers in bloom, family vacations, baseball, and of course cooling off while enjoying the water. Unfortunately, along with the fun being in and around water can bring, it is also the time of year when we hear and read about the tragedy of water related accidents and deaths.

An alarming fact to consider is how fast it happens.

This summer, you can be a good neighbor by making your pool safer for kids. Call a specialist in your area for an inspection and remember these tips:

1. If it’s not a designated time for enjoying the pool, make it impossible for the kids to sneak out alone.

2. Restrict access to above ground pools.

3. Make sure your pool is surrounded by a fence.

And whether you are at the pool or the beach, here are a few things to do when you’re with kids around water:

4. Be part of the action

5. Keep your eyes on the kids at all times. Always stay within arm’s reach of young children and put down the phones.

6. Remember, friends make everything more fun!

Enjoy your summer and keep your family safe. Visit www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/water-safety for more safety tips.