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.

Neighbors across the country will soon have an exciting opportunity to help change their communities for the better through State Farm Neighborhood Assist^®. The program awards $25,000 grants to 40 nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood improvement projects.

According to a recent State Farm research study, one-quarter of respondents say they are “extremely” or “very” involved in trying to improve their neighborhood and six-in-10 are trying to improve their neighborhood in some capacity.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist can be a catalyst for that change.

Here’s how the program works:

Submission Phase: Starts June 2 and ends when 2,000 submissions are reached

Individuals can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com starting June 2. You can prepare now by going to the website and downloading the submission guide. We will accept the first 2,000 submissions. The State Farm Review Committee will then narrow the field to the Top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric.

Voting Phase: August 18-27

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 Aug. 18-27, for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Winners Announced: September 29

The 40 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

“State Farm is pleased to bring back Neighborhood Assist for its tenth year,” said Rasheed Merritt, assistant vice president at State Farm. “This program is all about building stronger neighborhoods together.”

Last year, 145,000 people cast 3.9 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Since the program began, more than 340 causes have received a total of $9 million to enact change in their communities.

WATCH: Happy #GoodNeighborDay! We’ve teamed up with @StateFarm & @anthonyanderson to show us ways to get involved by volunteering! pic.twitter.com/R3DGelXXng

In honor of Good Neighbor Day, State Farm, the Good Neighbor brand, is organizing volunteer opportunities at events across the country throughout September and October as part of its Neighborhood of Good®. Volunteer opportunities will support local needs in education, family well-being and youth services. Established nearly 40 years ago today, Good Neighbor Day, September 28^th, highlights the role every neighbor plays in making a positive impact on local communities.

Collaborating with nonprofits, events are planned for Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Philadelphia and Phoenix, and in 30 additional cities. Each and every neighbor is encouraged to join and invite a friend, family member or coworker in honor of Good Neighbor Day to volunteer and double the impact in every community. To find an event near you or additional ways to volunteer visit www.NeighborhoodofGood.com.

Good Neighbor Day is an important moment that reminds us to roll up our sleeves, get involved and make a positive contribution. From the elderly neighbor down the street who needs help with yard work to the neighbor across the country who needs large-scale disaster relief, we know together we can turn caring into doing.

In further support of local communities, State Farm today announced the winners of its annual Neighborhood Assist® grant program. In its sixth year, the Neighborhood Assist grant program provides $25,000 grants to 40 causes that help make communities safer, stronger or better educated. The program asks individuals to identify, submit and vote on causes, with the top organizations receiving grants. To learn more about the program or to see the winning organizations, visit www.NeighborhoodAssist.com.

Together we can turn the power of caring into the act of doing in neighborhoods across the country.

• Parents: Ideas to Volunteer Together

The State Farm Volunteerism Survey sought to understand how and why U.S. residents volunteer and the role it plays in communities across the country. The data indicated people want to volunteer with people they know (77 percent) and close to home (33 percent for a neighbor and 21 percent in the local community).

Additionally, the survey revealed people still want to get involved - they just need a few suggestions to get started. With these key findings, State Farm wants to provide families with ideas that can be quick, easy, and include everyone.

Here are some tips to get families volunteering in their neighborhood:

• Make it creative: Tap into your kids’ creativity by drawing pictures and writing cards to send to veterans.

• Meet your elders: Grab a family 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.

• Make a healing meal: Through online services, it’s easier than ever to sign up to help a family or friend after illness, injury or even birth. Sign up to make dinner and ask your kids to help make the menu and meal.

• Get active: Sign up to volunteer as a family 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 a gift, to fill a care package and give to a local shelter or other person in need.

• Go outside: Find a local park or beach that needs to be cleaned up. Kids can wear protective gloves to pick up trash and feel great about making an immediate difference.

Parents can find summer volunteer opportunities by searching NeighborhoodofGood.com related to all the tips above and more.

Download and share these tipsheets with full details:

• State Farm Volunteerism Study: Ideas for Families

• Volunteerism Research Data Highlights

Ever wonder what thieves look for before breaking into a home? Well, we asked one…

Two teen boys speed up to a quiet house on their bikes. They look just like what they are: two young teens from middle-class backgrounds. But they also look nothing like what they are: repeat criminals intent to break into this house.

Charlie London* was one of those boys. Despite his relatively stable upbringing, he’d been shoplifting from local stores for a few years. Now, he was scoping out bigger game. His paper route let him pick likely targets; he and his friend would come back later to rob them. They were successful often enough to keep doing it, again and again, until the police officer showed up on London’s doorstep. Soon after, he found himself heading into the juvenile detention system. The good news—for London most of all—is that he is now a grown-up in every sense of the word: a happily married father to two young kids, and a teacher of adolescents. He turned his life around.

So we asked London to share what would have deterred him back in the day. The following actions may reduce your risk of a home burglary.

*not his real name

Keep the Lights On

“We have our house well lit all the time—24 hours a day,” says London. It won’t slow down a daytime break-in, but if a burglar has to choose between a brightly lit home and a darkened one, guess which one he’s more likely to go for? The Department of Justice classifies outdoor lighting as a security device—it’s that important. If you’d like to keep the electric bill down, motion sensors turn them on only when someone is stirring.

Trim the Hedges

Weed your garden and shovel your walk. If you don’t maintain your yard, it looks like you’re not home—and that’s very inviting. Also tall, overgrown shrubs make it easy for a thief to break in without someone noticing them. “You have to harden your target,” said London. Not only does an overgrown landscape provide cover to an intruder, but it can make it easier for thieves to climb in, so keep your lawn and garden tidy.

Fake a Daily Presence

You might be surprised at who is paying attention. “I was a paperboy back when I was breaking and entering,” explains London, “so I was familiar with all the households and their routines.” He knew when their occupants were home and when they weren’t—and if someone went out of town, he picked up on subtle cues. Foil similar burglars—have someone pick up your mail and packages. You can also leave a radio or TV on inside, giving the impression that someone’s at home—and awake. Or invest in a remote switch on system so you can control your lights or TV throughout the day. Also, when you do leave on vacation, minimize the amount of time your bags are visible on the curb.

Give Thieves a Sign

“If I saw a sticker for a home security system, that would have been enough of a deterrent recalls London. “Once, we broke into a house and an alarm went off. We immediately turned around and just ran.” Stickers for a home security system are one trick; another is a trusty BEWARE OF DOGS posting. “Dogs certainly would have discouraged me from breaking in, even though I knew my way around dogs,” points out London. If you happen to love dogs and can afford a home surveillance system, by all means go for it! But if you’re allergic or cash is tight, fake it with signs. Dummy surveillance cameras enhance the illusion and are not difficult to put up.

Invest In Double-Glazed Windows

There’s a reason you see barred windows in high-crime areas, after all—glass is vulnerable. Anyone can break it. “Once we made sure no one was home and no one was in visual range,” explains London, “our methods were very unsophisticated. We simply cracked a window.” If your windows are uncrackable small-time burglars, like London, are thwarted. Double-glazed windows are an expense, but they also help to insulate your home more effectively and cut down on street noise. Can’t afford it? At least keep your windows locked.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

While many robbery deterrents from London’s day remain unchanged, there’s a lot of new technology out there, ”home security was less sophisticated back then, and in our neighborhood it was also less prevalent,” he says. Today, home monitoring systems can make it far easier to keep your property secure even when you’re out of town. Systems like ADT Pulse and the Iris Smart Kit from Lowe’s allow you to keep an eye on your home remotely through a smartphone or tablet. Discourage intruders by using home automation features that allow you to lock doors remotely or sound an alarm and record video if your front door opens unexpectedly. With all the recent advancement in technology, a home monitoring system is a great way to deter intruders and keep an eye on your home while away.

…But Not Your Disadvantage

It’s all well and good to be wired and connected, but consider who might be connected to your connections. Never advertise your comings and goings on social media—78 percent of burglars in a British poll said they’ve used Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare and other social media platforms to target likely properties. More than half said online status updates clued them in to who was home—and who wasn’t. First things first—turn off location services on your phone, which bad guys can (and do) use to figure out where you are. If you’re on a fabulous vacation, wait till you’re home to post the photos to Instagram.

Store Things in Less Obvious Places

Even if you do everything right, a burglar still can make it in, so keep your stuff out of harm’s way. Don’t keep jewelry in the master bedroom—don’t keep prescription drugs in the medicine cabinet. Burglars want to get out quick, so if they don’t find what they’re looking for in the first 10 minutes, they’ll leave rather than search. And for heaven’s sake, don’t leave your house keys near the doorway! According to the British poll, more than half of those surveyed said homeowners practically invited them inside, leaving their keys easily accessible.