We’re celebrating Good Neighbor Month by highlighting a few of the 2022 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant winners!

“Getting $25,000 is like winning the lottery and will allow us to provide more training and more employment for a young adult with a disability,” said Lisa Graham, founder and director of Brewhaus Bakery & Dog Bones in Cincinnati, OH.

Watch the video to see the positive impact of Neighborhood Assist grants on these communities. #GoodNeighborCheck

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.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm recognizes the good neighbor spirit in the organizations that will be implementing these community improvement projects,” said Rasheed Merritt, Assistant Vice President at State Farm. “We are proud to support their efforts.”

Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in June at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists and public voting determined the 40 grant winners. In the 10 years of the program, more than 380 causes have received a total of $10 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s winning causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit based in San Antonio, received a grant in both 2019 and 2020.

“Our mission is to provide aid, comfort and resources to our service members, wounded heroes and veterans of all generations,” said Soldiers’ Angels President Amy Palmer.

San Antonio is home to 153,000 veterans -- the most densely populated veteran community in Texas, with more than 7 percent earning income that is below the national poverty level. The low-income veterans served by Soldiers’ Angels have tremendous needs – food, transportation, physical hygiene, housing, to name a few. Through its programs, Soldiers’ Angels honors these veterans by providing for these critical needs so they can maintain a stable and self-sufficient standard of living.

“We do large, once-a-month food distributions, where we distribute about 25,000 pounds of food to veterans,” Amy said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the requests for services has increased almost 60%. Thanks to help from the Neighborhood Assist grant, Soldiers’ Angels was able to keep providing these services, helping more than 2,700 veterans and their families.

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.

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.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm is proud to support the good neighbors who will be implementing the winning projects in their communities,” said Annette Martinez, Senior Vice President at State Farm. “We look forward to seeing the impact of these grants.”

Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in July at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists and public voting determined the 40 grant winners. In the nine years of the program, more than 340 causes have received a total of $9 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s winning causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

State Farm® is giving 40 communities in 22 states an assist to fund neighborhood improvement projects. In just 10 days this fall, 145,000 people cast 3.9 million votes in support of their favorite causes. State Farm is proud to announce the Top 40 vote-getting causes. Each has won a $25,000 grant to benefit their communities.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm is proud to support the good neighbors who will be implementing the winning projects in their communities,” said Annette Martinez, Senior Vice President at State Farm. “We look forward to seeing the impact of these grants.”

Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in July at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists and public voting determined the 40 grant winners. In the nine years of the program, more than 340 causes have received a total of $9 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s winning causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

From Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, U.S. residents, 18 and older with a valid email address, can vote for their favorite cause(s) at www.neighborhoodassist.com. Each of the top 40 vote-getters receives a $25,000 grant.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program. It empowers communities to identify issues and submit them for grant consideration. From 2,000 submissions, the State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists. They represent 36 states.

The top 200 causes have until Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time to rally votes. Voters may cast up to 10 votes per day - using them all on one cause, or spreading them out in any way among multiple causes.

On Nov. 4, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at www.neighborhoodassist.com. 

“During these challenging times, State Farm is pleased to offer grant opportunities through Neighborhood Assist,” said Annette Martinez, State Farm Senior Vice President. “It’s part of our commitment to helping build safer, stronger and better educated communities.”

For a complete list of the top 200 causes or to vote for a cause, go to www.neighborhoodassist.com.

From Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, U.S. residents, 18 and older with a valid email address, can vote for their favorite cause(s) at www.neighborhoodassist.com. Each of the top 40 vote-getters receives a $25,000 grant.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program. It empowers communities to identify issues and submit them for grant consideration. From 2,000 submissions, the State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists. They represent 36 states.

The top 200 causes have until Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time to rally votes. Voters may cast up to 10 votes per day - using them all on one cause, or spreading them out in any way among multiple causes.

On Nov. 4, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at www.neighborhoodassist.com. 

“During these challenging times, State Farm is pleased to offer grant opportunities through Neighborhood Assist,” said Annette Martinez, State Farm Senior Vice President. “It’s part of our commitment to helping build safer, stronger and better educated communities.”

For a complete list of the top 200 causes or to vote for a cause, go to www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Rankin is the executive director of Happy Wheels, a nonprofit organization that provides toys and books for hospitalized children at three hospitals in South Carolina. Although their mission is on hold because of COVID-19, the organization is still working to provide happiness and a distraction for children.

“We’re all about providing a moment of kid time to enjoy non-medical time during their hospital stay. We hear a lot that the Happy Wheels cart is the only bright spot for the kids,” Rankin said. “For those couple of minutes, it takes their mind off what they are there for and lets them be a kid.”

Happy Wheels also focuses on teaching younger generations to give back and help those not as fortunate by providing volunteer service hour opportunities. High school and college students host toy drives or fundraisers for Happy Wheels, and also help Rankin write thank you notes and sort toys into each age group.

Rankin said when Happy Wheels is allowed into the hospitals, about 300-350 kids receive a toy or book a week.

“The best part is seeing the change in their faces when we tell them why we’re there,” she said. “A majority of the kids don’t know who we are, so we knock on the door and they’re skeptical. When they see the cart, the change in their faces is indescribable. The child-like joy and ability to forget everything going on – there is no other feeling like it.”

Happy Wheels received a State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant in 2019.

In its ninth year, State Farm Neighborhood Assist provides $25,000 grants to 40 nonprofits each year to help fund neighborhood improvement projects. Because of the many challenges facing our nation right now, State Farm^® is removing all category requirements for submissions this year. This action will free up communities to submit causes to address their greatest needs.

The submission phase opens July 15 and ends when 2,000 submissions are reached. The State Farm Review Committee narrows the field to the Top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric. The voting phase will then take place Sept. 23-Oct. 2, when voters can vote for their favorite cause 10 times a day, every day. Finally, the 40 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

"Grant programs that address community needs, like Neighborhood Assist, are more important than ever,” said Annette Martinez, State Farm Senior Vice President. “This initiative truly embodies the spirit of being a Good Neighbor.”

Last year, 163,000 people cast 4.4 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities. Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $8 million in support of more than 300 causes.

Rankin is hoping to win again this year.

“As a small nonprofit, it’s difficult to get grants. Neighborhood Assist gives us a chance to compete with the larger nonprofits,” she said. “I’ve never seen a grant process like it. I’m really grateful to State Farm.”

The program will continue to award $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 that 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 July 15 and ends when 2,000 submissions are reached

• Individuals can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com starting July 15. 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: September 23-October 2

• 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 Sept. 23-Oct. 2, for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Winners Announced: November 4

• The 40 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

"Grant programs that address community needs, like Neighborhood Assist, are more important than ever,” said Annette Martinez, State Farm Senior Vice President. “This initiative truly embodies the spirit of being a Good Neighbor.”

Last year, 163,000 people cast 4.4 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $8 million in support of more than 300 causes.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them. It is part of the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® initiative.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country,” said Allison Bertsche, Public Affairs Director at State Farm. “We look forward to seeing the impact these Neighborhood Assist grants will have in their communities.”

Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in June at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists and public voting determined the 40 grant winners. In the eight years of the program, more than 300 causes have received a total of $8 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s winning causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

The Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis (DSAGSL), one of 40 $25,000 State Farm^® Neighborhood Assist^® grant winners in 2019, provides an employment program that supports about 25 individuals seeking jobs and internships. One opportunity is the Pop Up Snack Shop Micro-Business. Fourteen individuals with Down syndrome run the business – from marketing to assembly and direct sales. Snack boxes range from healthy to sweet to salty and more options.

“The Pop Up Snack Shop was a way to provide training and awareness in the community, and it blew up,” says Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis Executive Director Erin Suelmann. “It’s grown so much, we can’t keep up with demand.”

Pop Up Snack Shop sets up in a business’s lobby or office and offers snack boxes for $5. All packing, labeling, set up and sales are handled by individuals with Down syndrome in the employment program.

“They learn service skills, executive functions and sales skills with the Pop Up Snack Shop,” Erin says. “Now we can provide more opportunities for job seekers and put additional revenue back into the program by visiting more businesses each month.”

When DSAGSL learned it was a finalist for the $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant, a social media and email marketing plan was created to get the community involved in the voting phase.

“We did a ton on social media and have a large number of supporter information in our database. We posted on social media every day to make people aware we were finalists and asking them to vote,” Erin says. “This was a great way to raise awareness about what we do and have people rally around us.”

Eureka, Mo., State Farm Agent Kelly Ruby was featured in a video promoting the DSAGSL employment program. She hired Megan Layton from the program five years ago.

“The organization asked us to support their employment initiative to help adults with Down syndrome gain employment outside of the typical workshop or back office setting,” Kelly says. “We have been so lucky to employ Megan Layton. This employment initiative has blossomed, offering adults with Down syndrome the ability to run their own business. The State Farm grant will help this effort grow.”

With the grant, a new van will be purchased for the snack shop, allowing more stops each month.

“Without support of companies like State Farm in ways like this grant, we would not be able to serve our community,” Erin says. “We rely on support of individuals and company partners to provide programming that is life changing. We’re grateful to State Farm for this grant.”

Through the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant program, part of the Neighborhood of Good^®, 40 causes are receiving a $25,000 grant to fund projects in education, safety and community development. In 10 days, 163,000 people cast 4.4 million votes in support of their favorite causes. For a complete list of this year’s Top 40 causes, visit the Neighborhood Assist website.

“When you lose everything, it is natural to be so emotionally attached to the things that you have lost,” Keith says. “It’s a painful process to have to think about everything you lost.

“However, if you take the time to go room by room, opening cabinets and closets and taking pictures or getting it all on video, in a large catastrophe like this, it speeds up the process.”

Keith completed his own home inventory, as well as doing one for his mother. Many of 1,100 customers who filed claims, however, didn’t have one to refer to.

“It is a frustrating process when submitting a claim,” Keith says. “Think about getting asked about everything you own? How many pair of socks, shirts, shoes, pants.”

Santa Barbara, Calif., Agent Irene Henry helped a customer who had a total loss in the Jesusita Fire in 2009 update her home inventory with a smartphone.

“It’s important to update an inventory, or do one if you haven’t already, of the contents of your home” Irene says. “Whether taking pictures or video, or writing down an inventory list, you have that information. If you have a claim, an inventory will make it smoother and easier to process.”

Irene walked customer Mary Knapp through creating an inventory of the Knapp’s home on Mary’s smartphone, opening drawers and cabinets in the kitchen, closets in bedrooms and walking throughout the house recording every detail.

“It’s so important,” says Mary. “It triggers your mind because there is so much you could never be able to recall it later.”

Mary stored the inventory in her phone, and also has it on a backup hard drive. A home inventory can also be emailed to a customer’s agent.

“Recovering from the fires, it has been emotional. It still is,” Keith says. “But the claims were emotionally easier for customers who completed the inventory.”

She found safety and skills there, too.

Deja participated in the Outreach Program through Perennial, a nonprofit that teaches creative skills by reusing materials to make something new. Perennial partners with local programs supporting women in transition, such as former prisoners or survivors of domestic violence or homelessness.

“When we started Perennial, I had done work that served former prisoners and homeless vets. I found it was a fundamental tie to what they were going through – trying to rebuild their lives and transferring that into fixing something and being creative with it,” says Perennial Founder and Executive Director Jenny Murphy.

When Deja first started coming to the shop, she knew exactly what she wanted to make.

“She has really great ideas. Often times, we have people who are more timid. She was ready to create,” Jenny says. With the help of Jenny, Deja made a colorful display for her sunglasses.

“The Outreach Program is a safe space,” Deja says. “With the life experiences I’ve had, I’ve been searching for places I could feel safe. That’s exactly what Perennial is for a lot of women.

“Honestly, it’s going to sound clichéd, but everyone at Perennial is family.”

Jenny founded Perennial as a way to provide a space for people to reuse old, broken, castoff materials and make something new and useful with them.

“My background is in art, so I had this foundation of experience that allowed me to find uses for discarded materials. Without much money for resources, I could make spaces and clothing I wanted,” she says. “There’s so much trash, so I wanted to find a commercial application for it where it’s a community project to educate people and teach those skills.”

Perennial hosts classes for a slew of DIY projects – from home and garden to sewing and fashion to woodworking, upholstery, textiles. Not only do participants get a great piece they made, they can take those new skills and apply them elsewhere.

“Everyone comes from different backgrounds there, but you would think we grew up together. We find common ground and that makes us realize we’re not that different. We all love art,” Deja says.

“Perennial, in so many ways, has saved me. Being from this city, it’s something I never knew was here. It makes me look at my city completely differently. We do have these amazing programs and now I know that. I’m grateful, eternally grateful, for what I’ve gotten out of this program,” she says.

Perennial 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.

Cause submissions will be accepted starting June 5 and will end once 2,000 submissions are reached. The voting phase will follow from Aug. 14-23, where the public can vote for their favorite cause from the list of 200 finalists. The 40 winners will be announced Sept. 25. To submit a cause, visit the Neighborhood Assist website.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them. It is part of the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® initiative which inspires and empowers people to turn caring into doing.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country. We look forward to seeing the changes in these 40 communities because of these Neighborhood Assist grants,” said Allison Bertsche, Public Affairs Director at State Farm.

At least one submission was received from each of the 50 states. The State Farm Review Committee selected the Top 200 finalists from 2,000 submissions. In the seven years of the program, more than 250 causes have received a total of $7 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s Top 40 causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

In the News:

• Forbes:  4 Simple Things Every Leader Should Learn From Being Neighborly (9/28/18)

One winter morning, the danger of that was fully realized.

Devon Spencer was walking to school with a friend on a February morning in 2016 when he was hit by a teenage driver. The saxophone player and basketball and football star died in the hospital five days later from brain injuries related to the crash. The driver was sentenced to five years in prison.

“It was carelessness. It was a mistake,” says Ria Ricks, Devon’s cousin and State Farm^® Claims specialist – Fire, Weather and Catastrophe.

The City of East Brewton submitted a grant with the state of Alabama to put in sidewalks on both sides of the two-lane road, and now, with the help of a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist^® grant, the city can provide its portion of the money to start the project. During the voting process, 167,000 people cast 4.5 million votes in support of their favorite causes.

“This grant will make sure the kids have a safe place to walk to school. East Brewton is a really small, rural area with two schools on Williamson Street. There’s a lot of foot traffic,” Ria, who submitted the cause for the grant, says. “This grant will make the children’s commute easier and safer.”

Ria still tears up when she talks about the day her cousin died.

“When everything happened, they found a pair of shoes on the side of the road, but he had his shoes on him. It turns out he had brought an extra pair of shoes for another student who was being picked on,” she says. “He was the sweetest kid, and so talented and smart.”

The East Brewton Sidewalks for Safety in Memory of Devon Spencer is one of 40 causes receiving a Neighborhood Assist grant in 2018. Ten days of voting pushed the winning 40 out of 200 finalists to the top through the crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country. We look forward to seeing the changes in these 40 communities because of these Neighborhood Assist grants,” said Allison Bertsche, Public Affairs Director at State Farm.

For a complete list of this year’s Top 40 causes, visit www.NeighborhoodAssist.com.

Jesse Bryson, president and founder of I Will Mentorship Foundation in Fort Myers, Fla., works with low- income communities to engage residents in a broad range of gardening and nutrition education programs.

“In Fort Myers, if you think about the beach, you think about luxury. But if you think of the Harlem Lake community, you think of crime,” Jesse says. “It’s one of the poorest communities in the city. There is not a grocery store within a 10-mile radius of most residents. They don’t have access to organic foods because they are not affordable.”

That vacant lot will soon be home to a thriving garden. Using hydroponics and aquaponics in the organization’s lab, 500 pounds of fresh fish and 1,500 pounds of fruits and vegetables will be available every quarter.

“This garden can show people a better way of life,” Jesse says.

Jesse says the $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist^® grant his organization received from State Farm^® last year helped him to pursue this dream. “The grant allowed us to lay the foundation for a beautiful community.”

The 2018 State Farm Neighborhood Assist top 200 finalists have been chosen. The public can vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days – Aug. 15-24 – for their favorite causes from the list of 200 finalists. Forty winning causes will be announced Sept. 25 and will be awarded $25,000 each.

To vote for your favorite cause, visit www.NeighborhoodAssist.com.

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

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country. We look forward to seeing the changes in these 40 communities because of these Neighborhood Assist grants,” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President.

At least one submission was received from each of the 50 states. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists from 2,000 submissions. In the six years of the program, 240 causes have received a total of $6 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of the top 40 causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Help make your community’s cause one of 40 to receive a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant. From August 16 through August 25, anyone with a valid email address can vote for their favorite cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Voters can cast up to 10 votes per day. All 10 votes can go to one cause, or be split among causes. The top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced on Good Neighbor Day, September 28. Each affiliated non-profit receives a $25,000 grant.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program. It empowers communities to identify causes that will have positive impact if funded. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists. The original field of 2000 included at least one cause application from every state.

“Neighborhood Assist is another example of State Farm successfully turning caring into doing in communities all across the U.S.” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President. “The communities themselves play an important role in inspiring people to rally and vote for these important causes.”

For a complete list of the top 200 causes or to vote for a cause, go to www.neighborhoodassist.com.

You might also be interested in:

• The Sound of Hope
• Childhood Poverty Just A Stone’s Throw Away
• A Young Life Lost: A Legacy of Safety
• Things Are Looking Up

It was the Roaring 20’s and George Bohm, from small town Albion, Michigan, was living the dream. A very troubadour existence, traveling the country as a clarinet player with the famous John Philip Sousa Band.

His love of music expanded to other arts. He fell in love with silent films and the ornate movie houses that showed them to the world.

As a gift to his beloved community, he opened the Bohm Theatre on Christmas Day, 1929 and operated the theatre until his death 30 years later.

Like many theatres in small town America, it was the center of the community. A place for families and friends to gather, be entertained and have fun.

But after George’s death, and a revolving door of new owners, the cherished theatre closed its doors in 1991.

“Albion residents were saddened by the closing,” Mary Slater, longtime resident and business owner, said. The community was aware of the financial realities but it was hard to see something tied to so many good memories and a real centerpiece of community shut down.

In the 90’s American commerce changed drastically. Factories and mom and pop stores closed. The dot com bubble boomed – then bombed, leaving small towns like Albion in the rear view mirror. The beautiful Bohm theatre was decaying and presumed beyond repair.

That was until The Friends of the Bohm Theatre was formed and purchased the Theatre in 2011 with the sole mission of restoring it to its original beauty and grandeur.

Work on the once majestic theatre took many years, but the doors finally opened -three months ahead of schedule- in 2014. The passionate group of volunteers received the necessary funds for the restoration from many sources, including State Farm. The town rallied together to win a State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant through an online voting contest, a great example of the Albion community spirit.

“Well-wishers had an opportunity to gaze about the theatre. The restoration really was a monumental success - a magnificent masterpiece replicated to achieve its original homage,” said Nancy Doyal, Executive Director of the Bohm.

The hard work continues to pay off. In May 2015, the Bohm Theatre received the prestigious Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation.

The Bohm has become a place for the community to gather once again but now in a slightly different way. There’s still new movies to entertain residents but it’s also available for live music and community events that are often free to the public. From Blues at the Bohm, a live musical jam session, to a series of weekly matinees for local kids over summer break, the Bohm is once again the jewel of Albion.

In just 10 days, 72,000 people cast 1.8 million votes. As a result, 40 communities, in 25 states, will be getting an assist from State Farm. The $25,000 Farm Neighborhood Assist grants will fund improvements in those communities.  

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced, philanthropic initiative. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country. We look forward to seeing the changes in these 40 communities because of the Neighborhood Assist grants,” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President – Human Resources.

At least one submission was received from each of the 50 states. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB) selected the top 200 finalists from 2,000 submissions. The YAB is a diverse group of 30 students passionate about social responsibility. In the past five years, the program has awarded a total of $5 million to enact local community change.

For a complete list of the top 40 causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Oct. 26, 2016) – Communities across the United States answered the call from State Farm® to submit causes that would make a positive impact in their neighborhoods. Now the top 200 causes need your help by voting for them to bring money to their communities. From October 26 through November 4, anyone with a valid email address can vote for their favorite cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com to help bring a $25,000 grant to each of the top 40 vote-getters.

Two thousand submissions were received through State Farm Neighborhood Assist, a crowd-sourced philanthropic program that empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. At least one cause was received from every state. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board, a group of 30 students who are passionate about social responsibility, reviewed the submissions and selected the top 200 finalists based on criteria they created.

The 200 causes have until Nov. 4 to rally votes and anyone voting is allowed up to 10 votes per day. On Nov. 30, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced and a $25,000 grant will be awarded to each of the affiliated nonprofits.

“Neighborhood Assist is another example of State Farm helping life go right in communities all across the U.S.” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President. “The communities themselves play an important role in inspiring people to rally and vote for these important causes.”

For a complete list of the top 200 causes or to vote for a cause, go to www.neighborhoodassist.com.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (August 23, 2016) – Neighbors across the country will soon have an exciting opportunity to help change their communities for the better through State Farm Neighborhood Assist^®. This philanthropic program awards 40 causes a $25,000 grant. Anyone in the United States can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com from Sept. 1-Sept. 15. Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big.

Returning for its fifth year, State Farm Neighborhood Assist asks individuals to identify causes that would help make their communities safer, stronger, and smarter. Up to 2,000 causes will be accepted. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB) will then narrow down the field, using a scoring rubric to identify the top 200 submissions. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days from Oct. 26-Nov. 4 for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The 40 causes that receive the most votes will win a $25,000 grant.

Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $4 million to communities across North America, supporting a wide variety of causes, including fighting childhood hunger, helping homeless veterans, revitalizing parks, improving literacy, and offering athletic programs for children with disabilities.

“Through State Farm Neighborhood Assist, you can help life go right, right in your neighborhood,” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President. “From identifying an important cause to rallying your community to vote for it, this program is all about neighbors helping neighbors.”

Last year, people cast millions of votes for their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Key Dates for 2016 State Farm Neighborhood Assist:

• Sept. 1-Sept. 15: Submit causes
• Sept. 16-Oct. 21: YAB identifies top 200 finalists
• Oct. 26-Nov. 4: Vote for causes
• Nov. 30: State Farm announces winners

About the Youth Advisory Board

The Youth Advisory Board is comprised of 30 students, ages 17-20, from across the United States and Canada who serve a two-year term. Their directive is to implement a $5 million-a-year signature service-learning initiative to address issues important to youth and communities. The Board is completely autonomous and youth-driven, and funds projects focused on issues selected by the board that impact youth. It consists of a diverse group of full-time students at high schools and universities. Each member commits about 15 hours a month to the Board and participates in three face-to-face meetings per calendar year. The Board will fund the 40 grants awarded through the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program with a portion of its $5 million funding in 2016. For more information on the Youth Advisory Board, visit www.statefarmyab.com.

The town residents enjoy a 360 degree view of mountains, rivers, plains and spectacular coulees without a way to access and enjoy these spots safely. With the support of residents and city and county government, a committee was formed in 2011 to help make a change.

A proposal for an exciting eight mile route, was mapped and broken into segments, all around and through Cut Bank. It would provide access to an untapped world many in the community had never seen. A segment of the trail would be designated a safe route through town to access public recreation spots. The scenery and access are two immediate benefits of the effort, but the trail would also promote Cut Bank as a better place to live, work and visit for generations to come.

This endeavor was a lofty goal, with an immense price tag. But the determination of this small town is as big as the 27 foot concrete penguin landmark that greets visitors as they enter the community.

The trail committee heard about the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant program. Fortunately, Cut Bank was one the 40 winners from across the country in 2015 to win the grant.

Cut Bank could move forward with the most exciting section of the walking trail. This is due to the combination of volunteers, donated materials, and the $25,000 grant. The Coulee Route is a visually stunning 1.5 mile section of trail that follows the natural valley carved out by Cut Bank Creek.

The new paths carved through the Cut Bank community allow residents the opportunity to get out and walk, explore, and be active. “All you need is a pair of shoes,” says Burke McCormick, Route Chairman, Cut Bank Trail.

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.”

Which is why second grade teacher Roger Ebnet wanted to do something about the deteriorating local ball field.

“Sections [of the fencing] were out of the ground, leaning against other pieces, poles totally disconnected, chicken wire from who knows when, rusted and hanging from the top,” said Ebnet. “It was just crazy. It was kind of a mess.”

And in some cases, more than a mess. “We definitely [had] some safety issues on the fields,” said Barb Schwarz, Chairman of the Benson Baseball Association.

The condition of the field was hardly a surprise, given the complex’s heavy use and the fact it is well into its fourth decade of use by many teams and organizations.

“Not only do our students use it for our high school sports and junior high sports, but our community education programs use it, our town baseball team uses it, Legion, [and] VFW,” said Shannon Schmidt, activities director at Benson High School.

But what to do?

Ebnet started researching options and found the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program, which gives $25,000 grants to organizations and programs that build stronger communities.

The top 40 grant recipients are determined by a popular vote online, so Ebnet, after submitting a proposal, became a one-man publicity machine rallying his small community of 3,000 to get online and vote.

And how does a community win according to Ebnet? “You get the newspaper involved, get the radio station involved, give flyers to the grocery stores,” he said. “Soon the entire community knew about the effort and started voting.”

It paid off. Benson was the top vote-getter, and in the summer of 2014, work began to bring the facilities up to date.

Today Benson’s fields feature new fencing and other improvements. But the best part, said Ebnet, is the sense of solidarity and togetherness the effort created.

“Sure we had an end benefit – we were going to get our fields fixed,” Ebnet said. “But at the same time, we were pulling our community together to rally around one cause. And if you talk to anybody about the grant, they say ‘it helped OUR fields.’ Not their fields, or the baseball community’s fields.”

On September 10, 2009 Zachary Siegfried was playing outside with his twin brother Kyle and friends. Suddenly, and without warning, Zachary had a fatal brain aneurysm at the young age of seven.

Baseball was a family affair for the Siegfried’s. Zachary played first base for his local team, his twin brother played third base and their father Steve was the assistant coach. Zachary’s signature smile was as much a fixture on the field as the number four on the back of his uniform.

Ball Parks 4 Him: Zachary’s Legacy Helps Others

When Zachary passed away, the Siegfrieds searched for a way to help others while remembering their son and brother. The family felt the best way to deal with his loss was to find a way to help those less fortunate participate in the sports they love. This idea led the Siegfrieds to found Ball Parks 4 Him in October of 2010, giving them a way to redirect the energy they spent grieving their loss into making the dreams of others come true.

“We believe in children and wanted to do something to make a difference in their lives. Ball Parks 4 Him was created in Zachary’s memory to help children with their sports financial needs,” said Zachary’s Mom, Melissa Siegfried.

The goal of this organization is simple: to offer financial assistance to children who want to play sports but may not have the money to do so. Remembering the joy and life sports gave their son, the Siegfrieds believe every child should have the opportunity to play sports no matter their ability to pay.

Slow Start – Lasting Impression

With a purpose, vision and goal, Ball Parks 4 Him began fundraising in 2010. The first fundraiser only resulted in just $100. Melissa was undeterred. When she received a call from a mother with a child in need, Melissa was determined to help.

In the first year, the organization helped 5 children with whatever they needed to get out on the field, including 9-year-old, Tyler, who was born with Amniotic Banding. His prosthetic leg and issues with his hand made it difficult for him to experience the thrill of playing many sports. But this is where Ball Parks 4 Him stepped in, helping Tyler’s family contact sports medicine physicians who were able to design and build Tyler a “sports/running” leg prosthetic as well as a prosthetic baseball glove.

Now Tyler can play baseball with two hands instead of one and participate in deck hockey – a fitting tribute to Zachary’s memory.

In 2014, Ball Parks 4 Him applied for, and won, a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant. “We want to be able to help every child, and the grant will go a long way to reaching that goal.”

Today, Ball Parks 4 Him receives more than 30 applications a month for assistance with sports needs and continues to pay tribute to Zachary while making a lasting impact on the lives of others.

Truth is, he spends his free time giving back to those who gave so much for us. Dylan is part of a not for profit organization called Hearing Our Heroes. For two years Dylan and his friends have visited the VA hospital to provide lunches, run clothing and food drives, and shovel snow and do yard work.

“There is a future for America with kids likes this,” said Nick Mazella, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran.

Hearing Our Heroes is a group founded in 2011 by high school student Sean Egan.

“For me, giving back to veterans is very important because I feel that after my father, a NYFD captain was killed in the 9/11 attacks, our soldiers reassured us all that everything was going to be o.k," Seth shared. 

Seth started the group with no funds but a lot of heart and friends who wanted to help. Each of the 150 members will tell you they have learned to appreciate freedom, liberty and America because of the veterans they met through the program. .

Sean faced an uphill challenge to make his dream of helping veterans come true. In 2013 he received the help he needed when Hearing Our Heroes won a $25,000 grant provided by the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program.

“The goal of the Neighborhood Assist program is to empower communities through the individuals that live there,” said Cooper Kennard, State Farm Youth Advisory Board coordinator. “Through these grants, we’re hoping to help build these incredible projects and allow them to be sustainable for years to come.”

Sean believes that a debt to veterans is something that all Americans have in common, and when we meet and spend time with these men and women, and hear their stories, we understand how huge that debt is.

“Our cause encourages and spurs a sense of patriotism in our members that I am convinced we will hand down to our children," Seth said.