Read the full story.

“Throughout our 100-year history, continuous innovation and adaptation has positioned State Farm as the leader in a highly competitive industry. We recognize that investing in innovation is key to our continued success of serving our customers, and we look forward to discovering additional opportunities for investment in diverse and creative start-up companies that promote safety and security in our communities,” says Michael Remmes, Vice President, State Farm Ventures.

State Farm Ventures was established in 2018 and has made 21 investments to date.

State Farm Ventures Mission:

Inspired by our Ventures’ mission to Go Beyond Possible®, our goal is to meet the ever-growing needs of our diverse customer base. We invest in companies that disrupt conventional modes of operation to help each of us live smarter, safer and better lives.

We encourage start-ups to approach our team to discuss how we can assist their efforts to improve the lives of our customers.  Go to: https://ventures.statefarm.com/

State Farm Ventures focus areas include, but are not limited to:

Mobility & Transportation – As the leading automobile insurer, we look to invest in technologies, services and capabilities that improve vehicle/pedestrian safety, enhance our ability to underwrite and handle claims more efficiently, and allow us to enter new markets, including connected vehicles, cyber-security, and payments.

Residential & IOT – As the leading homeowner insurer, we seek to invest in emerging technologies, including the Internet-of-Things (IOT) to help reduce claim frequency and severity and allow our customers to live safer and better lives. 

Artificial Intelligence – We look to invest in new technologies, such as machine learning, natural language processing, and virtual reality that can bring improved simplicity and service to our customers, agents, and employees.

Insurtech/Fintech – We seek to invest in new technologies that expand our market leading ability to provide products and services to our customers.

See additional focus areas and a portfolio of investments: https://ventures.statefarm.com/

About State Farm Ventures, LLC

State Farm Ventures focuses on investing in start-ups developing technologies and products to fulfill customer needs in ways they may not expect from their insurance company.  State Farm Ventures, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary and registered trademark of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.  

Since Jackson's termination in 2016, she has filed a discrimination charge against State Farm with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). It's important to note that the EEOC chose not to litigate this matter on behalf of Campbell-Jackson. 

While we admire Ben Crump's important civil rights work, we fundamentally disagree with the facts Carla Campbell-Jackson is presenting in this case.  We believe these allegations are without merit as they run counter to our values and who we are as an organization. In our defense of these allegations, we will provide important facts that Campbell-Jackson has failed to present. 

At State Farm, we embrace diversity and inclusion because it is simply the right thing to do. We seek candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences and do not tolerate or condone discrimination of any kind.

Racism has no place anywhere in our society and we work tirelessly to provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. We strive to be a force for good in the communities we serve.

When we have additional comments, we will share them publicly.

Have no fear. The next generation of cybercrime fighters are preparing to take on this challenge at Illinois State’s Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education. State Farm provided a $3M grant to help develop the future workforce of cybersecurity professionals.

Read the full story from ISU: Solving complex crimes: Illinois State University cybersecurity grads fight global threat

Each year, CHCI accepts 20 percent of all applicants to the coveted R2L NextGen program. Through this grant, CHCI will develop dynamic online leadership and professional development tools – not only for those participating in R2L NextGen – but also for the more than 400 other emerging leaders who apply to the program.

“We have learned through our many years of existence that the younger we begin cultivating young Latino talent, the better. That is the reason we created a program specifically aimed at high school students, and it is also the reason we are extremely proud of this partnership with State Farm and iHeartMedia, so that we can reach even more outstanding high school students,” said Marco A. Davis, President and CEO, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. “Thanks to State Farm and iHeartMedia, we will continue to educate, empower, and connect with a new generation of Latino leaders throughout the country.”

Rich Garcia, State Farm HR&D Executive, said, “I’m proud of the commitment State Farm has with CHCI’s programs. Getting involved early and supporting the development of the next generation of Latino leaders is key to our mission. We want to foster an environment where young Latino leaders can grow and thrive in their careers and in their communities, and this program helps provide leadership tools and development to help them reach their goals.”

“As the nation’s leading audio company, we’re dedicated to expanding representation of the Latinx experience on our platforms,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. “The work of community organizations like CHCI is critically important, and we’re grateful for partners like State Farm who join us in our mission to serve the full diversity of our country.”

About CHCI

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is the premier Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization in the country dedicated to developing the next generation of Latino leaders®. CHCI provides leadership, public service, and policy experiences to outstanding Latino/a/x students and young professionals, and convenes Members of Congress, other public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit advocates, and thought leaders to discuss issues facing the nation and the Hispanic community.

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 250 million people each month. It is number one in both broadcast and digital streaming radio as well as podcasting and audio ad tech and includes three business segments: The iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group; the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group; and the Audio and Media Services Group. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.

NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexar, a leading AI computer vision company, announced today the completion of a $53 million Series D funding round led by Qumra Capital with the participation of State Farm Ventures, Catalyst Investments, Banca Generali, Valor and previous backers; Atreides Management, Corner Ventures, Regah Ventures, Aleph and more. Nexar is the leading provider of crowd-sourced visual data and with their data from hundreds of thousands of dash cams across the US and globally, they are second only to Tesla with the volume of image-data collected. The footage is contextualized with AI and provides valuable insights to cities, departments of transportation, automotive & insurance companies, and more. Erez Shachar, Managing Partner at Qumra Capital, will be joining Nexar's Board of Directors.

Nexar uses the footage it collects to create an AI-digital twin of U.S. roads and their surroundings. This dynamic representation provides real-time updates in a range of key areas such as work zones, road signs, road markings, potholes & many other elements, for a constant stream of accurate information. With this tool, city officials are able to plan, prioritize and fix issues at a much faster pace, while automotive companies are able to inform their autonomous vehicles of obstacles lying ahead.

This funding round comes on the heels of a two-year period when Nexar's Direct to Consumer camera business grew at a fast pace, making Nexar the leading dash cam consumer brand in the US. Nexar now has its "eyes" on 150 million miles of road every month. The collected image data gets anonymized and added to Nexar's database consisting of 4 trillion images.

Eran Shir, Nexar's Co-founder and CEO said: "When founding Nexar, my partner Bruno Fernandez-Ruiz came to the counter-intuitive understanding that the only viable path to truly turning the physical world digital, lies in a crowdsourced vision network that makes sense of the reality around us. In the last five years, we have worked to make that vision a reality by leveraging low-cost hardware and sophisticated AI to create a world previously only available through expensive and complex hardware sensors such as LIDAR. In the past year, this effort has come to fruition, paving a path to a truly scalable live mapping of the world we live in. This funding round allows us to further grow this vision to help drivers drive safer and help cities turn digital. "

Erez Shachar, Managing Partner at Qumra Capital, said "We are excited by Nexar's vision to digitize the physical world and are impressed with the great strides it took in the past couple of years turning this vision into reality. We can't wait to see how Nexar's unique data network impacts the way all of us interact with and traverse the world around us."

About Nexar

Nexar turns cars into vision-sensors to understand the world. Its platform powers car vision connected services and apps, at scale, making new vision-based applications for better driving, powered by a crowd-sourced vision feed. Using anonymous, aggregated data captured from this network, Nexar has developed a portfolio of vision-based data services for public and private sector partners to make roadways safer and more efficient. Nexar's platform is already deployed across hundreds of thousands of cars, detecting parking spots, managing city safety and more.

More information at: data.getnexar.com

SOURCE Nexar

About State Farm Ventures, LLC

State Farm Ventures focuses on investing in startups developing technologies and products to fulfill customer needs in ways they may not expect from their insurance company. State Farm Ventures, LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

“With over 100,000 homes currently using Ting, this round of funding enables Whisker Labs to serve hundreds of thousands more homes with Ting by the end of next year,” said Bob Marshall, Whisker Labs' Co-Founder and CEO.”

As insurance providers want to complement their homeowner offerings with more proactive solutions to improve safety and prevent claims, Ting identifies and alerts the homeowner through the monitoring service to the precise sources of electrical hazards that, left alone, could result in devastating home fires. Capturing and pinpointing fault signal data from inside the house or from local utility power - and certifying complete remediation of those faults – are key components of Ting’s turnkey service. The origins and types of faults Ting has identified are many.

“Part of our mission statement is to help people manage the risks of everyday life,” said Chris Schell, Senior Vice President-Property & Casualty, State Farm. “Funding for Whisker Labs aligns perfectly with that goal, helping our customers prevent and control losses in their own homes. As evidenced through the many accounts of how Ting has helped identify electrical issues before they cause losses in homes, our customers feel empowered to protect their families and possessions.”

"We appreciate our relationship with State Farm,” continued Marshall, “and we’re excited to continue our work with the insurance industry to accelerate the adoption of Ting's smart sensing and deep learning to deliver safety and peace of mind to customers.”

ABOUT WHISKER LABS

At Whisker Labs, our passion lies in solving hard problems with simple and elegant products that protect our customers and their homes by preventing fires. Winner of 2021 Best of the Smart Home Awards - Best Use of Machine Learning Category, Ting unlocks incredible insights into electrical anomalies in very fine detail, in real-time, from a single intelligent sensor. Ting's simplicity and high performance are born from decades of sensing, electromagnetic, and data science expertise. Ting is a turnkey subscription service to monitor and notify homeowners of electrical fire hazards using a DIY smart plug that takes 2 minutes to install. While on the lookout for electrical fire hazards within a home, Ting also monitors the quality of power delivered by electric utilities, identifying utility grid faults that can induce fires, damage appliances, and create electrocution risks inside the home. These same faults can also serve as an ignition source for devastating wildfires. 

About State Farm Ventures, LLC

State Farm Ventures focuses on investing in startups developing technologies and products to fulfill customer needs in ways they may not expect from their insurance company. State Farm Ventures, LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

“Every year nearly 50 million people, globally, are seriously hurt in car crashes and another 1.35 million die¹, which is completely unacceptable,” said PreAct CEO Paul Drysch. “At PreAct Technologies, we are focused on developing a reliable, high-speed detection, near-field sensing and perception system that will enable the world’s first mass production, pre-crash airbags and other safety countermeasures. This system will not only help prevent millions of serious injuries and fatalities, but will also save the economy around $120 billion each year,” he added.

By leveraging proven technology, and rethinking near-field sensing, PreAct Technologies is targeting “the last 100 feet” to predict crashes and prepare a vehicle for an imminent collision, deploying airbags and other safety devices before the crash happens. In an urban environment, being able to detect collisions milliseconds before they happen could help reduce the majority of severe injuries and fatalities from car crashes.

PreAct’s patent pending TrueSense™ sensors complement or may even replace many of the short-range sensors like radar, ultrasound, and cameras, estimated to be a $30 billion/year market, and enable pre-crash safety systems, while enhancing existing use cases such as park assist and self-parking. TrueSense sensors can help lower the cost and complexity of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and enable many new use cases that have proven challenging in the past.

“PreAct’s technology is a potential compelling advancement for car safety and will help to reduce serious injuries and fatalities. Moreover, utilizing the valuable driving behavior data that this technology detects may help create a more complete picture of driver risk.” said Michael Remmes, Vice President, State Farm Ventures.

On the heels of this funding round, PreAct was awarded a $1 million prize from Luminate for its TrueSense technology and will be establishing a manufacturing base in New York state.

Luminate is the world’s largest venture capital accelerator for optics, photonics, and imaging technology.

About PreAct Technologies

PreAct Technologies aims to bridge the gap between collision avoidance systems and active safety technology. Its patent-pending suite of sensor technologies, computing systems and unique countermeasure algorithms aim to drastically reduce fatalities and injuries in a crash. The firm is located in Portland, Oregon.

About State Farm Ventures, LLC

State Farm Ventures focuses on investing in startups developing technologies and products to fulfill customer needs in ways they may not expect from their insurance company. State Farm Ventures, LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

¹ Source: CDC.gov

Media contact

Priya Shah

mPR, Inc. for PreAct Technologies

priya@mpublicrelations.com

The expansion into business banking services marks another major enhancement of the alliance announced in early 2020 between U.S. Bank and State Farm. It follows the acquisition and conversion of the deposit and credit card portfolios of State Farm’s former federal savings bank subsidiary by U.S. Bank. Now, U.S. Bank’s business banking digital capabilities bring the best of both human relationships and digital to State Farm customers.

The arrangement also marks the first time U.S. Bank will extend a holistic suite of products to small businesses across the country, with offerings historically limited to the bank’s 26-state retail footprint.

“U.S. Bank and State Farm share a commitment to putting our customers at the center of everything we do, and by bringing together our shared values, integrity and purpose to help them achieve their aspirations, along with the strength of our individual offerings, we see an incredible opportunity to empower small businesses of all shapes and sizes,” said Tim Welsh, vice chair, Consumer and Business Banking for U.S. Bank. “When we announced the strategic alliance, we were thrilled by the potential of coming together to better serve more individuals and businesses, and this is an exciting step in that direction.”

State Farm is the largest provider of auto and home insurance in the United States with nearly 19,000 agents serving approximately 84 million policies and accounts. The opportunity to offer U.S. Bank products and services to small business customers will be available to all State Farm agents.

“When we formed the alliance with U.S. Bank, it was about more than finding the right company to acquire the deposit and credit card accounts of State Farm’s former banking subsidiary. Collaborating with U.S. Bank to expand the portfolio of banking products offered to State Farm customers while delivering a best-in-class customer experience aligns perfectly with our mission to serve more people in more ways. And that is where we saw the real potential of our alliance with U.S. Bank,” said Mike Kish, Vice President of Corporate & Business Development at State Farm. “Serving more small business customers is a priority for both organizations and our agents’ ability to offer business banking products and services for the first time is an important next step for our relationship with U.S. Bank.”

These stories demonstrate that commitment and the people and programs that are providing learners with the tools and resources to help them achieve and realize their dreams.

Education in the Neighborhood Story Archive

October 1, State Farm® will serve as the exclusive insurance provider for Lyft and their drivers and passengers in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, S. Carolina and Tennessee.

Under the policy, Lyft drivers are covered from the moment a driver turns on the Lyft app to wait for a trip request, while driving to pick up a rider and until the trip ends. Lyft riders are also protected during the trip.

State Farm History Supporting TNC (Transportation Network Companies) Drivers
 

• 2015: State Farm worked with others to set consistent and modern insurance regulation for TNC services. It supported the growing industry and created a framework to protect consumers.
   
• 2016: State Farm launches the Rideshare Endorsement. It is now available in 46 states and the District of Columbia. With the endorsement, State Farm customers extend their personal auto policy to fill coverage gaps.
   
• 2019, State Farm worked directly with Lyft to provide direct insurance coverage to Lyft drivers and riders in Georgia, Texas and Arizona. 

Working with Lyft allows State Farm to meet today’s insurance needs and explore future opportunities. It brings nearly 100 years of insurance experience to protect Lyft drivers and riders from the unexpected.

The physical Good Neighbor Center is located at our Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Ill., and it is open to employees, agents and the general public. It offers an immersive and interactive experience that takes visitors through our journey. This website is the digital representative of that experience. We hope you enjoy! 

That’s why we started 100 for Good^®.

Giving back, doing good and being there when it counts are all a part of our State Farm culture. It’s who we are, and it’s who you are, too. 100 for Good brings us all together so we can see all the amazing Acts of Good our fellow Good Neighbors are doing across the country.

Big or small, every Act of Good makes a difference. Donating old clothes, paying for a stranger’s coffee, or big acts like volunteering with your local non-profit.

Join the community of Good Neighbors. Download the 100 for Good app today (available on IOS and Android App stores), start tracking your Acts of Good, and share your story using #100forGood. Together, we can do so much good, and inspire others to join the movement of making this world a better place, one Act of Good at a time.

Several individuals at UT Dallas nominated State Farm. They cited the company's overall demonstrated commitment to diversity.

State Farm grant funding at UTD supports a diverse cross-section of university programs and groups. The programs support veterans, women in STEM and minority low/moderate income students. Scholarships, student emergency grants including student veteran emergency financial suppport, and food and financial security programs are some examples. The result is a positive impact on a diverse student population.

Vice President Operations Eileen Flynn accepted the award on behalf of State Farm. Eileen is an active member the University's Naveen Jindal School of Management Advisory Council.

Link to the full program

A washing machine hose holds about 70 pounds of pressure and if it fails, it can displace an average of 650 gallons of water per hour. That means if you are away from your home for a weekend and a hose bursts, you may open the door to nearly 31,000 gallons of water in your home. (Imagine a 20’ x 40’ in-ground pool worth of water in your home!) The water can cause damage to floors, drywall, and personal items. It may even displace you from your home for an extended period.

Cause for Failure

The wear on rubber hoses is due to the sudden change in water pressure each time the washer’s automatic solenoid valve abruptly shuts off the water flow. That change in pressure causes the hose to balloon out and then retract, weakening the hose a little each cycle. Most washing machine manufacturers even have warning labels in the manual that state “TURN FAUCETS OFF WHEN WASHER IS NOT IN USE” and states that hoses are not rated for continuous water pressure.

How to Protect Your Home

• Conduct a monthly inspection of the hot and cold washing machine lines. Look for cracks, bulging spots, and wet areas.
• Replace supply hoses every three to five years.
• If possible, install the washing machine in the basement or the first floor of your home.
• If you are away from your home for several days, turn off the valves to the washing machine.
• Consider replacing rubber hoses with steel braided hoses.

By The Numbers

The average claim for State Farm was $10,200 but that amount can very state-to-state.

Proof Positive

“Four years ago, a group of 40 high school seniors from low-income backgrounds received the State Farm Scholarship at Georgia State’s Perimeter College. For many, it was the only way they could go to college. Now, they’re earning degrees at remarkably high rates, demonstrating that, with the right support, all students can graduate." ~ Read the full story from GSU.

The agreement also establishes a pathway for State Farm employees to transfer prior learning assessment (PLA) credits into the baccalaureate degree program at Lincoln College.

The PLA credits are awarded by Heartland for workplace training programs completed by State Farm Customer Care Center (CCC) employees. The credit recognizes learning that is completed outside of the classroom and can allow a student to enroll in more advanced courses without some prerequisites. Lincoln College will accept PLA credit toward a bachelor’s degree for transfer students, ensuring a smooth transition from HCC to Lincoln College for students utilizing PLA credit.

The agreement was announced and signed during the June Board of Trustees meeting at Heartland Community College. The CCC College Credit program is currently only available to CCC employees in Phoenix and now Bloomington. State Farm is working to expand the program in the Dallas and Atlanta hub locations.

“These free college credits for State Farm CCC employees are a win-win,” said Steve Florence, CCC assistant vice president. “At State Farm, our employees’ education and professional development is very important to us. After meeting eligibility criteria, employees may earn college credits for training they took while working. This saves them time, money, and can jump-start their college career.”

In the News:

Pantagraph - Watch now: Heartland, Lincoln College, State Farm enter agreements (6/15/21)

Lincoln Courier - Two local colleges have new agreement with State Farm (6/15/21)

WRPW-FM 92.9 - Lincoln College and Heartland Community College Announce New Articulation (6/15/21)

WHOI-TV - Heartland Community College, Lincoln College announce new partnership (6/15/21)

Herald & Review - Watch now: Heartland, Lincoln College sign agreement (6/15/21)

In 2020, State Farm paid $115M on nearly 10,000 claims for damages from lightning strikes.

“Because lightning strikes can cause so much damage to a home and its contents, it is a good idea to make sure you are having an annual conversation with your agent to ensure your homeowner’s insurance covers any damage caused by lightning,” said Gina Wilken, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist. “Another thing to do annually is update your home inventory so you have an on-hand record of any personal items that need replaced.”

To prepare your home for lightning, consider investing in lightning protection such as a lightning rod or surge protection devices. Talk with a trusted contractor to decide what is best for your home.

To put it in perspective, in 2019 State Farm received around 6,000 claims from named storms, totaling approximately $26 million. In 2020, claims filed neared 163,000 and exceeded $1.9 billion in cost.

Total Claims Paid | Home & Auto

1. Louisiana $1.3 billion
2. Alabama $165 million
3. Georgia $94 million
4. New York $64 million
5. Texas $45 million

Hurricanes cause destruction to homes, communities, and lives. It is important to plan and prepare best you can for hurricane season with an evacuation plan, updating insurance documents, and ready-to-go emergency kits.

• How to create a home inventory
• Preparing for a hurricane
• FAQs following a hurricane

Through the program, State Farm pays upfront employees' tuition, books, and fees at any of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges (MCCCD).

Thousands of State Farm employees have already taken advantage of the program. They also have access to onsite and virtual academic advising. The coaching is available to employee participants and provided by the Enrollment Management Outreach team at MCCCD. Student success is their top priority.

Onsite college classes have been offered at State Farm since May of 2017. And last year, a new pilot program launched. It provides new hires the opportunity to earn college credit while in training for their role at State Farm.

Because of these offerings, State Farm was recently awarded the Heroes of Education Award from the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation.

These programs would not be possible without a shared vision, strategy and passion. State Farm knows how beneficial earning a degree in higher education can be. Our partnership for workforce success with MCCCD helps make high-quality education accessible for everyone in our community.

View the virtual MCCC Heroes of Education award program in its entirety.

State Farm® is using technology to help homeowners better prepare and recover from the devastating impact of wildfires. These new tech tools - a sensor, an app, and your smartphone - places the power of preparation in the palm of consumers’ hands. Currently, 4.5 million U.S. homes are identified as being at high risk of wildfire. This makes the technology and wildfire preparation tools even more critical.

Ting

Ting is a plug-in device and smartphone app produced by Whisker Labs, a company specializing in fire safety using advanced technology to monitor electrical systems in the home and on the electrical utility grid.

The device is the size of a plug-in night light and can offer protection from electrical fires. Once plugged into a home electrical outlet, Ting is on the lookout for unique signals that are indicative of an electrical problem that could lead to a home fire. These signals can originate from loose connections, damaged wires or faulty devices and appliances, or from faults on the grid. If Ting detects anything unusual, it sends a notification to the customer’s mobile phone while also notifying the Whisker Labs’ monitoring center.

Electrical fires are responsible for originating 13% of all U.S. home fires, with an annual cost of $1.3 billion (National Fire Protection Association 2019 Survey). That’s an alarming statistic. While Ting can help detect electrical fire hazards in the home, it can also help detect wildfire ignition risks from the grid. The device can detect signals from malfunctions or fluctuations on the grid that indicate the risk of a fault or larger arcing event. A common example is electrical transformers that are typically installed outside the home to reduce the high-voltage supply from the grid into the low-voltage needed for a residence. When transformers work well, we don’t notice them. It’s a different story when they begin to experience issues and fail to operate correctly, or simply fail outright (Ting). These faults can cause safety issues, fire hazards, and damage to devices inside your home or produce sparks that could trigger a wildfire and potentially put other structures at risk.

Last summer, Whisker Labs helped launch a significant distribution program in partnership with State Farm. Eligible State Farm customers in Arizona, California, and Texas received Ting for free by simply enrolling online. In May, Whisker Labs announced 40,000 Ting devices had been distributed. Expansion to more customers in more states is planned in 2021.

IBHS Wildfire Ready App

Living in the era of apps, it is logical that the second new tool in a homeowners’ wildfire mitigation toolbox comes in app form. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is one of the leading sources in the science of catastrophes. Leveraging their latest research, the goal of their new Wildfire Ready Virtual app is to help homeowners prepare their homes for a wildfire. The app uses augmented reality so that once you point your smartphone at your home, you can “see” the weak points. It also walks you through specific do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, including remodeling tips to make your home more fire resistant.

State Farm participated in the development of this app that you can download and try for yourself anytime (download for Apple or Android phones). Motivated to do even more? Check these extra wildfire protection tips in the IBHS Wildfire Ready Guide.

Home inventory

Unfortunately, there will be instances where despite preparation efforts, a wildfire may destroy your home. Recovering from such a devastating event is difficult but technology can help. This is where the third tech tool, your smartphone, takes center stage. A home inventory can show visual proof of what was in your home before it was damaged or destroyed. To this effect, the storytelling capabilities of today’s smartphones are a great ally.

A simple way to do a home inventory is to walk through each room of your home, taking pictures and videos of everything in it. Don’t forget to also step outside and take images of the structure and everything around it.

Let me introduce you to Mary. In this video she tells us the story of losing her home to a wildfire in Santa Barbara. No one better than her and her agent, Irene, to give us a home inventory 101.

So switch on these tech tools and take your wildfire safety to a whole new level.

There's still snow on the ground in upstate New York.

But 4th grade teacher Jessica Monaco and her students are excitedly thinking about summer. By then, the expansion of the outdoor education space at Royalton-Hartland Elementary will be buzzing.

The school district and local businesses seeded progress in the initial garden space. Now the $2,500 Teacher Assist grant Jessica won is making it possible to fast-track plans for its expansion.

Soon there will be a new pollinator garden complete with houses and nurseries for butterflies. Students will watch things grow and learn about plant life cycles. Trail cams will allow them to see what birds and animals visit the gardens. Students and their families will be able to pick fruit from the raspberry and blueberry bushes that will be planted.

Hands-on, student-centered learning opportunities will be bountiful. An outdoor weather station will help them understand climate and the environment. They will learn problem-solving and engineering skills through the construction of a water wall. Water will be gathered in rain barrels and solar panels will power the pumps to operate it and provide lessons in renewable resources.There will also be composting stations to further teach about sustainability.

The outdoor area is also handicapped-accessible. New raised garden beds will give all students a hands-on, play-based education.

“Students will be able to take risks and test out their thinking,” Jessica said. “They can get dirty, 'make a mess,' get wet and learn all at the same time.”

In Naples, Florida, the sweet peas are already blooming.

The sunflowers, peppers, tomatoes and watermelons the students planted have sprouted. Birds have laid eggs. And a herd of elephants are lined up ready for water duty. Oh wait, those are watering cans!

Laura Pacter hopes her students never forget the leadership lessons they will learn in the garden at Shadowlawn Elementary. Her Teacher Assist grant is being used to revitalize an existing garden impacted by storms and hurricanes.

The project will make it a totally outdoor learning space featuring tables at each end with 24 reading chairs. Students and their teacher will be able to sit and read together 6 feet apart, socially distanced in the fresh air.

“Additionally, the newest editions of Leader in Me books will help students learn about leaders who made a difference,” Laura said. “The books will help them find their voice to lead others and be proactive in improving the garden.”

These and other garden projects funded through Teacher Assist will help students sow seeds for a lifetime of learning.

Teachers didn’t have a choice. Nearly all the Teacher Assist applications acknowledged the emotional challenges posed by the pandemic. Some took it a step further and sought an assist that would help their students address the mental strain many of us have been feeling.

“It’s a huge challenge to manage stress and engagement while learning. My school’s students have been taught on Zoom since last March,” said Monyca Currier. “Many of our families have been affected traumatically by Covid-19 – social isolation, death, sickness, loss of jobs and income – the list goes on and on. The repercussions won’t go away overnight. Students need to learn coping skills not only for the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, but also coping skills for everyday life.”

Teacher Assist grants will be funding mindful breathing and movement, social and emotional support tools and resources, and even a therapy dog! Read how these winning projects will help bolster students’ mental well-being long after the pandemic ends. And it’s not just the kids – these projects will impact their entire school communities!

Monyca Currier (Monte Verde Elementary School – San Bruno, California)

Monyca has been exposing her third graders to mindfulness concepts all year. Her grant will allow her to complete 200 hours of Breathe for Change training. She’ll earn certification to allow her to teach yoga and the program’s other strategies and techniques not only to her students, but to other teachers and adults – expanding the social-emotional wellness and learning experiences beyond just her classroom.

“While I am in the early stages of my coursework, I've been teaching mindfulness and breathing techniques all year,” Monyca said. “My students have learned that when they feel nervous or anxious about something, they should pause and take a few deep breaths. It’s helped them develop a stronger growth mindset and the ability to self-regulate some of their emotions and behaviors.”

Ryan Ledlow (Northern High School – Portage, Michigan)

Ryan is using his grant funds for a second Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) therapy dog. It will join @hobbsthehuskie to address the social-emotional needs of students (and staff).

Hobbs, a golden retriever, has made a huge positive impact since coming to the school from Paws with a Cause.

“The pandemic has been very difficult for students (and staff.) Hobbs has provided social-emotional support, and truly does make people feel better,” Ryan said. “I start every day by saying to Hobbs, ‘Let's go make some smiles!’ He does that very thing all day.”

Research shows in addition to helping decrease anxiety and improve physical well-being, SEL dogs help ease social isolation and help students learn social skills and gain confidence.

Incidentally, Paws With a Cause provides dogs for the State Farm Arson Dog Program.

Terry Tucker (Lancaster ISD – Lancaster, Texas)

As the school’s guidance counselor, Terry Tucker has noticed the negative impact the pandemic has had on his students. He realizes they need more social-emotional learning (SEL) support, especially the African-American and at-risk students.

Even before the pandemic, emotional and social learning has been his focus and students in his at-risk school have benefited immensely.

“Negative experiences of our at-risk students create trauma needs. They often act out to get any kind of attention,” Terry said. “When we focus on supporting their emotional and social wellness, we see test grades go up. When you see those positive results, it’s addictive.”

He is using his Teacher Assist grant funds to expand that impact through the purchase of the SEL curriculum resource, School Connect. It will help students tackle real world problems through learning inter/intrapersonal skills, mindfulness and emotional management.

In addition to classroom activities, students can access the resource anytime virtually. The program’s tools allow them to take positive ownership in the areas of character, self-awareness, anger management, showing empathy, responsible decision making, social awareness and relationship skills.

Terry is excited to be able to offer the platform in the coming school year. It will help students understand and define their feelings. That helps them put a name to what they are feeling. With tools to practice at-home coping scenarios, students become less stressed and more self-regulated.

For teachers, lesson plans address bullying, self-worth, self-esteem and respect. The focus is on life skill development, problem solving and goal-setting that will set up students to deal with whatever life throws at them.

Do you know how you get a robot to tell a story?

The fourth graders at DeSales Catholic School in Lockport, NY, do. They use color to “code” their Ozobots to help them demonstrate reading comprehension to their teacher Jake Weiland.

To get his students excited about reading he uses graphic novels. He used to have the students tell him about the plot, action and problem solved in the stories. Now they map out the story using the bots. The STEAM-based concept reinforces their problem-solving skills.

They choose actions that represent the various story events. Coding is done with color and the way they “draw” the story determines the bot’s actions. They select different actions to represent things that happen in the story and get the bots to help them “retell” the story in the right order.

For example, the bot might move slowly at the beginning, conflict represented by a tornado-like move and do a mini-dance when a problem is solved. The movements are accompanied with color-changing lights.

Weiland borrowed the bots from a local resource center. His $2,500 Assist Grant will allow him to purchase a set for his classroom.

“The kids love it. They name their bots and search for 'theirs' even though they are all the same,” Jake said. “We are currently in-person, but if out of class, the students can do the lessons at home.”

The graphic novels also offer extra support for readers and can be used for “book clubs.” In addition to the literacy benefits, a book club supports social and emotional learning in a time when many students need it most.

“This is a hard time for our young people. These new learning opportunities help them recover educationally from the instructional interruption from the pandemic,” he added.

“Our students are able to learn and practice important skills. Following a recipe, measuring and kitchen safety are cooking skills they might not otherwise get to use,” Kim said. “We focus on cooking foods in ways students can do themselves, rather than relying on adults around them. These are important skills that help them become more independent and will serve them throughout their lives.”

The chosen recipes align with the week’s academic theme. Rice crispy treat nests with jelly bean eggs, pancakes, grilled cheese and soup have been favorites so far. The recipes are accompanied by pictures so students can see the steps and follow along. After the students complete the recipe, they are encouraged to try the food item and discuss the experience.

With her $2,500 State Farm Teacher Assist grant, Kim’s been able to expand the program. It started at-home as a way to engage students when they were fully remote-learning. Now back in the classroom four days a week, the grant's allowed her to continue it. She’s able to provide a wider variety of ingredients and opportunities to work with different types of foods and techniques.

Students with disabilities often require repetitive practice before mastering a skill. A first attempt at flipping pancakes ended up on someone’s shoe! The more real-life opportunities to practice these skills, the more likely they will be able to cook meals and snacks for themselves.

“When students with disabilities gain independence in something like cooking, they gain confidence in themselves. It allows them to not have to rely on others to do it for them,” she said.

Oneonta City School District Story about the grant

With the help of a $4 million investment from State Farm^®, Illinois State University launched a cybersecurity major and is preparing students for this fast growing career field.

This charitable grant helped establish the Cybersecurity Center on campus, providing laboratory workspace and student collaboration areas for students in the School of Information Technology. The investment also created an Endowed Chair of Cybersecurity position. The important leadership position helps with recruiting and retaining the highest quality faculty for the department.

Earlier this month, ISU President Larry Dietz announced the selection of Dr. Shaoen Wu as the inaugural State Farm Endowed Chair of Cybersecurity in the School of Information Technology.

“Illinois State’s cybersecurity program is a true point of pride,” said President Larry Dietz. “The State Farm Endowed Chair position enables Illinois State to establish a reputation of strength and perpetuity in an increasingly vital field.”

~ Read the full story from ISU.

The credit card product suite offers valuable options for consumer and business customers. Whether a preference for maximizing rewards or enjoying low introductory rates, U.S. Bank and State Farm are making it easy for State Farm customers to find a card that fits their individual needs.

The new cards have no annual fee, enhanced protection for auto, cell phone and more. Benefits include:

• State Farm® Premier Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card • Double cash back bonus on cardholder’s first anniversary– up to $300.
• 3% cash back on insurance premium payments, up to $4,000 spent annually.
• 2% cash back at gas stations, drugstores, grocery stores and on dining, including takeout and food delivery services.
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
  •  State Farm® Good Neighbor Visa® Card
• Low intro rate for balance transfers and big purchases.

 State Farm® Business Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card

• $100 annual credit for business software subscriptions.
• Low intro rate for balance transfers and big purchases.
• 3% cash back on insurance premium payments, up to $4,000 spent annually.
• 3% cash back at gas stations, cell phone service providers, office supply stores and on dining, including takeout and food delivery service purchases.
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

“The alliance between State Farm and U.S. Bank is helping meet more customers’ financial services needs in more ways,” said Mike Kish, vice president - State Farm Corporate & Business Development. “State Farm agents are able to understand each customer’s needs and help them select a credit card that best meets those needs. Agents and customers are also able to use U.S. Bank’s digital capabilities to further enhance the experience.”

“U.S. Bank is proud to collaborate with State Farm to offer their customers credit card choices that best fit their individual needs,” said Steve Mattics, executive vice president of U.S. Bank Retail Payment Solutions. “The new State Farm credit cards are an important step in our alliance and reflect our shared commitment to reward customers with the things that matter most to them, and to create amazing digital experiences so that customers can get the most from their credit cards.”

Preparedness Day encourages people and organizations to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks, and it provides a platform to share information and offer guidance to residents as they make changes to improve the survival of their homes and neighborhoods.  Thanks to support from State Farm, 150 grant recipients across 24 states will receive project funding awards of $500 each to support their wildfire mitigation activities on Preparedness Day. See the list of winners.

Over the past decade, the U.S. has witnessed a steady rise in wildfire activity. Experts predict this trend will continue. Despite the $2 to $3 billion per year to support wild land fire suppression efforts, the number of homes lost in wildfires per year has increased by more than 160 percent.

Wildfire risk exists in all 50 states. There is still time to make homes and communities safer from wildfire. NFPA and State Farm encourage people to get involved by planning a project and participating on May 1. Take the first step with the help of the free NFPA Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Toolkit. NFPA suggests a three-stage process to reduce wildfire fuel and fashion a buffer around property. To create defensible space and reduce your risk:

• Raking and removing pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of 3 to 5 feet of a home’s foundation. As time permits, continue up to a 30-foot distance around the home. Dispose of collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles.
• Cleaning pine needles from roof and gutters and paying attention to maintaining the home ignition zone.
• Getting out your measuring tape and seeing how close wood piles are located to the home. If closer than 30 feet, they need to be relocated and moved at least 30’ away from structures.
• Sweeping porches and decks clearing them of leaves and pine needles. Raking under decks, porches, sheds and play structures.
• Removing items stored under decks and porches and relocating them to a storage shed, garage, or basement. Gasoline cans and portable propane tanks should never be stored indoors and should be located away from the home.
• Posting and sharing Facebook and Twitter messages with tips and best practices with others in your community. (See sample posts from NFPA here.)

State Farm also recommends policyholders:

• Review your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in the event of a wildfire
• Create a home inventory to assist in the claims process
• Create a disaster preparedness plan that includes your pets and animals

For more resources and information about national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day including videos and tip sheets, visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

Total Hail Claims Paid | Home & Auto

1. Texas $474.6M
2. Illinois $394.2M
3. Minnesota $259.2M
4. Missouri $236.9M
5. Colorado $207.9M

Hail can damage roofs, gutters, and windows while denting vehicles and cracking windshields. The average homeowner claim totaled nearly $12,000 and vehicle claims averaged more than $4,300, according to State Farm 2020 hail claims data.

Preparing for 2021

Extreme weather has already brought threats to parts of the country this year, but the threats are not over. Hail generally peaks during spring and summer but can occur any time of year.

What you can do now to prepare will help you weather the storm. Here are some steps to protect your property and family:

• Review insurance coverage: Ask your State Farm agent what-if questions in an insurance review.
• Know the claims process: Should your property be damaged, become familiar with the claims process now
• Be weather aware: Stay connected to forecasts when severe weather threatens.
• Update home inventory: Take pictures and video of your property for a detailed digital record
• Preparation: If there’s time and it’s safe, put vehicles in the garage and move patio furniture under cover. Close your blinds and curtains to prevent broken glass from blowing inside, possibly causing injuries or damage.

Filing a Claim

As with any storm, nature is unpredictable and experiencing damage can be draining.

Document your damage with pictures. If you need to, make temporary repairs to prevent more damage. Take pictures and save the receipts related to the temporary repairs.

• First Steps:
  • Tell us what happened
  • We’ll review your claim and policy to determine what is covered
  • You don’t have to be an insurance expert; we’ll tell you what happens next
  • We'll arrange payment - less your deductible – for covered losses.
  • After you file your claim, you can set up your payment and communication preferences.

While balancing health and safety with our commitment to customers, we continue to innovate and leverage technology by offering virtual claim handling.

Recovery and Rebuilding

If you do have to make repairs, consider improved building materials, including an impact resistant roof, which could qualify for insurance premium discounts.

Initially, State Farm will focus its efforts on reducing two types of emissions:

• Direct GHG emissions, such as those from company facilities and vehicles (Scope 1 emissions)
• Indirect GHG emissions, such as those from the generation of electricity supplied to the Company (Scope 2 emissions)

“As a company, our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams,” said State Farm Chairman, President & CEO Michael Tipsord. “We also believe we have a responsibility to promote, influence, and engage in environmentally sustainable behaviors on behalf of our current and future customers and associates.”

This 50-percent reduction goal aligns with the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi) goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050.

State Farm is currently working with a third party to validate its GHG assessment and obtain Independent Assurance Statements for 2019 and 2020 GHG baseline data.

State Farm has already made progress toward this goal, with recent facility efficiency measures detailed in its ESG report along with a recently-finalized renewable power purchase commitment for its Richardson, Texas office and data center facilities.

State Farm is also exploring sustainable solutions for fleet vehicles, energy efficiency capital projects, virtual power purchase agreements, and green natural gas.

This ESG report, the first of its kind in the Company’s history, summarizes 2020 State Farm work in the areas of environmental sustainability, social impact, and responsible governance of company operations.

“For nearly one hundred years, State Farm has functioned on the belief that being a good neighbor means being good stewards of the neighborhoods we serve,” said State Farm Chairman, President & CEO Michael Tipsord. “We want to help make a better world by building resilient futures, empowering good neighbors, and protecting what matters.”

Highlights of the new report include:

• Increased energy efficiency: More than 80% of State Farm facilities have an Energy Star Score of 75 or higher.
• $100 million committed in support for minority communities for issues of racial equity and justice over the next 5 years.
• 98,000 hours of employee & agent volunteering, which generated $647,500 in related grant funding
• Evolving workforce demographics: women comprise 57% of employees and 37% of executive roles. Minorities hold 24% of executive roles.

To accompany this report on 2020 activity, State Farm is also announcing a new environmental commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by the end of 2030.

State Farm is the largest auto and homeowner insurance provider in the U.S., with more than 85 million policies and accounts.

Download the 2020 ESG Highlights infographic

“State Farm is once again returning value to our California customers while remaining financially strong to keep our promises now and in the future,” said Tom Conley, Sr. Vice President, State Farm. “This additional dividend is another way we’re making adjustments based on driving behaviors to minimize impacts and help our customers.”

Last year, State Farm announced the Good Neighbor Relief Program, which included a dividend for the period of March 20, 2020 to May 31, 2020 as well as auto rate cuts in every state. Together, these actions provided $4.2 billion in savings for State Farm customers. California State Farm auto customers received an average 27.5% dividend and 6.5% auto rate reduction.

Customers do not need to take any action to receive this dividend, which will be mailed in the form of a check as early as May.

When will customers receive their dividend check?

Do customers need to do anything to receive their dividend?

Can customers get a credit instead of a check?

What is the total dividend amount and how was it determined?

Why are customers receiving an additional dividend?

How is each customer’s dividend amount determined?

Does State Farm have the resources to offer this dividend credit?

Do customers need active policies to receive a check?

Does the return of this dividend increase the likelihood that the State Farm Mutual rates will be increased in the near future?

Do customers have to renew their policy in order to obtain the credit?

Who will receive a dividend?

• Every California State Farm Mutual private passenger vehicle policyholder* with an auto insurance policy in-force between June 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, will receive a dividend. Customers with a Personal Lines Auto policy including Personal Lines Auto, Motorcycle, Business Use Personal Auto, Antique/Classic will receive the dividend in the form of a check.

  *Insurance coverages written pursuant to any residual market or assigned risk programs are exempt

[TOP]

When will customers receive their dividend check?

• We anticipate customers will start seeing these checks as early as May, 2021.

[TOP]

Do customers need to do anything to receive their dividend? 

• Checks will automatically be mailed to customers.

[TOP]

Can customers get a credit instead of a check?

• At this time we are only able to provide this dividend in the form a check.

[TOP]

What is the total dividend amount and how was it determined?

• In total, California State Farm Mutual Auto customers with a private passenger auto policy will receive approximately $400 million in returned premium. On average, customers can expect to receive approximately 18% of their premium for the time period June 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

[TOP]

Why are customers receiving an additional dividend?

• State Farm Mutual realized better than anticipated claims results in California during 2020. Our approach remains the same – to continue to monitor driving trends and make adjustments based on driving behaviors.

  As a mutual organization, when financial results and business conditions permit, State Farm may decide to pay dividends to policyholders.

[TOP]

How is each customer’s dividend amount determined?

• The amount received by each policyholder is approximately 18% of that policyholder’s premium for the period June 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The average dividend is approximately $100 per policy. All eligible customers will receive at least $10.

[TOP]

Does State Farm have the resources to offer this dividend credit?

• We have the financial strength necessary to help millions of customers recover from the unexpected. We made this decision while maintaining our ability to remain financially strong for our customers to keep our promises now and in the future.

[TOP]

Do customers need active policies to receive a check?

• No. Any California State Farm Mutual auto customer with an in-force policy between June 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 will receive a dividend check. If a customer had a policy with us for only a portion of that date range, they will receive a pro-rated credit for the period of time they were insured with us.

[TOP]

Does the return of this dividend increase the likelihood that the State Farm Mutual rates will be increased in the near future?

• The dividend will have no impact on future rates. Future rates are based on expected future costs. Generally, dividends return premium to customers when actual experience is better than anticipated. They are a ‘look back’ at how actual results played out, while rate changes allow us to respond to anticipated future trends based on past loss experience.

[TOP]

Do customers have to renew their policy in order to obtain the credit?

• No. Any California State Farm Mutual auto customer with an in-force policy for the time period June 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 will receive the dividend.

[TOP]

“With the incredible support NALEO Educational Fund has received from State Farm for more than two decades, our organization has been able to provide premier professional development opportunities, policy convenings, and other programs for NALEO members, equipping them with the knowledge and leadership necessary to tackle some of our nation’s most pressing policy issues,” stated NALEO Educational Fund CEO, Arturo Vargas. “As our organization continues to meet the needs of Latino leaders as they confront a convergence of challenges affecting their communities, State Farm has remained firmly by our community’s side, sharing our vision of fostering support for Latino elected and appointed officials to strengthen communities and improve the lives of their constituents.”

State Farm grant of $565,000 will support the following NALEO Educational Fund programs:

• Emergency Response and Management
  • This initiative helps state and local policymakers create more resilient communities by equipping them with model approaches, best practices, and resources for mitigating, responding to, and recovering from natural or man-made disasters.
• Workforce Development
  • This initiative equips policymakers at all levels of government with the most current data, policy developments, and best practices on supporting robust workforce development systems that prepare workers to succeed in the various sectors of a 21st Century economy, particularly as they are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Supporting County & Municipal Officials: Leadership in Time of Crisis
  • With local officials on the front lines of addressing the well-being of our families and communities, this program supports the effective leadership and policy practices for officials serving at the county and municipal levels.
• NALEO Legislative Summit
  • The Summit convenes Latino state legislators alongside local officials for strategic, cross-jurisdictional engagement on the pressing policy issues affecting the Latino community and the nation.
• NALEO Annual Conference – Community Service Project
  • This conference-based service project engages NALEO members from across the country to benefit a local organization or project addressing the needs of vulnerable or underserved community members.

“Making a positive difference in communities where we live and work is fundamental to State Farm” said Michelle Mancias State Farm Assistant VP and Counsel. “We are thankful for our long-standing partnership with to help educate Latino elected and appointed officials make an impact in their communities.”

About NALEO Educational Fund

NALEO Educational Fund is the nation’s leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

Marcy’s a State Farm^® employee in Arizona. She has a big family; between her and her husband, they have six kids ranging in age from 10-19, but the baby clothes she crochets aren’t for them. They’re for babies that Marcy will never meet. More specifically, they’re for the one baby she never got the chance to meet.

The greatest joy, the biggest heartache

Almost 20 years ago, Marcy was pregnant for the first time, and she was absolutely thrilled. “I’d wanted to be a mom forever so getting pregnant was about the most exciting thing I could think of.” In anticipation, Marcy started making clothes and blankets for her new baby. “I’ve always loved crocheting,” Marcy said. “And crocheting stuff for my new baby was like a dream come true.”

Unfortunately for Marcy, her joy soon turned into tragedy when she suffered a miscarriage.

“I was crushed,” remembered Marcy. “To have the thing you wanted more than anything in the world taken away is the worst thing imaginable.”

Sadly, Marcy’s painful experience is all too common; estimates show that about 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. Like many women who suffer miscarriages, Marcy found herself in a dark place.

“It was horribly sad,” she said. “I’ve always thought that the best way to get out of a sad situation is by doing something good for somebody else.” Looking at the tiny hats, sweaters and blankets that she’d made for her baby, Marcy made a decision. Not to succumb to her grief, but to help others.

Turning pain into love

Marcy took all of the things she’d made for her baby and donated them to Newborns in Need, a national organization that provides new mothers with baby-related necessities. “These were made with love and if I wasn’t going to use them, I wanted them to go somewhere where they’d be needed.”

Slowly but surely, Marcy began to cope with her grief. She kept crocheting, she kept donating and a little over a year from her loss, she gave birth to her first daughter. “I was blessed with her, and have been blessed ever since,” said Marcy.

Marcy had three more children after that and when she married her current husband, became the step-mother to two more kids. Through it all, Marcy’s never stopped crocheting. In addition to Newborns in Need, she donates her handmade creations to places like Arizona Needy Newborns and Project Linus.

“There are so many organizations out there that need things like this,” Marcy said. “And this helped me as much as it’s helping them, so I’ll be doing this forever.”

“I think going through a loss like I did makes me appreciate what I have even more,” said Marcy.

“If I can help somebody who’s going through what I went through, I’m going to keep doing it.”

Bloomington, IL, March 08, 2021 – In February, the State Farm Life affiliates reached a milestone achieved by only a few other companies in the industry, surpassing $1 trillion of individual life insurance in force. This milestone means customers have entrusted State Farm with the honor of protecting all that matters to them and their families with life insurance coverage. Whether it allows them to continue living in their home, maintain a current standard of living, or pay for college, life insurance makes a difference.

The first State Farm Life policy was issued on April 19, 1929, to company founder G.J. Mecherle in the amount of $2,000. Five life insurance policies issued in that first year are still in force.

“This achievement reflects our commitment to the State Farm mission of helping people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams,” said Joe Monk, Senior Vice President – Financial Services. “For 92 years, State Farm has a proud tradition of helping customers with life insurance. We’ll continue building on this legacy of success to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many more customers.”

Life insurance offers customers the confidence to live life knowing their family’s financial future is protected, as illustrated by this heartwarming story, A Simple Act of Love.

The growth of State Farm Life affiliates is based on several competitive advantages: State Farm independent contractor agents who have personal relationships with customers, dedicated business area support, financial strength, and as well as our industry recognized customer satisfaction.

Media Contact:
Julie Smith, Brand Promotion Specialist
Cell-863-207-6354, Desk-863-318-2885

State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI)
State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI)
Bloomington, IL

“We believe in CHCI’s mission, and look forward to working together to develop the next generation of Latino leaders,” said Rich Garcia, State Farm Human Resources Vice President of Operations. “Our CHCI partnership, and continued support is a testament to our commitment to help the communities we serve across the country.”

State Farm was the founding sponsor of CHCI’s R2L® NextGen program in 2011. The program provides high school students with a transformational experience in Washington, DC that focuses on civic engagement, leadership, and college readiness. To date, the program has provided 623 students the extraordinary opportunity to participate in the program.

“State Farm is a valuable CHCI partner that supports our work in meaningful ways, enabling us to create opportunities and experiences that positively impact the lives of emerging Latino/a/x leaders and help them reach their full potential,” said Marco Davis, CHCI President and CEO.

R2L NextGen students meeting with Rep. Albio Sires (NJ-08) on Capitol Hill.*

R2L NextGen students touring the monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial, in the nation’s capital.*

State Farm also experienced growth in other lines of business, and the State Farm life insurance companies paid out nearly $600 million in dividends to policyholders and ended 2020 with nearly a trillion dollars of individual life insurance in force. As the number one Auto and Homeowners insurer in the U.S. and a leader in individual life insurance, State Farm is committed to serving its policyholders and remains a strong choice for insurance and financial services needs.

“We strive to help more people in more ways. In an unprecedented year like 2020, we focus on our core mission to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams,” said Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Jon Farney. “The Good Neighbor Relief Program is a testament of our commitment to our policyholders and communities. Whether premium relief, dividends to State Farm Mutual auto customers, payment flexibility or philanthropic efforts in the communities we live and work, we're focused on relief and recovery efforts.”

The State Farm P-C group of companies reported earned premium of $65.1 billion, a combined underwriting gain of $1.9 billion, and paid $1.9 billion in dividends to policyholders. This result compared to an underwriting gain of $777 million on earned premium of $64.8 billion in 2019. The 2020 underwriting results reflect lower auto lines incurred claims offset by returns of value to customers in the form of lower premiums, along with an increase in homeowners incurred claims. The increase in homeowners incurred claims during 2020 was due to significant catastrophe activity across the country. The 2020 underwriting gain, combined with dividends to policyholders, and investment and other income of $4.6 billion, resulted in a P-C pre-tax operating gain of $4.5 billion, which was $1.2 billion lower than 2019. Total revenue, which includes premium revenue, earned investment income and realized capital gains (losses) was $78.9 billion for 2020 compared to $79.4 billion for 2019. State Farm reported net income of $3.7 billion in 2020 compared to $5.6 billion of net income in 2019. The net worth for the State Farm group ended the year at $126.1 billion compared with $116.2 billion at year-end 2019. The change includes a significant increase in the value of the P-C companies’ unaffiliated stock portfolio, driven by increases in the U.S. equities market.

The State Farm insurance operations consist of eleven P-C companies and two life companies, each of which is managed on an individual affiliate level. The P-C companies are primarily engaged in automobile, health, homeowners, commercial multiple peril (CMP) and reinsurance lines of business. The life companies are primarily engaged in individual life insurance and annuity business. The State Farm group makes third party mutual funds and third party banking products available through affiliated State Farm companies that act as intermediaries between the third parties and State Farm customers. State Farm provides insurance and financial services products across over 84 million policies and accounts.

Auto – The State Farm auto insurance business represented 62 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $41.3 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $27.6 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $10.1 billion. The underwriting gain was $3.5 billion and dividends to policyholders totaled $1.9 billion.

Comparable 2019 figures were: earned premium, $41.5 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $32.0 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $10.3 billion; underwriting loss, $764 million.

Homeowners, CMP, Other – The net written premium for the remainder of the State Farm P-C business represented 36 percent of the P-C companies’ combined net written premium. Earned premium was $22.9 billion. Incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses were $18.6 billion and all other underwriting expenses totaled $5.9 billion. The underwriting loss was $1.6 billion.

Comparable 2019 figures were: earned premium, $22.4 billion; incurred claims and loss adjustment expenses, $14.8 billion; all other underwriting expenses, $5.6 billion; underwriting gain, $2.0 billion.

Health – The individual health insurance operations for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company reported an underwriting loss of $24 million, excluding the change in the premium deficiency reserve. Net written premium was $710 million.

Comparable figures for 2019 were: underwriting loss, $66 million; net written premium, $707 million.

Life – In 2020, State Farm Life Insurance Company and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company reported premium income of $5.5 billion and $584 million in dividends to policyholders. Net income for 2020 was $339 million. There was $994 billion in individual life insurance in force at the end of 2020. 

Comparable 2019 figures were: premium income, $5.5 billion; dividends to policyholders, $578 million; net income, $673 million; individual life insurance in force, $945 billion.

Investment Planning Services – Total assets under management for the Investment Planning Services operation at the end of 2020 were $13.9 billion. State Farm VP Management Corp. and State Farm Investment Management Corp. reported a combined net loss of $33 million in 2020.

Comparable figures for 2019 were: total assets under management, $12.7 billion; net loss, $22 million.

GAINSCO, Inc. – On Dec. 31, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company acquired GAINSCO, Inc. The insurance operations for GAINSCO, Inc. are excluded from the reported results for the State Farm P-C group of companies in this release. In 2020, total revenue was $335 million, net income was $5 million and total assets totaled $421 million.

Although financial information is presented on a group/line of business basis, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and each of its affiliates must meet solvency and regulatory requirements on an individual entity-by-entity basis without regard to the solvency or financial condition of any other affiliated entity.

Securities distributed by State Farm VP Management Corp.

State Farm VP Management Corp. is a separate entity from those State Farm entities which provide banking and insurance products. Neither State Farm nor its agents provide investment, tax, or legal advice.

Download the 2020 By the Numbers infographic.  

The State Farm donation provides funding for Habitat’s youth programs, other program resources, operations and event support; and grants to local Habitat organizations partnering with campus chapters and community youth projects that support long-term affordable housing.

State Farm and Habitat for Humanity aim to build stronger, safer neighborhoods by inviting young leaders to contribute to their communities by learning more about housing needs and getting directly involved with service initiatives and advocacy. Habitat and State Farm are developing a one-year initiative designed to expose participants to monthly topics including diversity, equity and inclusion; action planning; and more. Local Habitat organizations are also encouraged to leverage received grants to engage younger community members in disaster response programs, youth-led fundraisers, and local advocacy training.

“State Farm has a long-standing history of supporting affordable housing efforts, helping create stability for families and neighborhoods,” said State Farm Director of Corporate Responsibility Ed Woods. “It’s part of our philanthropic mission to build stronger communities, especially during this pandemic where we’ve seen an intensified need for housing security. We’re grateful to support Habitat for Humanity’s youth programs and the opportunity it affords these youth to engage in and strengthen their communities.”

In addition to creating new outreach opportunities, the State Farm donation will support ongoing national initiatives such as the Emerging Leaders program – developed by State Farm in partnership with Habitat more than 10 years ago. Through the Emerging Leaders program, college students and young professionals apply for scholarships that allow them to attend Habitat on the Hill. The conference provides an opportunity for them to gain first-hand experience advocating alongside hundreds of other affordable housing supporters from around the country. Program participants learn how to operate as effective champions for housing affordability at the local, state and national levels.

“State Farm continues to play an instrumental role in developing the next generation of leaders who are making real change in strengthening their communities,” said Julie Laird Davis, vice president of corporate and cause marketing partnerships at Habitat for Humanity International. “We’re honored to have teamed up with State Farm for 27 years, and by the company’s commitment as the primary national sponsor of our youth initiatives since 2007.”

State Farm and Habitat for Humanity have had a philanthropic relationship since 1994. Since then, State Farm has donated nearly $15 million to Habitat for Humanity to support and involve youth in the housing nonprofit’s mission. State Farm’s local community grants have generated an additional $50 million in funds to Habitat for Humanity.

The programs work to advance educational equity for Latino students and foster strong connections between parents and schools. UnidosUS’s education programs are implemented in partnership with its Affiliate Network, a national network of local community-based organizations that directly serve the Latino community.

The UnidosUS CASA, Early Escalera and Avanzando Through College programs are youth-focused initiatives that support students’ college and career readiness and leadership development. The programs deliver culturally and linguistically responsive workshops and experimental learning activities designed to empower low-income and first-generation students to serve as change agents in their communities and to ease their higher education journey. Padres Comprometidos is a parent engagement program that equips participants with the skills and confidence to actively engage in the school community and serve as strong advocates for their children’s academic success.

The Esperanza/Hope Fund was established in 2020 to support the UnidosUS Affiliate Network and community partners’ response to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the Latino community. State Farm’s investment will increase the Fund’s capacity to provide grants and emergency resources to its Latino Affiliates and the communities they serve.

“We are thankful that we have the opportunity to support the work of UnidosUS in their educational initiatives and COVID-19 response efforts so critical to the Latino community. We strive to provide the support and the help we can for our communities and the people within them. This grant is just one way we are able to show up as a good neighbor and continue to address systemic and racial inequalities” said Annette Martinez, Senior Vice President at State Farm.

“We are grateful to State Farm for their generous support and continued commitment to the Latino community. This grant will go a long way in ensuring that our programs are positioned to address the systemic and racial inequities affecting young Latinos and help bridge their access to the support systems and opportunities they need to reach their full potential,” said Feliza Ortiz-Licon, UnidosUS Principal of Education Programs.

Click here to learn more about UnidosUS’s education programs.

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our country stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Drake from State Farm :30 | State Farm® Commercial

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Our story begins with a young couple, Amy and Mike Harris, sitting down for breakfast. They were deciding what they were going to do that day when Mike got an idea.

"We could do some shopping," he said. "Maybe check out that new restaurant that just opened?"

Amy thought about it for a bit. Her eyes widened, "I know! How about we donate six embryos to a couple we've never met that's having trouble conceiving?"

"That was literally the next thing I was going to say!" said Mike, and the rest, as they say, is history.

OK, we admit we may have embellished Amy and Mike's conversation just a smidge, but what actually happened is still pretty remarkable!

What Actually Happened

Amy Harris and her daughter, Mali. "Every moment I spend with my kids is special and I try and never lose sight of that."

Amy and Mike both work for State Farm^®, and back in 2015, they were having difficulty starting a family. After countless visits to the doctor and even more disappointments, the couple began the In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. IVF is a long, complicated series of procedures – oversimplified, the mother's eggs are fertilized outside her body and the embryos are then implanted.

"It's an emotionally and physically draining process," said Amy, recalling all of the pills, shots and other medicines she had to take. The results were more than worth it, as the couple ended up with seven embryos. One of the embryos was implanted and the other six were frozen, in case the Harrises decided to further grow their family.

The couple had a "wonderfully uneventful" pregnancy and on March 16, 2016, their daughter, Mali Rae, was born. Now normally this is the part where we say "and they lived happily ever after," but our story takes an unexpected turn when, five months later, Amy realized she was pregnant again.

"Being pregnant again was great," said Amy. "Being pregnant without having to go through IVF again was almost unbelievable!"

Flash forward to May 17, 2017, when their son Casey was born. The couple was overjoyed, their family was complete and they couldn't believe their luck.

"Going from not being able to have a child to having two seemed almost too good to be true," Mike said.

One question remained, however: What were they going to do with the six other embryos that they'd kept?

One Act Can Change Everything

Amy and Mike thought about it a lot and decided since their family was complete, they'd help other couples who were trying to start a family.

"I know how terrible it was for us when we couldn't get pregnant," Amy said. "So if there was any way we could help, we were going to do it."

The couple found Snowflakes, an agency that works with donors and recipients on embryo adoption. After a long process that included blood tests, medical releases, countless pages of paperwork and "tons of legal jargon," the Harrises were matched with a couple in Georgia who adopted the embryos.

Two of the embryos were implanted and nine months later, the adoptive couple gave birth to a baby boy. The boy is a healthy, happy 2-year-old now, thanks in large part to the selfless acts of Amy and Mike.

"Seeing that baby and hearing how happy the parents were, it's truly unbelievable," said Mike.

But Wait, There's More!

Just when you think the story couldn't get any better – well, it does! This March, the adoptive mother is due to give birth to another baby, a little girl this time.

Amy and Mike stay in touch with the adoptive couple and continue to be overwhelmed by their gratitude.

"They've told us how we're the answer to all of their prayers," said Amy. "It's humbling, really.

"It's so incredible to be able to be a part of something so much bigger than yourself."

There will also be a behind-the-scenes look at our commercial during the 20^th anniversary of CBS’ “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials” TV special, so tune in Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m. ET.

Jake from State Farm is still working hard for #TeamStateFarm. Check out the new videos and stay tuned for more fun to come.

Consumers will continue to hear from State Farm^® in a fresh, updated voice and new direction. View other current commercials below or to see all, visit our Commercials YouTube Channel.

"Game Plan Tease 15"

"Team State Farm Roster"

January 11, 2021 – The threat of wildfire is becoming increasingly prevalent and dangerous, posing greater risks to people and property than ever before. With challenges to holding large public gatherings in many areas this year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm® are hosting the eighth annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (Preparedness Day) event on Saturday, May 1, 2021 with a focus on what homeowners can do now to help protect their personal property from wildfire.

Years of scientific research support the prescription of removing fuel sources from the area around the home – known as the “home ignition zone” – and is a key component to making a home safe from embers and radiant heat from wildfires. Simple, low cost home improvement projects such as clearing dead leaves, debris, and pine needles from roofs and gutters, keeping lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches, removing anything stored underneath decks or porches that could burn, and other similar actions are being actively supported by NFPA and State Farm on Preparedness Day and can be easily undertaken by the majority of homeowners.

Since 2014, community groups and individuals have taken part in the campaign, completing hundreds of wildfire safety projects across the United States. Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their homes and community a safer place to live.

Financial support from State Farm will once again enable NFPA to provide 150 applicants from across the country with $500 awards to complete a wildfire risk reduction project on Saturday, May 1. Project applications can be submitted through February 26, 2021. Apply for an award.

Over the past decade, the U.S. has witnessed a steady increase in wildfire activity. Experts predict this trend will remain. Despite billions of dollars to support wildland fire suppression efforts, the number of homes lost in wildfires per year has increased by 163 percent and wildfires now cost the U.S. an estimated $63 to $285 billion per year in losses.

“There are nearly 45 million homes in areas prone to wildfire today, and wildfire risk is nearly present in every state,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “In preparation for a future with more wildfire activity, homeowners need to understand their role and take action in reducing wildfire risk. Preparedness Day 2021 offers communities a unique opportunity to engage in this process.”

“State Farm finds it important to inform and encourage homeowners and communities to adopt effective wildfire mitigation programs that produce stronger, safer homes where lives are saved and a family’s largest investment is better protected,” said Vickie Hodges, State Farm Underwriting Analyst.

For more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, funding awards, project ideas, and free resources to download, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

Resources:

• www.nfpa.org
• Wildfire Education
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory
• Tips to help prepare for and recover from wildfires
• What to Do After a House Fire

"Coaches Call :15 "

"Groundskeeper :15"

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Kiwanis Jones

Kiwanis Jones was upset.

She was an Underwriting Service Assistant at State Farm^® and while she enjoyed her job, she had her eye on another position. She applied, but didn’t get it.

“I was pretty upset about it,” she remembered. “I wanted to figure out what I needed to do to get that job the next time around, but I didn’t know how to go about it. I felt like I needed someone to talk to.”

She needed somebody to help navigate her way around the organization, somebody to give advice, somebody to answer questions and sound ideas off of.

“What I needed,” Kiwanis said, “was a mentor.”

Getting connected with Mrs. Pat

Giving advice, paying it forward and being a good neighbor are what mentoring (and State Farm!) is all about. State Farm places a lot of importance on mentorship and provides employees plenty of opportunities to connect and learn from each other.

Kiwanis got on the Mentor/Mentee Matching Tool, one of many services offered by State Farm that helps connect people who want to learn with people who want to share what they’ve learned. She signed up, and that’s how she met Mrs. Pat.

Pat Goodwin-Taylor

“Mrs. Pat” is Pat Goodwin-Taylor, an Administrative Services Manager. She’s been all over State Farm over the course of her 32-year career, including stops in Claims, Purchasing, Creative Services, Public Affairs and Underwriting.

“I’ve learned a lot being here, and if there’s anything I can share that can help somebody get to where they want to be, I’m going to,” Pat said.

When she first met with Pat, Kiwanis shared her disappointment about not getting the job she wanted. Instead of just providing encouraging words and interviewing tips, Pat started asking questions of her own.

“I wanted to know where she wanted to be,” said Pat. “Not just here at State Farm, but in life.

“You’ve got to know where you want to be before you think about how you’re going to get there.”

Things are What You Make of Them

Through their conversations, Pat shared some of the knowledge she’s picked up over the years, but it became clear early on that this relationship wasn’t just a one-way street.

“She pushes me,” said Kiwanis. “She said, ‘If you want me to mentor you, you’re going to have to do some work.’”

And do some work she did.

Through Pat’s encouragement, Kiwanis signed up for some classes offered through Degreed, an online educational platform offered to all State Farm employees. Kiwanis is currently taking insurance designation courses that will help increase her business acumen. She’s also taking some college courses and hopes to get her degree.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do and thanks to Pat, I’m on my way to doing it.”

A Virtuous Cycle

Pat says her love of mentoring started when she got some good advice early on in her career from one of her mentors.

“I had a job offer that I wasn’t too excited about. My mentor at the time sat me down and told me why this was a good opportunity and how by taking this role, I’d be putting myself in a great position going forward.” Pat ended up loving her new role and credits her mentor for helping her out early on. “That advice really set me on a great path, so when I got the opportunity to do the same for somebody else, I jumped on it.”

John Quimby

Being a mentor isn’t something Pat takes lightly, and neither does John Quimby. John’s a Property Claims manager who’s been both mentor and mentee over his 30-year career.

“I’ve been on both sides of it,” John said. “And I’ve gotten just as much out of giving advice as I have getting advice.”

John says mentoring people is one of the most rewarding things he does in his professional life. “Don’t get me wrong, I love a good email and conference call as much as the next guy,” John joked. “But if you can actually help somebody with their career? That’s huge.”

Mentoring is such an important part of the culture, State Farm even offers courses on how to be a good mentor. “We’re excited to spotlight some learning resources to help,” said Learning Director Michael Gardner.

“We know that learning through others is among the most effective ways to build new skills – and mentoring is itself a skill that takes some practice to do well,” Michael said. “The beauty of mentoring is that it’s a virtuous cycle that builds skills and grows relationships for everyone involved.”

More About Mentorship

Mentoring is…

• A professional relationship where an experienced person assists another in developing specific skills and knowledge to enhance personal and professional growth.
• Intended to support and encourage people to manage their own development to maximize their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be.

How Mentoring can support your development?

• Mentoring gives you a fresh perspective that can be a growth experience for both a mentor and mentee.
• Mentors and mentees make great sounding boards for one another.
• A mentor both supports and challenges a mentee to be their best.
• A mentor can open up or help find new opportunities for the mentee.