Good Neighbor Stories

Veterans Get Some “Angel” Assistance With State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Grant

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 08:27:50 -0500

In its 10th year, State Farm Neighborhood Assist® annually awards $25,000 grants to 40 nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood improvement projects. Voting for this year’s finalists is currently underway and will run through Aug 27. The public can vote up to 10 times per day for their favorite causes from the list of 200 finalists at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The 40 winners will be announced Sept. 29.

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

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

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

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

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

2020 State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Grant Winners Announced

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 13:49:00 -0600

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

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

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

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

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

2020 State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Grant Winners Announced

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 08:39:01 -0600

Join the conversation on Yammer!

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

Help a Cause in Your Community Win a $25,000 Grant!

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 07:40:49 -0500

Communities across the country submitted causes that would make a positive impact in their neighborhoods. Now these projects need your vote to help bring money to their communities.

Join the conversation on Yammer!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Help a Cause in Your Community Win a $25,000 Grant!

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 07:39:53 -0500

Communities across the country submitted causes that would make a positive impact in their neighborhoods. Now these projects need your vote to help bring money to their communities.

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

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

Take Action in Your Community through State Farm Neighborhood Assist®

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 09:00:00 -0500

Neighbors across the country will soon have an exciting opportunity to help change their communities for the better through State Farm Neighborhood Assist^®. Part of the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® initiative, State Farm Neighborhood Assist is back for its eighth year in 2019.

The program awards $25,000 grants to 40 nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood education, safety and community development projects.

Here’s how the easy process works:

Submission Phase: Starts June 5 and ends when 2,000 submissions are reached

Individuals can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com starting June 5. You can prepare now by going to the website and downloading the submission guide. We will accept the first 2,000 submissions. The State Farm Review Committee will then narrow the field to the top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric.

Voting Phase: Aug. 14-23

Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days, from Aug. 14-23, for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Winners Announced: Sept. 25

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

“Neighborhood Assist is another example of how small acts can equal big impacts in communities all across the U.S.,” said Allison Bertsche, State Farm Public Affairs Director. “From identifying an important cause to rallying your community to vote for it, this program is all about neighbors helping neighbors.”

Last year, 167,000 people cast 4.5 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $7 million to more than 250 organizations.

You might also be interested in:

Take Action in Your Community through State Farm Neighborhood Assist®

Wed, 23 May 2018 08:57:00 -0500

Neighbors across the country will soon have an exciting opportunity to help change their communities for the better through State Farm Neighborhood Assist®. Part of the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® initiative which inspires and empowers people to turn caring into doing, State Farm Neighborhood Assist is back for its seventh year.

The program awards $25,000 grants to 40 nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood education, safety and community development projects.

Here’s how the easy process works:

Submission Phase: June 6-June 15 or when 2,000 submissions are reached, whichever comes first

Individuals can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com from June 6-June15 or when 2,000 submissions are reached, whichever comes first. The State Farm Review Committee will then narrow the field to the top 200 submissions using a scoring rubric.

Voting Phase: Aug. 15-Aug.24

Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days from August 15-August 24 for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Winners Announced: Sept. 25

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

“Neighborhood Assist is another example of how State Farm is successfully turning caring into doing in communities all across the U.S.,” said Ed Woods, State Farm Director-Human Resources. “From identifying an important cause to rallying your community to vote for it, this program is all about neighbors helping neighbors.”

Last year, 119,000 people cast 3.1 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $6 million to more than 200 organizations.

You might also be interested in:

2017 State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Grant Winners Announced

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 06:40:00 -0500

In just 10 days, 119,000 people cast 3.1 million votes in support of their favorite causes. As a result, 40 communities, in 24 states, will be getting an assist from State Farm. State Farm is proud to announce the Top 40 vote-getting causes that will each receive a $25,000 grant to improve their communities.

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

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

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

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

Bridging Divides Through Art And Theater

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 19:00:00 -0500

It happens everywhere in the U.S. Schools consolidate. And it happens for a variety of different reasons; the economy and cost-savings are usually major deciding factors.

When schools merge, there are pros like increased efficiency and more specialized instruction, but there can also be cons. One town is left without a school. Some have said the town loses a bit of their identity not to mention large, empty buildings.

The school consolidation trend did not skip over Albion and Marshall Schools in south central Michigan. In 2016, Marshall annexed Albion public schools; the process started in 2013.

The merger went fairly smooth but there were bumps along the road. The two towns have significant demographic differences. The hardest part of the merger was “coming together, getting to know one another, understanding the culture,” shared one Albion teacher.

The communities came together to bridge the divides and build a new school culture. And from that work, a new education program was born. The Franke Center’s Youth Theater Education Program gave all the students exposure to one another and to creative expression.

“When those kinds of things get exposed to the light of day, it recognizes that we are all the same,” shared Randy David, Superintendent of Schools.

As the education program grew more popular, they needed additional funds to reach all the interested students.

The director of the program heard about a crowdsourced grant program that connects individuals and communities with local non-profits to build safer, stronger, and smarter communities, State Farm Neighborhood Assist ® (SFNA).

And, in 2016, they won one of those 40 grants. The grant dollars went primarily to providing food and transportation for the summer programs. The results - reaching more students more often.

Together, the Franke Center education program and State Farm are providing Albion and Marshall youth with more opportunities to learn with and from each other.

Check out the SFNA website to find out if any causes won grants in your community – the 40 winners will be announced Sept. 28, 2017.

You might also be interested in:

VOTE NOW! Help YOUR Community Win a $25,000 Grant

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 07:54:00 -0500

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

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

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

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

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

You might also be interested in:

The Sound Of Hope

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 09:26:00 -0500

Tomorrow night might get below freezing. You look around your tent and hope you have enough layers to stay not just warm but alive.

Your stomach rumbles. You hear the steady flow of traffic above, the other people, going to and from work. The people with roofs over their heads; they know when their next meal and shower will be.

Then you hear it. A silly horn that doesn’t just mean a hot cup of soup. It means hope.

Homeless but not hopeless

In America, there are approximately 650,000 homeless individuals. (Metro Relief, 2017) Many of them children. And the Dallas-Fort Worth area is no different.

Just ask Jana Kelley, who was homeless at age 13. Jana has experienced more horrors in her short life – from drug dealing to her father being shot - than most people will in 80 years

But she heard that silly horn one day. Around the corner the Metro Relief bus came. The volunteers poured out of the doors of the retrofitted bus, many of them got in line for soup with the homeless and struck up conversations. Jana decided to sit down and talk with a volunteer, a chat that changed the course of her life.

“We really believe that in order to help someone actually make an impact in their lives, you’ve got to start with the core problems,” shared Metro Relief Executive Director, Jason Kelley. “A lot of people do not have encouragement and good people around them. So we try to be that for them. We try to show them love right off the bat even if they’ve only known us for five minutes. We are family and we care about you.”

Metro Relief provides more than just much needed meals. They provide sanitary items like tooth brushes and soap; encouragement and friendship; and help people get life-changing medical services.

Jana used to think her life at 13 was normal. But through conversations and love and support from Metro relief volunteers, she realized she deserved better. The young woman has turned her life around. She’s attending college and plans to be a social worker so she can help other children in her situation.

Spreading the relief even farther

Metro Relief wanted to reach even more people in the metro area. But like many non-profits, they needed more money.

“It’s not every day that a group of people say we’ve got $25,000 and want to give it to you so you can make a difference in people’s lives. And that’s what happened through State Farm®,” Jason said.

In 2016, they heard about a crowdsourced grant program that connects individuals and communities with local non-profits to build safer, stronger, and smarter communities, State Farm Neighborhood Assist ® (SFNA).

And they won one of those 40 grants. “The grant money will help us retrofit a second bus, essentially making it a food truck. We will be able to reach so many more people now,” shared Jason.

Together, Metro Relief volunteers and State Farm are giving Dallas-Fort Worth homeless a better chance at a brighter tomorrow. They are turning the power of caring into the act of doing with the help of SFNA.

Check out the SFNA website to find community causes you’re passionate about. From August 16 through the 25, you get ten votes a day to rally behind those causes. Go vote!

You might also be interested in:

Childhood Poverty Just A Stone’s Throw Away

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:00:00 -0500

Close your eyes and imagine children hanging on the monkey bars, screaming their way down the slide, and giggling joyfully on the swings. Sounds of innocent laughter all around. Now open your eyes.

One out of five of those children are living in poverty and will go to bed hungry tonight. (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), March 2017) Another way to look at the numbers – your child has a sleepover party. For one or two of those children, that was the first time in a long time they went to bed with a full belly.

No region, ethnicity or age group in America is immune to childhood poverty. Once you are touched by poverty, it’s hard to outrun its effects. Unfortunately, childhood poverty often means future poverty and long-lasting health and development issues. (USDA, March 2017)

So what can we do?

Chandler, AZ, is a fast-growing Phoenix suburb with more than a quarter million people.

“Most people driving through downtown Chandler - they see the beautiful downtown and the parks, but within a stone’s throw we’ve got people who are struggling to make ends meet,” shared Det. Kelley, a Chandler police officer.

Fortunately for these kids there is an organization with an army of volunteers who are committed to changing the trajectory of their lives. ICAN was founded 25 years ago by local resident, Henry Salinas, who wanted to provide safe after-school care for children in his low-income neighborhood.

Today the program is more than just an afterschool program for at-risk youth. “We use a nationally-recognized curriculum to build the skills necessary to encourage social behavior; prevent substance abuse and delinquency; develop life skills and leadership capacity; and enhance self-image and self-confidence,” shares CEO of ICAN, Shelby Pederson.

But ICAN needed help to provide their life-altering services to more members of the community - free of charge. In 2016, they heard about a crowdsourced grant program that connects individuals and communities with local non-profits to build safer, stronger, and smarter communities, State Farm Neighborhood Assist (SFNA).

And they won one of those 40 grants. “The grant money is going towards our Youth Development Program that tackles three major barriers: Free programming, meals, and transportation,” shared Shelby. “Without help from organizations like State Farm and their Neighborhood Assist program, we could not provide these services to our community.”

Together, Chandler residents and ICAN volunteers are giving their children the best chance they can at a brighter future. They are turning the power of caring into the act of doing with the help of SFNA. Is there a cause in your community you care about?

You might also be interested in:

State Farm Neighborhood Assist® is back to help communities across the U.S. turn caring into doing

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:00:00 -0500

Neighbors across the country have an exciting opportunity to help change their communities for the better through State Farm Neighborhood Assist®, which is back for its sixth year.

Forty causes will be awarded a $25,000 grant each to assist their communities. Residents of the United States can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com from June 7-June 21 or when 2,000 submissions are reached, whichever comes first. Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist asks individuals to identify causes that would help make their communities safer, stronger, and smarter.

The State Farm Review Committee will then narrow down the field, using a scoring rubric to identify the top 200 submissions.

The public will have a chance to vote up to 10 times a day, every day for 10 days from August 16-August 25 at www.neighborhoodassist.com for their favorite causes from the list of finalists.

The 40 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Good Neighbor Day, September 28.

Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $5 million to communities across North America, supporting a wide variety of causes, including:

Fighting childhood hunger
Helping homeless veterans
Revitalizing parks
Improving literacy
Offering athletic programs for children with disabilities

“State Farm has a rich history of giving back to the communities where we live and work, helping make life go right,” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President. “From identifying an important cause to rallying your community to vote for it, this program is all about neighbors helping neighbors.”

Last year, 72,000 Americans cast 1.8 Million votes for their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities. Be part of the movement and submit your cause to improve your community starting June 7.

You might also be interested in:

A Young Life Lost: Legacy Of Safety

Tue, 23 May 2017 19:13:00 -0500

The rolling hills of the Missouri River Valley with green grass and corn as far as the eye can see. It’s an idyllic, small Midwestern, Americana kind of town.

That was the last scene Tristan White saw before his life ended. He was running with his high school wrestling team on a country road when he was struck by a speeding motorist. A horrifying end to a promising young life.

Tristan’s shocking death left his family, friends and community with a deep sense of loss and helplessness. But they found an outlet for their grief. They decided to make Tristan’s legacy one of safety.

The White family connected with the nearby nonprofit, Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 (KKAD25). They participated in a 5K to remember lost loved ones, like Tristan.

“I want people to remember why he’s not here,” shared Lisa White, Tristan’s mother. “Even if it makes a difference for one or two families to not have to go through what we’ve gone through. It doesn’t make it worth it but at least it made a difference.”

Then they decided to bring these messages and activities to their hometown, Treynor, IA. But they needed help. In 2016, they heard about a crowdsourced, grant program that connects individuals and communities with local non-profits to build safer, stronger, and smarter communities, State Farm Neighborhood Assist (SFNA).

And they won one of those 40 grants. The grant dollars will help kick off the initiative, License to Live, in partnership with KKAD25. License to Live encourages the entire community to practice safe driving; keeping pedestrians, drivers and passengers alike safe on our roadways.

Their plan is to add three radar speed signs to remind people to slow down as they enter the town, and place banners around the community to raise awareness. They hosted mock crash simulations at Tristan’s former high school to inform students about risky situations.

They also hope to create a two-mile trail along the road where Tristan died. It will not only serve as a memorial but will provide a safe trail for residents to enjoy.

“We can’t bring him back but we can make his life remembered,” shared Tristan’s aunt, Christy Nielsen. “The more we can tell people, a little bit of action can go a long way.”

Together, Tristan’s family and Treynor residents turned the power of caring into the act of doing with the help of SFNA. Is there a cause in your community you care about?

You might also be interested in:

Things are Looking Up

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:00:00 -0500

Sparking children’s imaginations. Inspiring students to seek Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers. Restoring a struggling economy. Sounds like some lofty goals.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kids Take To The Water Without Their Wheelchairs

Mon, 05 May 2014 08:00:00 -0500

When you see her in the water, Ivori Hunter looks like any other kid. Her smile is brilliant; her eyes bright and full of life. On this overcast day at the lake, she’s near the shore, sitting at the end of a line attached to the speedboat 30 yards in front of her. She’s obviously nervous, but when the boat starts to move, slowly pulling her through the water, her eyes grow even bigger.

It only takes a few seconds for her to overcome her initial fears. And as the boat speeds up, she throws her arms up in the air, letting out a whoop of joy. It’s Ivori’s first time waterskiing, but this isn’t your typical “first time waterskiing” experience.

Back on land, Ivori is in a wheelchair. And there are dozens more kids with physical and developmental challenges on the dock, waiting for their turn.

A Day to Remember

It’s all part of a program called Extreme Recess, created by Dreams for Kids, a nonprofit organization that brings sports to children with disabilities – many for the first time. Formed in 2000 in Chicago, the name Extreme Recess was given to it by the kids in the program, and that feeling of shared participation permeates the entire enterprise. Most recess clinics feature a 1:1 volunteer to participant ratio, which ensures kids receive the attention and engagement they need. Other Extreme Recess events have included track, baseball, martial arts and snow skiing.

“We all have disabilities of some sort,” said Tom Tuohy, founder of Dreams for Kids. “We don’t ID ourselves as having a disability, but if you’re in a wheelchair, that’s how you’re spoken of and introduced. It’s isolating and disempowering for a young person. Extreme Recess gives these kids the chance to come out from the sidelines by playing sports – many for the first time in their lives.”

Extreme Recess fills an important role in these children’s lives by helping them understand that the same things that are possible for others are possible for them, as well. It encourages a limitless sense of possibility that every child deserves.

“I would have never imagined that my son would have been able to go waterskiing,” said James Michael, the father of an Extreme Recess athlete. “I’m glad that they taught me that lesson – that my boy is capable of so much more than even I thought he was.”

But the day at the lake didn’t just feature waterskiing. Participants went tubing, kayaked, and even enjoyed the water in an amphibious boat car. No wonder Ivori’s smile was so large after her trip around the lake.

“Very awesome,” Hunter said. “I had a blast!”

Making Dreams Possible

Like all not-for-profit programs, Extreme Recess operates with the support of its community. The day of Ivori’s adventure was made possible through a $25,000 grant provided by State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist program. The program, which provides grants for causes that help grow communities and neighborhoods, is voted on by visitors to the State Farm Neighborhood Assist page. Extreme Recess was one of 40 groups in 27 states and provinces which received grants.

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

It’s a goal that Extreme Recess has taken to heart.

“We keep expanding every year, and we are hoping to offer one day per month in 2015,” Tuohy said. “This program is all about offering new experiences – things these kids have never done or even imagined before. Right now, we’re planning a trip to Key Largo, so that the kids can go deep sea diving to find hidden treasures. I can’t think of a better way to bring these families together and to show these kids that we should be stressing ability – not disability.”

Submissions for the 2014 State Farm Neighborhood Assist program are currently being narrowed down to the top 200 programs. Voting for the final 40 grantees is open to everybody, and will begin on April 28.