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

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

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

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

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

Ducks and chickens, butterflies and birds, fruits and vegetables, and even a pond full of fish… Sounds like a special field trip for school. But at Legacy Elementary in Madison, Alabama, it’s every day.

In 2009, Legacy Elementary School received a State Farm Youth Advisory Board grant to build an outdoor classroom and pond. Over the past seven years, the outdoor classroom has grown close to one acre with plants and animals all around. Every student, kindergarten through fifth, experience and contribute to the pond each day throughout the year.

“The pond is truly the kid’s pond,” shared Keith Trawick, Principal. “They work on it year round. They pull weeds, spread mulch, plant flowers and vegetables and feed the animals.”

The pond is truly unique. People from across the world come to see the pond because they don’t see this at their schools.

Each grade has responsibility for a different part of the outdoor classroom. The kindergartners are responsible for the ten raised vegetable gardens. The fifth graders help the kindergartners with their responsibilities with the gardens.

“I like the fact teachers go to the pond as much as possible and connect our lessons to the pond. We do math and science there.” says fifth grader Lily Judge

Another way students help each other is during Big Fish Day. Every month, twelve fifth graders plan activities and teach the younger grades at the pond.

In addition to Big Fish Day, a Student Pond Committee meets every other week. They clean the pond, fill up feeders, sweep walkways and feed animals. Students learn life lessons each day at the pond.

In the summer, the school hosts a farmer’s market that showcases the outdoor classroom. Vendors come a couple of Saturdays in the summer, and people come check out the pond. Last year, a high school student brought and sold his honey at the market. Profits go to the Pond. Eventually they would love the students to sell vegetables they grow.

“Our school is the only one in the county to sponsor a Farmer’s Market. The Market was a goal we reached and it has been a huge success. Anything we can do inside, we can extend to the outdoor classroom,” says Ms. Janel Ramsden, Legacy Elementary Teacher.

“In the second grade, we raised butterflies in class and set them free in the butterfly garden. It is one of my best memories at Legacy and the outdoor classroom,” says fifth grader Hunter Mason

Every year, the fifth graders have a fishing day. The Alabama Wildlife Federation comes to teach them to fish and they get their youth fishing license. It is one of the most anticipated days for fifth graders.

“We’re very proud to have Project Pond certified by Alabama Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and effort put forth by our students, teachers, and community,” says Trawick. Project Pond is the largest certified outdoor classroom in the state.

Legacy Elementary School reaches more than 700 students each year and thousands of people from the community. Administration, teachers and students take pride in their outdoor classroom and their way of learning. How can you help your school learn through unique ways?

REACH Studio Art Center in Lansing, MI, received a $30,000 service-learning grant for Teen Open Studio's 2015-2016 Community Art Projects from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB).

REACH teens will design and create three new works of community art for partners in the 2015-2016 grant cycle. Participants will be able to complete four ten-week terms that further the goals of retention, community engagement, and mentoring of young people in Michigan, both during fabrication and long after installation of three Community Art Projects and one portfolio session/Gallery Show.

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has granted more than $36 million in grant money since its inception in 2006, empowering youth to implement service-learning in 589 communities.

About the Youth Advisory Board

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a diverse group of 30 youth, ages 17-20, who were chosen through a competitive process to lead and oversee this $5 million/year signature service-learning initiative. The Youth Board identified the issues, issued competitive grants and will now provide technical assistance, communication and oversight to site grantees.

About REACH Studio Art Center

REACH Studio Art Center is a nonprofit neighborhood space for arts education and civic engagement in REO Town. REACH programs are dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth, urban revitalization, and strengthening community. REACH connects artists with local residents, brings diverse individuals and groups together, and creates an atmosphere of shared pride and creative problem solving.