STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
State Farm agent Patrick Buchanan says his organization has a hundred $25,000 grants to award to nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood improvement projects.
And he hopes to see some of that money go to projects in the Wood River Valley.
Buchanan said State Farm Insurance is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022 by expanding its State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant program from 40 grants to a hundred.
“State Farm Neighborhood Assist truly embodies the spirit of what our company has been about for 100 years-being a good neighbor,” said Rasheed Merritt, assistant vice president at State Farm. “We are excited about expanding the program in 2022 to help even more neighborhoods.”
Individuals and organizations may submit a cause at http://www.neighborhoodassist.com beginning at 11 a.m. Feb. 16. Interested parties may download the submission guide at the website.
State Farm will accept the first 4,000 submissions. Then a review committee will narrow the field to the Top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric.
The public will have a chance to vote on the causes they wish to see funded from April 27 through May 6. The public will be able to vote 10 times a day every day for 10 days at www.neighborhoodassist.com
The hundred causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced June 7 at www.neighborhoodassist.com
Last year 125,000 people cast more than 3 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities. Since the program began, State Farm has donated $10 million to more than 380 causes.
“Grant programs that address community needs, like Neighborhood Assist, are more important than ever,” said Patrick Buchanan. “This initiative truly embodies the spirit of being a Good Neighbor.”