State Farm® Seeks Inspirational Women to Honor in Fourth Annual Embrace Life® Awards

Beyond Mourning–Widows Who Embrace Life

Bloomington, Illinois, March 8, 2007 -- Each year, more than 800,000 women are widowed in the United States. Many are left with uncertain circumstances around their family, emotions and/or financial future. Yet some women find extraordinary strength to overcome these circumstances and persevere -- going beyond their grief to inspire others. State Farm Life Insurance Company is looking to celebrate personal achievements and share the life lessons of five of these women during its 2007 Embrace Life Awards. Honorees will receive a $10,000 cash award and recognition at the Embrace Life Awards event in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007.

“The death of a spouse is one of the most difficult things for the human spirit to endure, and it also can have a tremendous financial impact on families, which I saw first hand as a State Farm agent,” says Susan D. Waring, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of State Farm Life Insurance Companies. “The Embrace Life Awards celebrates the achievements of women who turn adversity into hope, and educates families about the importance of planning today for tomorrow."

Elaine Doll-Dunn, a 2006Embrace Life Awards Honoree, lost her husband, a rancher and rodeo stock rider, to leukemia when she was 23 and pregnant with her fourth child.  “We women don’t really know what we are made of and I’ve learned that I am tougher than I thought.” says Doll-Dunn, who is an author, motivational speaker and founder of the Leading Ladies marathon – a race designed specifically for women.

The Embrace Life Awards also provide a forum to share the inspiring stories, experiences and life lessons of honorees to help everyday women take steps to secure their hopes and dreams for the future.

“I am proud of the fact that I’ve come as far as I have. I’m able to take care of my kids and be there for them in the way they need me to be there,” said Amanda Thompson, a 2006 Embrace Life Awards Honoree who, at age 24, lost her husband in a head-on collision. “Now, I live every day to the fullest and am working my way toward a better future.”

The program urges women to set aside time with their spouses to talk about life insurance and other financial planning tools. Says Waring, “While preparing for the worst won’t make it happen, it eases the burden if a tragedy occurs.”

How to Enter

Participants are invited to nominate a special woman by submitting an essay (of no more than 1,000 words) between March 8, 2007 and May 18, 2007. Participants are welcome to nominate themselves.

The essays will be judged by an independent panel of experts on four criteria:

• A brief history of the nominee and the circumstances leading up to the loss of her spouse;
• Information on how the nominee moved beyond her grief to embrace life and inspire others;
• Overview of how the experience changed her;
• Life lessons from the nominee on what, if anything, she would do differently and what advice, both personally and financially, she would offer others facing a similar situation.

Participants must be at least 13 years of age to nominate a woman for the Embrace Life Awards. Nominees must be at least 18 years of age at the time of entry and residents of the United States or the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick or Alberta, Canada. Nominations can be made by visiting the State Farm Embrace Life Awards web site and following the online directions.

A hard copy of the application form also can be printed at the web site and submitted by mail. Mailed applications should include the essay and contact information: complete name, complete address, day/evening phone numbers, date of birth (month and year only) and email address.

All U.S. entries should be mailed to:

State Farm Embrace Life Awards Essay Contest
1878 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14610. 

Canadian entries (Alberta, New Brunswick, or Ontario provinces only) should be mailed to:

State Farm Embrace Life Awards Essay Contest
17-7000 McLeod Road
Unit # 135
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 7K3.

All entries must be received by May 18, 2007.

For official rules and more information visit the State Farm Embrace Life Awards web site.

About State Farm
State Farm® insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve nearly 75 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies.  State Farm is ranked No. 22 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.  For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in Mass., N.Y. or Wis.);
State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in N.Y. and Wis.);
Bloomington, Ill.

State Farm International Life Insurance Company, Ltd.
Aurora, Ontario