California

State Farm Youth Advisory Board Gets Artistic

On October 17, State Farm presented Sharefest Inc. with a check for $25,000 as part of the State Farm Youth Advisory Board’s grant process. Sharefest Inc. was one of six California organizations to be given a grant. This grant will be used in partnership with Avalon High School in Wilmington, California for the Murals for Motivation project to complete 12 murals at local Los Angeles Unified School District area schools.

Chad Mayer, Executive Director of Sharefest Inc. says, “Sharefest is thrilled and excited to be the recipient of this State Farm Youth Advisory Board grant so we may continue to enhance the lives of Avalon’s youth and bring programs that students are interested in.”

The Murals for Motivation project will bring Avalon High students together in a service-learning atmosphere while refining their artistic abilities. Sharefest will host an art education course at Avalon which will teach students how to create murals and then paint them for twelve local area schools.

Since Sharefest’s involvement at this school, it has seen the 100 percent at-risk students thrive. Avalon just had their largest graduating class as well as their highest percentage of proficiency on the California High School Exit Exam. Additionally, students’ Academic Performance Index (API) scores have increased by 49 points since last year. Students are excited to engage their community and express creativity in a positive way.

State Farm Agent Frank Leon and Public Affairs Specialist Priscilla Orozco were on hand to help deliver the check, and Leon challenged the kids to keep pursuing their dreams and to be intentional about giving back to the community.

“I consider it not only a privilege but a responsibility to work within my community and continue building upon a strong relationship that has been established with Sharefest and the students at Avalon High School,” Leon said.

State Farm supports service-learning because it provides context for talking about learning in terms of not only what students know, but also what they are able to do for the community. It’s a teaching method that combines service to the community with classroom curriculum. It is a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility.