California

State Farm Awards $95,000 Grant to Unity Council at Día de los Muertos Festival in Oakland

December 8, 2010 – State Farm Insurance has long been a supporter of community events in Oakland, California and the Día de los Muertos Festival in late October was no exception. At the festival, State Farm announced a $95,000 grant for the Unity Council of Oakland.

State Farm, which sponsored the annual Día de los Muertos Festival in the Fruitvale neighborhood, has supported the Unity Council of Oakland for the last eight consecutive years.

“As an organization doing business in Oakland, being a good corporate citizen is as much a part of who we are as being a leading provider of insurance and financial services,” said Kris Chan, agency field executive at State Farm's East Bay Agency Field Office. “State Farm and the Unity Council share a common goal of working to strengthen the local community where we live and work. We believe a strong community provides greater opportunities for both residents and businesses to thrive.”

The grant is just one example of how State Farm has been giving back to the Oakland community this fall. The Company has donated soccer balls to local Roosevelt and Manzanita Elementary Schools. The Bay Area chapter of Junior Achievement received $3,400 to promote occupational opportunities to local students. The East Bay Agency Field Office also provided Thanksgiving turkeys for 120 families through the De Colores Head Start Program.

“This is just the most recent activity that exemplifies the long-standing commitment State Farm has to participating in the life of the Fruitvale community,” said State Farm Public Affairs Specialist Sevag Sarkissian. "With the leadership and direct involvement of our local agents and agency field office, State Farm has consistently shown its Good Neighbor spirit all year-long in the Fruitvale neighborhood."

For more information on the Unity Council of Oakland, visit www.unitycouncil.org.