Montana Community

**If your organization is interested in partnering with State Farm, please visit our Company Grants page or contact Daniel Lost at 253-912-6457 for more information.

Montana DR.I.V.E. Teen Workshops

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has teamed up with State Farm to help teenagers become better drivers. The Montana DR.I.V.E (Driver In-Vehicle Education) program has professional instructors spend a day with teens to help develop their skills to keep their vehicle in balance and respond safely to driving risks. Following training, teens receive an individualized report evaluating their performance in ten specific driving skills with recommendations for improvement.

Participation in the Montana DR.I.V.E teen workshops has grown over 50% with the support of State Farm. In 2006, there were 13 teens that participated, and in 2009 the registration grew to 24 with a waiting list to participate. In 2010, that number has grown to over 36 registered teens all receiving scholarships to participate based on a written essay application.

Special Olympics of Montana

The State Summer Games have been a signature event since the program's inception in 1970. From 2009-2011, the Games are being held in Bozeman, MT. Approximately 1,000 athletes compete in 11 Olympic-type sports. Athletes come from more than 70 programs from 50 communities across Montana. Nearly 500 volunteer coaches and hundreds of family members and friends accompany the athletes to the Games. Nearly 1,500 local volunteers organize and host the Games.

Special Olympics Montana's Mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

State Farm in partnership with agents and associates has a long tradition of making donations of supplies and volunteer hours to the program in Montana. Over many years, State Farm volunteers in Montana have taken photos as athletes as they receive their medals. These photos have provided a cherished take-away for documenting their accomplishment and participation in events.

Women’s Circle of Excellence Conference

The Montana State University College of Business Women’s Circle of Excellence mission is to enhance and enrich the lives of our women alumnae, associates and friends by opening doors for mentoring and networking while creating educating and inspiring opportunities for women by women.

The 3rd annual Women's Circle of Excellence Conference provides motivational and educational tools to women in today's business to be successful. The event reaches women in all stages of careers and provides opportunities for mentoring and inspiring others to succeed. The conference will focus on women in the Montana region, but attracts attendees from several states. As in years past, State Farm is proud to be an event sponsor.

Family Business Program

Established in 1994 as an outreach program through Montana State University College of Business, the Family Business Program offers education and information to businesses owned and managed by families in Montana. Its annual Family Business Awards recognizes the state’s most pioneering and successful family businesses. This program also allows small businesses to share ideas and concerns common to most small businesses. State Farm has been a sponsor of the Family Business Program since 2006.

Montana Chamber Foundation

The Montana Chamber of Commerce hosts the “Montana High School Business Challenge” a successful program that State Farm has been a multi-year sponsor of. The program saw a record number of Montana High Schools and students enroll and participate for this spring 2010 challenge. The program focuses on providing the opportunity to explore hands on real word business concepts. The essence of the program is student teams manage their own manufacturing business, basing their success on feedback, competition and weekly stock prices.

The HSBC has evolved its efforts in electronic teacher recruitment, continuing an updated format that is appealing to students, and electronic webinar training for new teacher prospects and current instructors. Overall, school enrollments are declining in Montana, but programs like the HBSC are continuing to see increased participation and sustain momentum of growth. Over 12,000 students have participated since 2000.

FireSafe Montana

FireSafe Montana is a private, non-profit organization coordinating and supporting a statewide coalition of diverse interests working together to help Montanans make their homes, neighborhoods, and communities fire safe.

FireSafe Montana actively encourages and assists in the development of local FireSafe councils across the state. These councils are key to raising public awareness of local wildland fire threats and issues, motivating residents to take positive action, and providing access to the expertise and resources homeowners need to get the job done. When people take personal responsibility for applying and maintaining fire wise practices on their property, they greatly increase the chances of their homes surviving a wildfire.

Through its public information programs and materials, website, newsletter, and special events, as well as its active involvement in federal, state, and local fire mitigation efforts, FireSafe Montana is working hard to reduce the potential loss of life and property from wildfire in Montana. State Farm has Montana associates and agents that serve on the board and participate in advocating for the awareness and prevention of wildfires that potentially threaten Montana.