Texas

State Farm Donates $10,000 to the Texas Valley Communities Foundation
to support its ENCORE program

ENCORE and State Farm celebrated the successful implementation of the Engaging Communities for College Readiness (ENCORE) Family Sessions, which were hosted at different school across the Valley throughout the academic year. These sessions take a holistic approach to college readiness by empowering parents and their children with the tools they need to work collaboratively toward higher education attainment.

“We are committed to the future of our youth and are proud to support Texas Valley Communities Foundation and the ENCORE Family Sessions, which help to prepare not just the youth but the whole family for a college education” said Amelia Folkes, State Farm spokesperson.

In September of 2010, State Farm donated $10,000 to the Texas Valley Communities Foundation to support its ENCORE program to host Family Sessions in all middle schools from Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District. Since then, over 1,000 parents and students have participated in the sessions, which have also expanded to the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District.

“We are very proud to have State Farm as one of our stronger partners” said Ernesto Villarreal, ENCORE Program Director. “These funds have been committed to open the student – parent dialogue on the importance of higher education and college readiness at the dinner table. If we want our youth to succeed in the future, it is vital that we establish a college-going culture at every South Texas home and the implementation of the ENCORE Family Sessions is accomplishing this goal”.

During the ENCORE Family Sessions, students with their parents and siblings engage in hands-on activities that facilitate a dialogue about their expectations in a college education, setting future career goals, developing necessary academic and personal skills. They also learn about college admissions, financial aid, and the overall benefits to lifetime earnings and quality of life afforded by higher education.

Fire fighters demonstrated that water should NOT be used to extinguish grease fires – only fire extinguishers should be used, as water exacerbates grease fires instead of putting them out. The trailer, supported by State Farm, will be used for demonstrations throughout the community to educate people on preventing house fires and the proper use of fire extinguishers for putting out kitchen grease fires.

In addition to supporting AFD’s trailer, State Farm provided 75 donated fire extinguishers to AFD. In fact, one of the donated fire extinguishers was used to put out the grease fire at the press conference. Like a good neighbor, State Farm was there.