Pictured from L-R: AFE Jimmy Gillispie, Agents Kim Kohlheim-Harper, Ivy Brito, Thomas Baker, and Robert Wiggins
Louisville, August 24, 2011 - State Farm is awarding a $7,500 grant to the YMCA of Greater Louisville. The money will be used to support the chapter’s Black Achievers program which encourages school success by helping students improve their academic performance, prepare for college, and increase their awareness of career opportunities. “I am so grateful for State Farm’s support of our YMCA youth. Without caring community partners such as State Farm our program would not be possible,” said Lynn Johnson, the program’s director.
The YMCA Black Achievers program kicked off its 2011-2012 year on Saturday, August 13, 2011 with State Farm agents presenting school supplies to program participants, as well as free African American scholarship directories to parents. Free scholarship directories are still available and may be obtained by visiting your local State Farm agent. State Farm agents will also host workshops for program participants and their parents throughout the school year. Workshops will address a variety of topics including financial literacy basics for youth and adults.
According to the YMCA, the Black Achievers program in Louisville touches 450 African American youth annually. The participants are in grades 8-12 and come from areas across the city. Most of them are classified as at-risk. For example, of the participants:
State Farm is a partner of the America’s Promise Alliance which is a cross-country campaign to improve the high school dropout rate in America. Research shows an American child drops out of school every 26 seconds. That translates to 7,000 students per day or more than one million annually. Among minority students, the problem is even more severe with nearly 50 percent of African American and Hispanic students not completing high school on time. Experts say that dropping out of high school affects not just students and their families, but the country overall - including businesses, government and communities. The Alliance for Excellent Education estimates that high school dropouts from the Class of 2006-07 will cost the U.S. more than $329 billion in lost wages, taxes, and productivity over their lifetimes. Experts say that those who drop out are more likely to be incarcerated, rely on public programs and social services, and go without health insurance than those who graduate from high school.
Lisa Ripley, State Farm Insurance, (859) 282-5121.
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. Our 17,800 agents and more than 66,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.
