West Chester, PA - October 10, 2011 - Representatives from the West Chester Area School district were presented with a $5,000 from State Farm Monday night for support of the district’s Youth Leadership Council program. The program, which includes high school and middle school students, prepares young people to meet the challenges of adolescence through positive experiences and relationships that promote a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and empowerment. Youth representatives are from varying socio-economic, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Many of the initiatives are based on service learning and service-driven results. The presentation occurred during the October Pupil Service Committee Meeting and was attended by West Chester Area School District Superintendent, James Scanlon; West Chester Area School District Communications Director, Robert Partridge; and local State Farm gents, Nancy Ellis and Ed Hart.
“We appreciate all that State Farm does to support our students and our programs”, said West Chester Area School District Superintendent, Dr. James Scanlon. “The grant was written for the purpose of our Communities That Care initiative, which provides programs and services for youth to prevent at-risk behaviors and uses youth to help those services and program. Thank you, State Farm, for being involved in our community!”
The grant was awarded by the State Farm Northeast Zone Youth Advisory Board and consists of a diverse group of students and associates between the ages of 17 and 24. They play a leadership role in creating and overseeing a $60,000 State Farm funded service-learning initiative. Their work is truly youth-led and youth-driven. The Northeast Zone Board provides grants for student-led service-learning projects in the State Farm Northeast Zone, comprised of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Service-learning projects are considered in one of three categories:
“Research demonstrates that through service-learning students become more deeply engaged in what they are learning and become civic minded,” said State Farm West Chester agent, Nancy Ellis, “They learn about their community and help affect measurable change.” Exton area State Farm agent, Ed Hart added, “State Farm has long believed that for communities to thrive, our youth must be empowered as leaders and decision-makers to address real issues and problems. Through service-learning, young adults can have structured opportunities to make change in their communities while becoming better prepared for college, the workforce and in community service.”
The State Farm Youth Advisory Board has granted over $19.8 million in grant money since its inception in 2006, empowering youth to implement service-learning in 340 communities. Additionally, applications are available for interested youth aged 17-20 to become a Youth Advisory Board member. Details can be found at http://www.statefarmyab.com
Dave Phillips, State Farm Insurance (610) 358-7667.
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
Service-learning is a teaching method which supplements classroom studies with hands-on projects that address pressing community issues and problems. To learn more about service-learning visit www.nylc.org, www.ysa.org, www.service-learningpartnership.org and statefarm.com/about/part_spos/community/ed_excel/servlrng.asp.