It's Probably Time to Take a Look at Your Policy.
Murfreesboro, TN, June 19, 2012 - In today’s economy, every dollar counts for non-profit agencies. A chance to leverage social media for a $25,000 grant was an opportunity worth pursuing for Special Kids; one of 40 organizations chosen to “Cause an Effect” in its community.
The program was a new concept created by State Farm Insurance in an effort to provide funding for worthy projects around the country. It received 3,000 grant application submissions which were narrowed to 100 finalists by the State Farm Youth Advisory Board, a diverse group of 30 students. Forty of those 100 finalists, selected by Facebook voters, received $25,000 grants. Thanks to an outpouring of community support, Special Kids was one of the grant winners.
People were asked to go to the “Cause an Effect” page on Facebook and vote for their favorite causes. Once Special Kids, a Christian organization that provides therapeutic rehabilitation and professional nursing services to children with special needs, found out it was among the 100 winners, it got to work encouraging supporters to vote as well as educating the public about available services and sexual violence awareness.
Thousands supported the organization by posting information about the contest on their personal Facebook and Twitter pages and encouraging others to vote. Votes were logged from across the country. More than 21,000 votes later, the organization had reached its goal, finishing 14th out of the top 40 causes.
The money will be used to continue funding for Camp Ability, a summer program for children with special needs. Special Kids has served more than 2,200 children from 11 different counties in Middle Tennessee from its office in Murfreesboro. The complete list of Top 40 winners and more information about Cause an Effect, can be found on the State Farm Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/statefarm.
Kip Diggs, Media Inquiries, (615) 692-6682
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. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
