Union Beach, NJ (December 20, 2012)
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Local agents and representatives of State Farm joined national officials and local members of Habitat for Humanity in Union Beach to present $60K to assist in Habitat's disaster outreach. Four local New Jersey Habitat affiliates hard hit by storm Sandy in October received the funding.
State Farm has been a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity for nearly 20 years. In 2011, State Farm partnered with Habitat to develop the State Farm Disaster Services Grants. These grants were developed to provide local Habitat affiliates with funding in the wake of a local disaster.
In response to the unprecedented events related to storm Sandy, Habitat modified their process to make these funds immediately available to some of the most affected Habitat affiliates in the region. Habitat selected four of the most affected Habitat affiliates in New Jersey from Sandy to receive four $15,000 State Farm Disaster Services Grants for a total of $60,000 in funding. The affiliates were chosen by Habitat based on need and the affiliate's ability to quickly put the funding to work on the ground.
The four selected Habitat affiliates who will receive $15,000 each are:
State Farm's partnership supports Habitat's disaster risk reduction initiatives, which is integrated into shelter, housing and settlement program platforms. While Habitat for Humanity assists more than 50,000 families worldwide through our disaster recovery programs, it also allows State Farm to educate communities in disaster-prone areas and protect against future vulnerabilities. "State Farm is committed to building safer, stronger and better educated communities," said Mike Rossman with State Farm's Public Affairs National Programs. "We are proud to present this grant with Habitat for Humanity to these local New Jersey affiliates."
State Farm agents and employees not only volunteer to build with Habitat, but also serve on Habitat affiliates boards and have even built with Habitat for Humanity on Global Village builds in other countries. State Farm has been a corporate contributor to Habitat for Humanity since 1994. State Farm became the official corporate sponsor of Habitat's youth programs in 2007. Habitat's youth programs seek to engage youth people ages 5 to 25 and involve them as leaders in the work of Habitat for Humanity.
State Farm's Disaster Services Grant was created to provide the opportunity for affiliates and youth to become engaged in the process of preparing and recovering from a disaster. Affiliates and youth groups can apply for $2,500 and $15,000 grants to be used for disaster training and response and recovery efforts.
For details on these grant opportunities, contact State Farm or Habitat for Humanity.
Dave Phillips, State Farm Public Affairs, (610) 358-7667
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 600,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat's blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.
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