Together We Rise Corporation will receive a $25,000 grant to make a difference in the lives of foster children in our community
Chino, CA (May 24, 2012) - After three weeks and more than 1.2 million votes, State Farm® is proud to announce Together We Rise Corporation will receive a $25,000 grant to improve the lives of foster children. TWR was one of 3,000 Cause submissions State Farm received through Cause An Effect, a crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative that relies on non-profit organizations to create solutions to community issues identified by Facebook users.
“We submitted the grant because we thought it was a great fit for the Youth Advisory Board and our organization. We are about students working together to help kids in foster care”, said Danny Mendoza, CEO and Founder.“
The State Farm Youth Advisory Board, a diverse group of 30 students, reviewed the 3,000 Cause submissions and helped State Farm select the top 100 finalists. State Farm then identified and paired nonprofits with each Cause; the affiliated nonprofits of the top 40 Causes will each receive a $25,000 grant to create and execute a plan to address the Cause.
“We were so grateful that our Facebook community and local supporters let their voices be heard on behalf of these children. We are dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care,” said Mendoza.
From April 27 through May 17, the Facebook community was encouraged to visit the Cause An Effect app and vote for their favorite Cause. More than 38,000 people took to Facebook during the three week period;TWR received 28,912 votes, the eighth most votes in the program.
"The considerable amount of votes TWR received shows the level of commitment and engagement within our community to solve local issues,”said Leonard Kaigler, State Farm Vice President of Agency. “We look forward to watching TWR come together to make their neighborhood safer, stronger, and better educated with the help of Cause An Effect.”
For a complete list of the top 40 Causes or for more information about Cause An Effect, visit the State Farm Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/statefarm).
Eddie C. Martinez, Media Relations (310) 560-6690
The Youth Advisory Board is comprised of 30 students, ages 17-20, from across the United States and Canada who serve a two-year term. Their directive is to implement a $5 million-a-year signature service-learning initiative to address issues important to youth and communities. The Board is completely autonomous and youth-driven, and funds projects focused on issues selected by the board that impact youth. It consists of a diverse group of full-time students at high schools and universities. Each member commits about 15 hours a month to the Board and participates in three face-to-face meetings per calendar year. The Board will fund the 40 grants awarded through the Cause An Effect program with a portion of its $5 million funding in 2012. For more information on the Youth Advisory Board, visit www.statefarmYouth Advisory Board.com.
Together We Rise is a 501(c) 3 a non-profit organization comprised of motivated young adults. Our vision is to improve the lives of foster children in America, who often find themselves forgotten and neglected by the public. TWR has built a foundation of passionate volunteers who work tirelessly to make a difference in underprivileged children's lives. Our foundation has allowed us to put smiles on many children's faces in various ways, including sports camps, music, art, and improving overall living conditions. TWR strives to deliver a sense of normalcy to the children by furnishing them with clothing that actually fit, and by offering support through counseling and mentoring.
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