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September 30, 2021
Brooklyn Scholarship Program Receives $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant
Money Helps Low-Income Youth Gain Access to Higher Education
This past June, State Farm accepted 2,000 applications for the Neighborhood Assist grant program. These submissions represented causes from throughout the country which focus on supporting communities in need. A review committee narrowed down the submissions to the top 200 finalists which were posted online and voted on by the public. In just 10 days, 125,000 people cast more than 3 million votes in support of their favorite causes. The 40 causes with the most votes each win a $25,000 grant.
Marcy Houses Memorial Scholarship Fund is a winner – in fact, one of only two winners in New York. Their mission is to provide scholarships to young people living in the Marcy Houses public housing complex in Brooklyn. The $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant will help provide financial support and mentorship to first and second year college or trade school students.
According to research by the National College Attainment Network, a low-income student is 29% less likely to enroll in post-secondary education directly after high school. And, only 35% of low-income high school students obtain a post-secondary credential by age 26, compared to 72% of high-income students.
“My family has deep roots in The Marcy, having resided there from the late 1940s to 1967,” says Valerie Johnson, Board Chair of the Marcy Scholarship Fund. “The Fund was created to provide financial support and mentoring to the students who live there now.” With the State Farm funding, Johnson plans to buy laptops and coordinate workshops over the next several months that will focus on career development and options available for students after high school. “The next round of scholarship awards begins January 1, 2022,” adds Johnson.
“State Farm recognizes the good neighbor spirit in the organizations that will be implementing these community improvement projects,” said Rasheed Merritt, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Assistant Vice President. “We are proud to support their efforts.”
A total of 40 communities, in 18 states, are receiving a $25,000 assist from State Farm. The full list of winners can be found here.
August 12, 2021
Help Five New York Causes Win $25,000 Grants!
State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Announces The Top 200 Finalists That Need Your Votes
Communities across the United States answered the call from State Farm® to submit causes that would make a positive impact in their neighborhoods. Now these projects need your help by voting for them to bring money to their communities. From August 18 through August 27, U.S. residents who are 18 and older with a valid email address can vote for their favorite cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com to help bring a $25,000 grant to each of the top 40 vote-getters.
Two thousand submissions were received in June for State Farm Neighborhood Assist, a crowd-sourced philanthropic program that empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists, including these five New York causes:
| Cause | Location | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| This is my S.W.A.G. | Levittown | To help the WHOLE child by positively impacting their physical and mental health. |
| Best Buddies in New York | Albany | Best Buddies creates friendships, employment, leadership, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. |
| Oneida Students for Anti-Racism (Schenectady City School District) | Schenectady | Create a middle school community where students learn about themselves. |
| Supporting Greater Rochester Neighbors (Foodlink, Inc.) | Rochester | Leverage the power of food to end hunger and build healthier communities. |
| Marcy Houses Memorial Scholarship Fund | Brooklyn | Encourage, motivate & plan w/ post-secondary students in Brooklyn, NY to complete a course of study. |
The top 200 causes have until Aug. 27 at 11:59pm ET to rally votes. Anyone voting is allowed up to 10 votes per day. Voters can use them all on one cause, or spread them out in any way among multiple causes. On September 29, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at www.neighborhoodassist.com and a $25,000 grant will be awarded to each of the affiliated nonprofits.
“Neighborhood Assist is unique because your votes help decide where the grant money goes,” said Rasheed Merritt, Assistant Vice President at State Farm. “We encourage everyone to vote for their favorite causes to make a big impact in their communities.”
For a complete list of the top 200 causes or to vote for a cause, go to www.neighborhoodassist.com starting Aug. 18 at 12:00am ET.
About State Farm®:
The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its 19,300 agents and nearly 55,000 employees serve approximately 86 million policies and accounts – which includes auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 39 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.
