Giving Back What makes a business successful? A business plan? A mission statement? A commitment to service? Or the strength to weather the storm? Yes. But what makes a company a leader? In a word, vision. It's the ability to see not just a marketplace, but a community. People, places, and priorities. Foundational to its success, and just as important as a healthy bottom line. At State Farm, we know that the neighborhoods where we do business are part of who we are. And for that reason, we are as vested in their success as our own. Because without thriving communities, nothing else is possible. That's why we're active in neighborhood revitalization, promoting home ownership and a healthy business infrastructure. (Image: Revitalized neighborhood at Near Eastside, Indianapolis, Indiana) (Speaker: Blair Taylor, President, Los Angeles Urban League). State Farm has been one of the best partners we could possibly imagine. They stepped in and said, we believe in the power of that idea what it was just a concept. (Image: Buckeye Commerce Center, Phoenix, Arizona and thriving restaurant doing rush hour business) (Speaker: Tommy Espinoza, President & CEO, Raza Development Fund) Who would have thought that on Buckeye Road, you could open three brand new restaurants? The sales have been fantastic. I see 10 years from now, this being a lively, active community. (Speaker: James Taylor, CEO, John H. Boner Community Center, Indianapolis, Indiana) State Farm has made a $4 million social investment, a 10-year commitment for our neighborhood to help support our housing work. But leadership also means being able to see beyond present circumstances, and anticipate the needs of the future. For that reason, State Farm has made education and educational reform a top priority. One such program is the ground breaking 26 Seconds Campaign. (Image: High school youth and words on screen) “Wake Up” 26 Seconds Campaign Every 26 seconds, a kid drops out of high school. Wake up. Life is too short to sleep through it. State Farm is now taking its message of awareness and hope into schools across the United States and Canada. (Image: Large youth gathering at concert) (Speaker: Michelle Verrochi, Todd County H.S. Teacher, Mission, South Dakota) Today we have a 26 Second dropout prevention rally to get everyone confident that they will graduate high school, and then hopefully go on to college. It's something that they just couldn't miss out on. We had a contest where the students had to display their challenge to graduate, what they had to overcome, and we had eight winners, and their messages are really powerful. (Images: Students holding up signs stating the challenges they had to overcome) (Speaker: Michelle Verrochi) Whenever we say 26 seconds, that's something that immediately pops into their head. This event would not be able to reach the magnitude that it has without State Farm. (Image: Words on screen: “NNID” Distracted Driving PSA; “Slow Down” Safe Driving PSA; “Buckle Up” Seatbelt USA) When it comes to the young people of the U.S. and Canada, nothing could be more foundational to their well being than their safety. At State Farm, we know a teenager's driving privileges must be balanced with precaution and common sense to avoid devastating results. That's why we have a long history of proactive outreach to teen drivers teaching awareness and safety habits on the road directly to young drivers. (Image: Electronic device with State Farm app on screen) (Image: Words on screen: State Farm Youth Advisory Board: Cause an Effect Eye Openers) And coming full circle, State Farm, through its Youth Advisory Board, is encouraging teens to look into their communities for needs they can affect. Through Cause an Effect, they have the chance to identify where they and State Farm can partner together to make a difference. Through corporate giving, volunteerism, advocacy and innovative solutions to society's issues, State Farm is a leader in both the insurance and financial services field, and the community.