South Puget Sound and Olympics Chapter Executive Director, Dan Wirth, holds a big check representing State Farm's commitment to the American Red Cross at a hybrid meeting of both in-person and virtually attending board members.
The American Red Cross and State Farm Insurance are great and good friends, and it's easy to see why. The two entities complement one another by centering disaster preparedness and response in their work.
Today, State Farm is one of the corporate donors whose financial contributions support the Red Cross mission of aiding disaster victims. As to how much support State Farm provides, the annual total is up to seven figures. In the latest year for which donation totals are available, State Farm donated $2 million to support Red Cross disaster preparedness and disaster response.
Of that total, $1 million was donated as part of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program. The Red Cross explains that through the program, “Members pledge financial and in-kind donations in advance of major disasters, powering the Red Cross with a strong infrastructure, trained volunteers, innovative technology and the critical resources necessary to meet urgent needs of disaster responders. These donations keep the Red Cross ready to safely respond to disasters at a moment’s notice.” And that is just one way in which State Farm supports the Red Cross.
Through the company’s Matching Gift Program, employees making charitable contributions to an eligible non-profit can request a matching donation from the State Farm Companies Foundation.
State Farm associates who volunteer 40 hours or more a year to an eligible non-profit can earn a $500 Good Neighbor Grant to the non-profit from the State Farm Foundation.
The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign launched in 2014 to reduce home fire deaths by installing working smoke alarms throughout the year in homes that lack them.
Once a year, local Red Cross chapters hold Home Fire Campaign focus events called Sound the Alarm — making a concerted effort to install smoke alarms in homes at particular risk. State Farm has played a significant role in these events as well. Obviously, everyone benefits from each home fire that can be prevented. Homeowners gain by avoiding the loss of lives and property that come from fires in the home. The Red Cross benefits by having fewer disasters to respond to.
Red Cross figures Home Fire has saved more than 1,478 lives — homes where a newly-installed alarm alerted residents early enough so they were able to escape a fire. The story of how State Farm and the Red Cross first got together is told by Becky Fontaine, regional philanthropy officer for the Red Cross Northwest Region (Washington and North Idaho).
Fontaine says she met Ty Cordova, Community Relations and Corporate Responsibility manager for State Farm, at a forum that brought donors and recipients together.
Recognizing that they shared interests, they scheduled a one-on-one meeting to discuss how State Farm might help support Home Fire and Sound the Alarm. “This initial meeting was scheduled for about 20 minutes, but we ended up talking for about an hour,” Fontaine says. “Home fires and Sound the Alarm fell in line with their priorities.”
State Farm now makes a cash donation to purchase smoke alarms; also, when the unthinkable happens, their funds support our client assistance.”For the past three or four years, State Farm has had a team turn out for the STA events in Pierce and Thurston Counties. I am thankful for this partnership,” Fontaine says.
Together with our Annual Disaster Giving Program and Ready 365 members, the Red Cross stands ready to provide help to families after disasters big and small. Donations fund nearly 100 percent of our disaster relief activities. They help provide food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance in times of need.
Just as disasters do not discriminate in terms of whose lives they destroy, the Red Cross does not discriminate in whose lives we help rebuild.
To become a partner of the American Red Cross, contact Regional Chief Development Officer Colin Peterson at Colin.Peterson@redcross.org.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Take a class and be ready to respond if an emergency strikes.
