Over $170,000 granted to youth-led Canadian service-learning projects

State Farm® Youth Advisory Board issues grants with a focus on nutrition, the environment and mental health

AURORA, ON, Nov. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - The State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is giving more than $170,000 in service-learning grants to three Canadian youth-led projects that focus on the importance of wetlands and their impact on the environment, the growing and preparing of fresh produce, and the promotion of positive mental health.

"The Youth Advisory Board is a prime example of our commitment to education, Canadian communities and our youth," said John Bordignon, Media Relations with State Farm "We support service-learning initiatives because they integrate community service with a hands-on, classroom curriculum. These projects help students master subject material while fostering civic responsibility."

Grant recipients include:

Organization	Project	City	Grant
Ducks Unlimited Canada	Ontario Wetlands Centre	Barrie, ON	$75,332
Child Poverty Action Network	Good Edible Grassroots Gardens	Pembroke, ON	$69,691
North Toronto Collegiate	Youth Wellness Leaders Program	Toronto, ON	$28,240

To date, the YAB has granted more than $30 million since its inception in 2006, empowering youth to implement service-learning in over 500 communities in Canada and the United States.

Grant Recipient Quotes

"It is so important that today's youth have places and opportunities to experience nature," says Lynette Mader, Ontario Manager of Provincial Operations for Ducks Unlimited Canada. "Our Wetland Centre of Excellence program offers students hands-on experiences where they not only learn about the function and value of wetlands, but also have the opportunity to share this knowledge by mentoring younger students. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board's support provides opportunities for even more Ontario students to participate."

"Renfrew County Child Poverty Action Network (CPAN) is thrilled that State Farm Youth Advisory Board is funding our Good EGG (Good Edible Grassroots Gardens) pilot program, which will run in eight local schools and include all four school boards." Says Lyn Smith, Coordinator CPAN. "This funding will allow children and youth from all walks of life to grow, learn, prepare and eat fresh and nutritious produce. These skills will follow them through life, and are especially important for those who would not normally have access to healthy produce."

"The students and staff at North Toronto Collegiate, Deer Park Public School and Hodgson Senior Public School, in conjunction with our partner, The Youth Wellness Network, are thrilled to have received this generous YAB grant." Says Joel Gorenkoff, Principal at North Toronto Collegiate. "Our work promoting youth wellness can be broadened in scope due to this support. This grant will allow us to run a greater variety of student-led initiatives promoting positive mental health and increase engagement between our schools and community."

About State Farm

State Farm has been serving Canadians since 1938. State Farm is a Fortune 100 company and is the leading Property and Casualty insurer in North America with more than 80 Million policyholders. State Farm has more than 500 Canadian agents and 1700 employees providing insurance and financial services including mutual funds, life insurance, vehicle loans, critical illness, disability, home and auto insurance to our customers in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. For more information, please visit www.statefarm.ca, join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/statefarmcanada, follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/statefarmcanada, or see us on YouTube www.youtube.com/statefarm.

About the Youth Advisory Board

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board – www.sfyab.com - is a diverse group of 30 youths, aged 17-20, who were chosen through a competitive process to lead and oversee a $5 million per year signature service-learning initiative. The Youth Board identified the issues, allocated competitive grants and will now provide technical assistance, communication and oversight to site grantees.

SOURCE: State Farm

John Bordignon, Media Relations, State Farm Canada, 905.750.5567