kids.now

As State Farm's Canadian Senior Vice-President Barbara Bellissimo explains it: "Coaching and mentoring others is a perfect fit with our commitment to 'Good Neighbour' service, which is reflected in all we do. We are very pleased to be supporting an organization like kids.now that is committed to helping kids make positive choices and reach their full potential as tomorrow's leaders."

In 2008, its first year as a kids.now partner, State Farm made the single largest impact on our operations. This company's contribution allowed kids.now to expand in both number of programs and scope, making last year the most successful one in our history. In addition to expanding programs in Ontario, the State Farm contribution financed new base operations in the provinces of Alberta and New Brunswick. This organization also helped add to our volunteer base, as State Farm agents and employees enthusiastically signed on to become coach-mentors in their communities. State Farm agent Susan Tan explains it this way: "I've received a lot, so I feel the need to give back to the community. The value of this community contribution and the 'return on (time) investment' is phenomenal."

State Farm has been serving Canadians since 1938. It is the fifth largest auto insurer, and ninth largest property and casualty insurer in Canada. State Farm's more than 540 Canadian agents and 1,400 employees currently provide insurance and financial services in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. For more information, visit the State Farm website.

Looking for more?
State Farm - Port Colborne, Ontario Agent Mark Guilbeault, and second-time kids.now volunteer coach-mentor, is sharing his unique and rewarding mentoring experiences, in a weekly blog throughout the 12-week fall/winter 2009 kids.now program. Read Diary of a kids.now coach-mentor.