Columbus, OH (SEPT 25, 2019) – In just 10 days in August, 163,000 people cast 4.4 Million votes in support of their favorite causes. As a result, 40 communities, in 21 states, including Ohio, will be getting an assist from State Farm. State Farm is proud to announce the Top 40 vote-getting causes that will each receive a $25,000 grant to improve their communities.
State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program that empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.
Through this support from the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio will have the ability to provide nearly 1,250 nights of rest to families. As one of only four charities in the state receiving money through this 2019 grant program, RMHC of Central Ohio will use these funds to help make up the difference between donations offered by families who stay at the House and the actual cost to accommodate them, in a program called “Helping Hands.”
Families are asked to contribute $20 per night; however, no family is ever turned away due to inability to pay. The actual cost to provide our services is $100 per room, per night. The average amount collected from families in 2018 was $6.99 per night due to their mounting medical bills and other financial issues. In an effort to support our families and alleviate stresses induced by their child’s illness we have established the Helping Hands Program. The Helping Hands Program helps close the gap between what families are able to donate and what it actually costs by making up the difference through a temporarily restricted fund. Funds will be released from the account according to the amount of partial paid nights and “no pay” nights for families.
“Early mornings and long days in a hospital are tiring and stressful on a family with a seriously-ill child, adding the long travel time increases this stress,” said Andrea Biada, Major Gift Officer at RMHC of Central Ohio. “For these families, staying at the Ronald McDonald House while their child is receiving treatment is a necessity.”
“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country,” said Allison Bertsche, Public Affairs Director at State Farm. “We look forward to seeing the impact these Neighborhood Assist grants will have in these 40 communities.”
Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in June at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the Top 200 finalists and public voting determined the Top 40. In the eight years of the program, more than 300 causes have received a total of $8 million to enact change in their communities. For a complete list of this year’s top 40 causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.