STAR Among Top 100

Boys & Girls Clubs of Fox Valley wins $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist® grant 

In just 10 days this spring, 88,000 people cast more than Two Million votes in support of their favorite causes. As a result, 100 communities, in 34 states, including Appleton, WI will get an assist from State Farm®. State Farm is proud to announce the Top 100 vote-getting causes that have won $25,000 grants 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 100 causes receive grants to address them.  

This funding will help support our Scholars on Target to Achieve Results (STAR) Initiative. The STAR Team works to build equitable educational opportunities for Black Scholars, advocate for anti-racist school culture, develop trust among families and schools, and strengthen school engagement. In working directly with STAR Scholars, the STAR Team expresses care, challenges growth, provides support, shares power, and expands possibilities. All of this helps students achieve academic success and reach their full potential.  

During the 2021-22 school year STAR served nearly 250 Black and/or African American students in grades 7-12 within the Appleton Area School District. Since forming in 2018, 90% of STAR Scholars have graduated in four years!  

“State Farm is happy to celebrate its 100th anniversary by providing these 100 causes with grant money to help them address the needs in their communities,” said Rasheed Merritt, Assistant Vice President at State Farm. “We look forward to seeing the impact these $25,000 grants will have.” 

Four thousand cause submissions were accepted in February at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the Top 200 finalists and public voting determined the Top 100.