High school and college students in New Jersey are helping a family rebuild their home damaged by Hurricane Sandy thanks to a grant from State Farm. Celebrating the success of this project and 35 previously funded projects, State Farm and Habitat for Humanity are pleased to announce a partnership renewal that will continue to engage youth in affordable housing efforts across the country.

"We are so grateful to State Farm and its employees for continuing to not only help families improve their living conditions but to provide opportunities for youth to assist families in their communities," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Putting shelter on the hearts and minds of youth at an early age is an important step to helping to alleviate poverty housing in the future."   

State Farm is committing $800,000 to Habitat for Humanity to involve youth in home construction, neighborhood revitalization and disaster recovery activities. The funding will be used to support more than 25 projects that will either require youth groups to raise matching funds or directly benefit recovery efforts like those in New Jersey where two Habitat for Humanity campus chapters are using $22,000 in disaster services grants from State Farm to help Ana Henn and her granddaughter rebuild their home damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

 "Part of the State Farm mission is to help people recover from the unexpected and to realize their dreams," said Kellie Clapper, Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy at State Farm. "What better way to do that than to not only help communities build homes for people in need but to engage youth so they too can learn that when good neighbors work together, we can help each other realize our dreams."

State Farm has supported Habitat for Humanity since 1994 and has served as the primary national corporate sponsor of Habitat's youth initiatives since 2007 with donations of more than $7.5 million. Youth volunteers have raised an additional $40 million through the grants. Local offices contribute more than $500,000 annually to Habitat affiliates across the United States.