State Farm Gives $3 Million To Help Latino Students

State Farm Insurance announced today it has given a $3 million education grant to the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) to help solve the large high school drop-out rate among Latino students.

The Bloomington, Ill.-based insurer said it aims to help NCLR in their goals to promote excellence in students, increase Latino graduation rates and close the achievement gap nationwide.

Approximately 2.9 million Latinos are enrolled in U.S. high schools--representing 17 percent of all secondary public school students--and are less likely than their non-Hispanic peers to complete high school, said State Farm.

The grant, paid over a three-year period, marks the first major contribution to NCLR's Campaign for Stronger American Communities intended to strengthen the organization's affiliates, improve its programmatic outreach, and enhance its effectiveness and impact by strategically focusing financial, human and technical resources in the field on issues of strategic importance to Latino communities across the U.S., such as education.

"State Farm is a longtime partner of NCLR and has worked with us to strengthen Latino communities by supporting our education programs," said Janet Murguia, NCLR president and chief executive officer. "This latest commitment takes that work to a new level and supports our outreach efforts through our nearly 300 affiliates."

"It's vital that young members of this growing part of the American community attain the knowledge and skills that will allow them to be full and equal participants in the economy," said Ed Rust Jr., State Farm chairman and chief executive officer. "NCLR and State Farm share a vision that begins with making sure our children stay in school and ends with all children achieving their greatest potential."

The grant to NCLR is one of State Farm's major commitments under its "State Farm Es Para Mi(TM)" campaign, which focuses on citizenship, civic engagement and education in the Latino community.

Other education elements include a directory of scholarships, internships and fellowships for Latino students and grant applications to nonprofit organizations and public schools for 200 grants of $1,000 each.