Living in Safe Alternatives, inc.: a Stitch in Time Awarded $1,000 to Lead a Service-learning Campaign for Global Youth Service Day
By Christina Wessell
State Farm Companies Foundation Supports Service-Learning Projects in Plainville, CT and Across America Plainville, CT – April 14, 2008 – Living In Safe Alternatives, Inc.: A Stitch In Time received a $1,000 award to launch a service-learning project for Global Youth Service Day on April 25, 26 and 27, 2008.  Living In Safe Alternatives, Inc.: A Stitch In Time is one of 100 State Farm® Good Neighbor Service-Learning Award winners chosen by Youth Service America and funded by State Farm Companies Foundation. The young women participating in Living In Safe Alternatives, Inc.’s A Stitch In Time Program began working on creating blankets for the communities newborns with their skills in knitting and crochet through “Project Swaddle: Blankets for Babies” on March 6, 2008.  On April 25, 2008, Project Swaddle participants will deliver the knitted and crocheted blankets to The Hospital of Central Connecticut Family BirthPlace, the first home for more than 1,900 babies per year, and the Special Care Nursery, where newborn and premature babies receive special care.  This special service project will allow the young women from the Living In Safe Alternatives, Inc.: A Stitch In Time program to give back to the community that has provided support to them through the years.  A Stitch In Time provides young women with the opportunity to learn valuable employment skills in a hands-on setting.  The program operates a retail internet yarn shop, selling handmade knitted and crochet items, yarn and various knitting and crocheting supplies on the program’s website and on eBay.  Participants learn to produce knitted or crocheted items for sale, market their products, package and ship customer orders, and provide customer service.  Each young woman is able to experience various elements of the program based on their individual need and skill level.  We strive for A Stitch in Time participants to develop and/or improve their vocational skills to a competitive employment level. “The State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning grant winners demonstrate unprecedented global caring and initiative, showing the world that young people can be leaders today, not in some distant tomorrow,” says Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America. “By combining the dynamics of leadership, service and learning, the grant recipients build some of the most valuable skills— academic achievement and workforce readiness.” "State Farm is proud to partner with Youth Service America.  As our partnership has grown so has our respect for YSA’s work. Through its strong leadership, young people around the world are experiencing fundamental necessities of democracy - the ability to serve and give back to their community - while gaining academic and workplace readiness skills that are valued by State Farm. We share with YSA the common belief that our young people are not tomorrow's leaders, they are leaders today,” says Edward B. Rust Jr., Chairman and CEO, State Farm   Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world. Global Youth Service Day is a year-round effort to expand the impact of the youth service movement. The initiative launches new service organizations, policy changes, and sustainable service programs to create a culture of engaged youth. State Farm Companies Foundation is the presenting sponsor. More than 120 national partners and 75 lead agencies throughout the United States organize campaigns. Overseas, national lead agencies in more than 100 countries participate. Youth Service America is a national nonprofit resource center that partners with thousands of organizations in more than 100 countries and is committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally, and globally. Founded in 1986, Youth Service America’s mission is to expand the impact of the youth service movement with communities, schools, corporations, and governments. For more information: www.YSA.org. State Farm® insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 75 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.7 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®. # # # Contact:    Wendy Hagen             L.I.S.A., Inc.: A Stitch In Time          806-747-9930 ext.21            whagen@lisainc.org
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