State Farm Awards $15,000 Grant to Leadership Anne Arundel (December 17, 2007)
Grant to Benefit Participants Selected for Neighborhood Leadership Academy

ANNAPOLIS, MD - State Farm Insurance has awarded $15,000 through its Good Neighbor Citizenship Program to Leadership Anne Arundel (LAA) for its Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA).

The grant, co-sponsored by local State Farm Agent Terry Kuethe and State Farm Insurance Account Representative Bill Kuethe, is the fifth that Leadership Anne Arundel has received from State Farm. Funds from this grant, in combination with other grants, will enable Leadership Anne Arundel to provide free leadership training for 29 participants selected for its Neighborhood Leadership Academy program.

The Neighborhood Leadership Academy provides free leadership skills training to its participants to help them solve problems in their communities. Selected based on their commitment to community transformation, participants in the NLA program are trained to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and confidence to become neighborhood advocates. NLA participants meet for 14 sessions from November through May.

Designed to include individuals from all parts of Anne Arundel County, the NLA participants are trained to identify and assess community needs and objectives; to work with, engage and lead other citizens; and to better understand and gain access to existing resources and decision-makers affecting their communities.

The State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship program builds safer, stronger and better educated communities across the United States and Canada by providing financial support through grants and by providing volunteers. Locally, Terry and Bill Kuethe conduct the NLA curriculum's financial and time management session. In 2006, State Farm awarded nearly $2.5 million in Good Neighbor Grants to community organizations.

Leadership Anne Arundel develops and nurtures community trustees who improve the quality of life in Anne Arundel County by convening diverse stakeholders, bridging their divides, and facilitating resolutions for the common good. LAA provides people of diverse backgrounds with the education, resources and networks necessary to become successful pro-active leaders.

During its 13 years, Leadership Anne Arundel has trained more than 800 individuals to become community leaders through its Neighborhood Leadership Academy, and its Flagship and Executive Leadership Series programs. Leadership Anne Arundel graduates have become involved in non-profit boards, local governments and other community organizations.



LAA CONTACT: Dr. Pamela Brown
Leadership Anne Arundel
Phone: 410.571.9798
E-mail: pam@leadershipaa.org

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