Big Hits Become Big Win For Kids At State Farm® Home Run Derby®

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Some of baseball's premier power hitters stepped to the plate tonight to support State Farm and Major League Baseball's®  (MLB) effort to go to bat for charity, raising $615,000 during the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby at Kauffman Stadium. Capping off a night of tape-measure long balls, Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers knocked-off Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays in the Championship Round to join the elite class of two-time Home Run Derby Champions.

With Derby Champion Fielder leading the way, the eight participating MLB hitters blasted 82 home runs during this year's competition. Of the 82 baseballs that ended up in the seats and concourses of the K, 16 were State Farm Gold Balls, which each triggered its own $18,000 donation from State Farm and MLB to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). In addition, State Farm donated $3,000 for each non-Gold Ball home run launched into the Midwestern night sky. By the time Fielder raised the trophy and the Derby concluded, the event generated a total donation of $615,000 on behalf of State Farm and MLB to help neighborhoods across the country "get to a better state®."

"The State Farm Home Run Derby showcases awe-inspiring athleticism while generating support for great charitable causes," said Justin Reckamp, State Farm Marketing Analyst. "State Farm is extremely proud to sponsor MLB and the Home Run Derby. It's a wonderful event and helps us show exactly what it means to help our neighborhoods "get to a better state."

Among the $615,000 donation made at tonight's Derby, State Farm stepped up to go to bat for Kansas City Area Boys & Girls Clubs by awarding $120,000 to local clubs as part of the Home Run Derby Player Match-up program. Paired with Fielder, Axton Buchta of the Fort Leavenworth Child and Youth Services earned $50,000 compliments of State Farm for his club. Eight members from Kansas City area BGCA chapters, including Buchta's, were matched with Home Run Derby participants as part of the Player Match-Up program. State Farm awarded each of the other seven participants' clubs a $10,000 donation.

"State Farm and Major League Baseball continue to be two of the strongest advocates for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and we're so thankful to both for their support," said Boys & Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark. "In addition to the critical monetary support they provide, the once-in-a-lifetime experiences afforded the young people we serve are unforgettable. We can't thank them enough for all they do."

The promise of helping communities "get to a better state" comes to life in the State Farm Home Run Derby donation format. The foursome from the American League, captained by Robinson Cano, defeated the National League's four, captained by Matt Kemp, in the team competition, 61 home runs to 21. To celebrate the American League victory, State Farm and Major League Baseball awarded a $100,000 donation to BGCA in Cano's name. In addition, Cano's charity of choice, RC24 Foundation, will receive a donation of $150,000. For Kemp, the National League captain, his team earned a $25,000 donation for his charity, LA Dream Center.

About State Farm

State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.

About Major League Baseball Properties

The Major League Baseball Clubs formed Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP) in 1966 as the Club's agent for marketing and trademark licensing and protection. Major League Baseball Properties is responsible for managing consumer licensing activities, developing national advertising campaigns, cultivating sponsorship opportunities with major consumer brands and corporations, growing the game and the business of baseball outside the United States and creating national marketing programs in conjunction with Clubs, broadcast rights holders and national sponsors. MLBP also operates a full-service video and audio production unit (Major League Baseball Productions), a publishing division and stock photo licensing agency, and manages logistics for the All-Star Game and World Series as well as all other special events. For more information on Major League Baseball, log on to www.MLB.com.

SOURCE State Farm