State Farm® Home Run Derby® Drives Home Donations for Charities

PHOENIX, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball's biggest sluggers went to bat for charities tonight and helped State Farm and Major League Baseball raise $603,000 during the 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby at Chase Field. Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees knocked off Adrian Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox and captured the long ball crown by belting 12 home runs during the Championship Round.

With Derby champion Cano leading the way, the eight participating MLB hitters clubbed 95 home runs during this year's competition and an additional 11 during the first round swing-off. A total of 11 State Farm Gold Balls were launched over the wall at Chase Field, generating a donation of $18,000 per ball from State Farm and MLB to charities including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). In addition, State Farm donated $3,000 for each non-Gold Ball home run. The home run power on display at the event generated a donation of $450,000 on behalf of State Farm and MLB.

"Once again, the State Farm Home Run Derby put on an incredible show for the fans, and we're proud that it's all for a great cause," said Todd Fischer, manager of national sponsorships for State Farm. "State Farm, together with Major League Baseball, uses the Home Run Derby donations to continue our commitment to help communities and organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs get to a better state."

State Farm also went to bat for local Phoenix Area Boys & Girls Clubs by awarding an additional $120,000 as part of the Home Run Derby Player Match-up program. Raquelle Enos of the Lehi Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale rode the sweet swing of the New York second baseman and earned $50,000 on behalf of State Farm for her local club. Enos was one of eight members from Phoenix Area BGCA chapters who were matched with Home Run Derby participants for a chance to win $50,000 for their club. State Farm awarded each of the other seven participants' clubs a $10,000 donation.

"Boys and Girls Clubs of America is so grateful toward State Farm and Major League Baseball for their continued support," said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "It is through these partnerships that our chapters and members get opportunities to participate in programs and receive services that promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence."

Also as part of the new State Farm Home Run Derby format, the American League, led by captain David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox, defeated the National League in the team competition, 76 home runs to 19. Thanks to the American League victory, Ortiz's charity of choice, the David Ortiz Children's Fund, will receive a donation of $150,000. State Farm and Major League Baseball will also award a $100,000 donation to the BGCA in Ortiz's name, while Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers, the losing team captain, helped earn a $25,000 donation for his charity, the Ronald McDonald House.

About State Farm®:

State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. Our 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 78 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada 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