State Farm Honors 13 People Who Inspired Others After the Death of a Loved One

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- For their inspiration and perseverance in overcoming a loss of a loved one, 13 men and women from across the United States and Canada will be honored tonight by State Farm® at the 2010 Embrace Life® Awards ceremony.

State Farm created the awards program in 2004 to raise awareness on how preparing for the unexpected today can help protect families' hopes and dreams for tomorrow.  This year's honorees include a policeman's widow, a woman who spearheads a stop red light runner campaign and one who founded a camp for kids whose parents have died.  All are stories of strength and the will to move on after a loss and make a difference in their community, family or themselves.

State Farm is recognizing the honorees at a banquet tonight and presents each one with $10,000 and an official Embrace Life Award.

• Ann Lachmann, 41, Southbury, CT
• Denise Webb, 45, Corinth, MS
• Ellen Patrick, 50, Ben Wheeler, TX
• Jeannine McCurrie, 41, Gig Harbor, WA
• Joelyn Postlethwait, 49, Marion, IA
• Lynne Hughes, 45, Rockville, VA
• Melissa Wandall, 42, Bradenton, FL
• Natalie Edwards-Kariamis, 29, Corbyville, ON
• Shannon Starzyk, 40, Matrinez, CA
• Stacey Grieshop,39, Celina, OH
• Terry Vande Velde, 53, Steamboat Springs, CO
• Vania Aquirre, 25, Rolling Meadows, IL
• Weston Frazier, 24, St. Charles, MO

"We appreciate what our Embrace Life Award honorees teach us about moving forward and making a difference," said senior vice president and chief administrative officer of State Farm Life Insurance Company, Joe Monk. "Their experiences serve as reminders about the importance of planning today to protect your legacy and the significance life insurance can play in leaving the next generation in a little better place."

For more information about the State Farm Embrace Life Awards program and this year's honorees, go to www.sfembracelifeawards.com.

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. State Farm's 17,700 agents and more than 67,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – almost 79 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. 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

SOURCE State Farm