FCEE Receives State Farm Grant

The Florida Council on Economic Education (FCEE) will receive a $35,000 grant from State Farm in support of its mission to prepare Florida’s students for personal and financial success.

The grant will be used specifically to sponsor both the 33^rd Annual Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching Economics and the Florida Stock Market Challenge. Held each year in May, the Governor’s Awards program recognizes and rewards Florida’s most outstanding teachers for their creativity in presenting lessons in economics, personal finance and entrepreneurship. K-12 teachers submit applications showing how they’ve infused economic lessons into their classrooms.

Established more than 20 years ago, the Florida Stock Market Challenge gives K-12 students the opportunity to participate in an online investment simulation and manage a hypothetical $100,000 investment portfolio.  Students throughout the state compete for the best portfolio performance and are awarded prizes at the end of both the Fall and Spring semesters. This program is easily integrated into a variety of subject areas, including social studies, mathematics, and language art classes and is offered free of charge to all Florida teachers.

“The Florida Council is pleased that State Farm has chosen once again to play a significant role in these important programs for Florida’s teachers and students,” said Robin Warren, Executive Director of FCEE.  “Our partnership with champions of the business community, like State Farm, is vital to the success of our mission,” said Warren.

Chris Cummins, State Farm Zone Manager for Financial Services, remarked that “I am proud of our growing partnership with the Florida Council and the thousands of students that we have the opportunity impact through their great initiatives.  Our sponsorship speaks directly to themes that will help these young people in ways that perhaps are difficult to conceptualize at their age.  We feel that much of what the students learn will have impact throughout their lives and that is the most exciting thing about this partnership.  Themes of personal financial responsibility and economics will make these students stronger in whatever endeavor they ultimately choose to pursue and that is a wonderful thing.”

The mission of the Florida Council on Economic Education is to prepare Florida’s young people for personal and financial success through educational programs in economics, the free enterprise system and personal financial literacy so that they become productive members of the workforce, responsible consumers and wise investors. The Florida Council on Economic Education is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is funded by leading corporations and individuals throughout the state. The Florida Council is an affiliate of the Council for Economic Education.

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. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.