Inspirational People Honoured for Embracing Their Future Instead of Mourning Their Past

State Farm celebrates the achievements of men and women who have inspired others at the fifth annual Embrace Life® Awards

Aurora, Ontario. September 16, 2008 -- For their courage and dignity in overcoming loss, thirteen men and women from across Canada and the United States have been honored by State Farm at the 2008 Embrace Life Awards.

State Farm created the Awards program in 2004 to raise awareness for women on how preparing for the future today can help protect families' hopes and dreams for tomorrow. During the past four years, in addition to revealing dramatic stories that demonstrated the value of life insurance planning, the Embrace Life Awards also uncovered heroic stories of perseverance and personal sacrifice.

This year's honorees have powerful stories, which exemplify strength and the undeniable will to move on after a loss. As 2008 marks the fifth anniversary of the Embrace Life Awards, State Farm revised the program, encouraging nominations of both men and women. The 13 honorees were presenting with $10,000 and an official Embrace Life Award at a ceremony in Chicago, Illinois.

More than 200 people were nominated for the essay contest for their stories of empowerment after overcoming loss. State Farm chose the 13 most inspiring people for this year's honorees:

• Nathan Thompson, 23, Oakville, Ontario
• Nader Dabboussi, 39, Dallas, Texas
• Ellen Lindeman, 40, Hartsville, Pa.
• Colleen Phillips, 44, Bradenton, Fla.
• Carole Brody Fleet, 48, Lake Forest, Calif.
• Holly Scheie, 51, Billings, Mont.
• Dawn Douchette, 57, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Clare Stringer, 53, Auxvasse, Mo.
• Mary Baltimore, 56, Gainesville, Va
• Dorothy Frederickson, 68, Holt, Mich.
• Rachel David, 71, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• James Gillipsie, 79, Cedarville, Ohio
• Wanda Gross, 53, Alpharetta

As executive vice president and chief administrative officer of State Farm Life Insurance Company, Susan Waring has seen first-hand how too many families simply don't take the proper steps to protect themselves today and in the future.

“Conversations about planning for the unexpected aren’t necessarily easy, but they are conversations that every family needs to have,” said Susan Waring. “Many households, either have no life insurance, or do not have enough life insurance to help cope if faced with the unexpected. The State Farm Embrace Life Awards program is a wonderful reminder about the importance of planning today to protect our families’ futures.”

While all have inspiring messages, Nathan Thompson of Oakville, Ontario faced adversity at a very young age. He managed to channel his emotions for the betterment of himself, his family and his community.

A heart attack took Nathan Thompson’s father on his tenth birthday. He found himself thrust into a position as role model for his two younger brothers. Nathan later mentored youth in a day camp program for orphans in Trinidad. He continues the program today, and also mentors local youth in his community. Nathan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and assists with marketing in a humanitarian organization. His tragic loss challenged his maturity at a young age and fostered compassion for others and deep understanding of the need to be prepared.

For more information about the State Farm Embrace Life Awards program and this year's honorees, visit www.sfembracelifeawards.com or the News and Events Center at www.statefarm.ca.

About State Farm

State Farm® has been serving Canadians since 1938. It is the fourth largest auto insurer, and eighth largest property and casualty insurer in Canada. State Farm’s more than 500 Canadian agents and more than 1,400 employees currently provide insurance and financial services in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. State Farm's Corporate Headquarters is in Bloomington, Illinois, USA. For more information, please visit StateFarm.ca®.