Farmers Insurance’s White pays it forward to Evans High School athletics 

 For Farmers Insurance agent Antonio White in Martinez, Ga., supporting the nearby Evans High School athletics department is all about paying it forward.

 White said as a child he benefited from the contribution other businesses made to his school sports teams.

 “When I grew up in school, one of my friends, Patrick, his uncle was a local business owner and he supported us when we played,” White said. “Even when we really weren’t that good – which we thought we were – he supported us. Then when we went to the local high school, he helped us out with incidental stuff that we didn’t realize we needed. He was helping kids get things that they couldn’t afford so they could play sports and have fun in high school.”

 In recent years, White and Farmers Insurance have contributed to the school’s athletics department through a partnership facilitated by Ohio-based DistrictWON, a marketing consultant that builds community ties by linking company brands with schools. This year, White’s contribution helped the school purchase uniforms for the girls’ basketball team.

 “Over the past few years, the uniforms contributed by Antonio White have been a huge hit with our players and the students and fans,” said Kevin Kenny, head girls’ basketball coach at Evans High School located in Evans, Ga. “Each game we wear the ‘special uniforms;’ the kids love it and the student section usually does a theme like a ‘White Out.’ The players always want to wear them in tournaments in which we wear white, being the home team. You would be surprised how much a uniform means to a student-athlete!”

 White said that while the Farmers Insurance advertising displayed at school events is good for his business, he’s more concerned with the impact it has on the community.

 “It’s cool to have the advertising because you want people to see it, but from the standpoint of watching the kids and to see how much fun they’re having, that’s what’s good for me,” White said.

 That kind of support from area businesses helps with team spirit, said Richard Beale, Evans High School athletic director.

 “Having the support of the local community is huge to our athletic program,” Beale added. “Student-athletes appreciate having new uniforms and new equipment to use.”

 Local sponsorships like White’s have an enduring effect on the department as well.

 “Having a local sponsorship is huge for our athletic department. We have been fortunate to get new uniforms and with this year’s donation we will spread this to some of our other sports teams,” Beale said.

 It is a tradition that White and Farmers Insurance are happy to continue.

 “When I was a kid, those contributions taught me appreciation,” he said. “A kid may not have opportunities, but if we give them resources, it gives them the opportunity to make better choices. I’ve seen choices that my friends made that were not good. I would rather for the kid to have a choice to play versus going out and doing something to mess their life up.”

 Rocky River, Ohio-based DistrictWON creates meaningful brand connections within local communities through marketing partnerships between businesses and high schools. For more information on how to reach high school students, parents and administrators in a way that truly makes a difference in the community, visit https://www.districtwon.comhttps://www.facebook.com/districtwon, or follow https://twitter.com/districtwon on Twitter.

Farmers Insurance Agent Medsker honors Raymore-Peculiar High School with support from the heart

As a graduate of Raymore-Peculiar High School in Peculiar, Missouri, Farmers Insurance Agent Mike Medsker has made it one of his life’s missions to give back and watch the community’s potential grow.

Medsker has lived in the region his whole life; he graduated from Ray-Pec in 1997 and went on to marry a fellow graduate. Since launching the Michael Medsker Insurance Agency office located in Raymore nearly 8 years ago, Medsker said he has tried to use that position to honor the youth community, support Ray-Pec’s athletics program, and encourage service. That’s taken several forms over the years, both personally and professionally, from coaching to monetary contributions to the school.

“That’s where my heart lies,” Medsker said. “Whether it’s on my coaching side, or sponsoring events at Ray-Pec, from their baseball to their basketball program. I try to sponsor as much as possible. If I can afford it, I try to jump on it and do it.”

Before he started at Farmers, the local agency’s prior owner had introduced the concept of Players of the Week for the school and its Ray-Pec Panthers. Medsker continued that tradition, highlighting what he called “Making a Difference” (M.A.D.) players. Although sports provide the opportunity, it’s not a moment that is about athleticism, per se.

A player of the week, Medsker said, is “a kid that does something outside the ordinary, something for their community – holding doors open, tutoring, activities outside school. We do that for boys and girls basketball – on top of monetary help.”

Fundraisers, donation opportunities, raffles, sponsorships – Medsker’s help has taken a lot of forms.

His contributions also have helped buy equipment, according to Joyce DeBrot, president of the Athletic Booster Club for Raymore-Peculiar High School, and therefore helped local athletes compete.

“This year’s essential equipment includes practice and game day basketballs, travel bags, and partial assistance in new soccer goals,” DeBrot said. ”The new equipment is critical in the safety of our athletes to help prevent unnecessary injuries while protecting our goal during girls or boys soccer games. Any upgrade is a boost to morale for the officials, trainers, coaches, athletes, and especially the parents or guardians.”

Some of that goodwill inevitably comes back around. According to Medsker, a majority of his agency’s new business in the area has come from local families. The community has been positive in its feedback, and his agency has received thanks for its support. This is particularly important for Medsker, as the insurance business is one built largely on word of mouth.

With that in mind, Medsker’s insurance agency and Farmers Insurance teamed up with marketing consultant DistrictWON to help form a partnership with Ray-Pec high school and spread its brand message. The insurance agency is promoted through PA announcements at the school and at tournaments, with banners at school events, and through opportunities for Medsker and the community to interact one-on-one.

“We get to be out there a lot in the community and the community gets to see that, and they’re always thankful,” Medsker said. “And then if the time comes and they need insurance, they realize the money we make off them, we’re trying to give back. They know it’s from the heart.”

That, as Medsker put it, is the whole play.

“Thank you, Mike Medsker and Farmers Insurance for your continued reinforcement to the Ray-Pec Athletic Booster Club’s goals of getting the important work done for the safety of our athletes,” DeBrot said.

Rocky River, Ohio-based DistrictWON creates meaningful brand connections within local communities through marketing partnerships between businesses and high schools. For more information on how to reach high school students, parents and administrators in a way that truly makes a difference in the community, visit https://www.districtwon.comhttps://www.facebook.com/districtwon, or follow https://twitter.com/districtwon on Twitter.