Washington School Principal Gets $25K from State Farm

Washington Elementary School Principal Scott Blake was all smiles as he accepted a $25,000 check from State Farm at the Washington School PTO fundraiser on Thursday evening.

Brian Saxton—a member of the Library Board and a father of a Washington Elementary first grader and a set of twins who will be attending Washington next year—submitted an entry essay to the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program. The program will donate $25,000 to 40 different causes submitted by different neighborhoods from the U.S. and Canada.

The “Safe School Program,” submitted by Saxton, finished 30th in the voting and secured the school a significant lift toward a new playground 

The Washington School PTO had images of what the finished product could look like on display.

“I want to thank Ed Kalpagian for bringing this to my attention. He is my personal State Farm Agent and was not allowed to get involved himself because he works for the company,” said Saxton. “Without him mentioning this to me, I never would have known about it and this wouldn’t have even been a possibility.”

Washington’s “Safe School Program” amassed nearly 48,000 votes from supporters. 

“I’d like to accept this check on behalf of the children at Washington School,” said Blake. “We are starting to make some really exciting progress toward what the playground is going to look like.”