$10,000 Awarded at the 2009 Embrace Life Awards

Bloomington, Illinois, April 28^th, 2009- Jody Akins, a man from Cordova, Tennessee, was honored on Tuesday, April 28^th 2009, by State Farm at the Embrace Life Awards ceremony. The Embrace Life Awards program was started by State Farm in 2004 in order to raise awareness about how preparation for the future can help protect the hopes and dreams of families. The program has uncovered dramatic and revealing stories about the personal sacrifices and perseverance that people exhibit to better the lives of their families and communities.

Jody Akins' touching story begins on May 9^th 2006, when his wife, Scarlet, delivered a healthy baby girl. During her pregnancy, Scarlet had been diagnosed with stage IV melanoma, and although she fought to defeat the cancer, she lost her battle and passed in August of 2006. Jody, heartbroken and full with grief, stood up and embraced his new life with his daughter as a single parent.

Jody Akins organized a benefit golf tournament and raised $20,000 as well as community awareness of melanoma. He coordinated the "Run from the Sun 5K" to help the Melanoma Research Foundation, and also established the Scarlet Lawrence Akins Foundation to help research and find a cure for melanoma. State Farm recognized Akins formally at a ceremony in Bloomington, Illinois, and presented him with an official Embrace Life Award and $10,000. Executive Vice President of State Farm, Susan Waring, said that "Conversations about planning for the unexpected aren't easy, but they are conversations that every family needs to have." Jody said that his strength came from the support of his family, friends and having prepared financially with life and health insurance plans.

For more information about the Embrace Life awards program, State Farm, Jody Akins, or the rest of the 2009 honorees, visit www.sfembracelifeawards.com or www.statefarm.com .