Grants support empowering victims of domestic violence and teen safe driving

17 Allstate employees, exclusive agents and personal financial representatives awarded for volunteerism

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Allstate Foundation, a charitable organization focused on fostering strong communities, awarded grants totaling $46,500 to Nevada organizations in 2009. The Foundation directly supported two community organizations that address its focus areas of safe and vital communities, economic empowerment, and tolerance, inclusion, and diversity. The Allstate Foundation also recognized 16 Allstate exclusive agents and personal financial representatives in Nevada with its Agency Hands in the Community award and one employee with its Helping Hands award, which direct grants to the organization for which the individual volunteers.

"Allstate is proud to support so many worthwhile causes in Nevada through The Allstate Foundation," said Denis Bailey, field vice president for Allstate's Southwest region. "We believe it's our responsibility and in our best interest to build partnerships to help improve the whole community."

The Allstate Foundation awarded $28,000 to Students Against Violence Everywhere, providing students with the information and resources necessary to make a positive difference in safety efforts in schools and communities. The Allstate Foundation funds the Youth Voices... Grown Up Choices program and teen safe driving activities at high schools across the Southwest, including Clark County School District.

Additionally, the Women's Development Center received $10,000 for its Transitional Housing Program where approximately 75 percent of families served are victims of domestic violence. The program provides support services to economically disadvantaged families to attain long-term self sufficiency and end the cycle of poverty.

Agency Hands in the Community

The Allstate Agency Hands in the Community grant program recognizes exclusive agents and personal financial representatives for outstanding commitment to community service with a $500 donation to the charitable organizations for which they volunteer. To qualify for a grant, agencies must show evidence of volunteer work that has had a positive impact on the local community. This year's recipients include:

• Carson City agent Jay Roberts for the Wheelchair Foundation;
• Fallon agent Steve Nunn for the American Cancer Society;
• Henderson agents Mike Seifer for the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation and Michael Westra for the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc.;
• Incline Village agent David Hoopengardner for the Tahoe Children's Foundation Inc.;
• Las Vegas agents Misty Chadwick for the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Bob Margison for A Hand Up, Dwain Frazier for Boys Hope Girls Hope, Bill Brennan for the West Charleston Lions Club Foundation, Jodie Kochan for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Russell Cook for the Boy Scouts of America;
• North Las Vegas agent Paul Seifer for the Payne Foundation's Driver's Edge;
• Pahrump agent Kaye Valdes for the Kiwanis Club of Pahrump Valley Foundation;
• Reno agents Alice Zaumeyer for United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra and Stan Mentzer for Soroptimist International of Trukee Meadows; and
• Sparks agent Karen Goody for Spectrum Northern Nevada.

Helping Hands

The Helping Hands grant program recognizes the outstanding efforts of qualified employees who volunteer in their communities. Traci Peterson, an Allstate market sales leader in Henderson, earned a Helping Hands grant for her work with Jack and Jill of America.

About The Allstate Foundation

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. The Allstate Foundation strives to make our communities and our nation a better and safer place to live through partnerships with non-profit organizations promoting "safe and vital communities," "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity" and "economic empowerment." Teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors have been priority issues for the Foundation since 2005. For more information, visit http://www.allstate.com/foundation.aspx.

SOURCE The Allstate Foundation

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