Grants support empowering victims of domestic violence and financial literacy programs

23 Allstate exclusive agents and personal financial representatives awarded for volunteerism

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Allstate Foundation, a charitable organization focused on fostering strong communities, awarded grants totaling $64,500 to New Mexico organizations in 2009. The Foundation directly supported three community organizations that address its focus areas of safe and vital communities, economic empowerment, and tolerance, inclusion, and diversity. The Allstate Foundation also recognized 23 Allstate exclusive agents and personal financial representatives in New Mexico with its Agency Hands in the Community award, which direct grants to the organization for which the individual volunteers.

"Allstate is proud to support so many worthwhile causes in New Mexico 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 $18,000 to La Casa, Inc., the only agency providing comprehensive domestic violence services in Dona Ana County. The grant supports the Economic Empowerment and Life Skills Education program that empowers victims to become self-sufficient.

Additional grants include:

• $20,000 to Junior Achievement of New Mexico to continue the JA Hispanic Initiative in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. The JA Hispanic Initiative focuses on providing core Junior Achievement curricula, culturally relevant lesson enhancements for Hispanic students, and Hispanic role models to teach financial education programs to Hispanic students.
• $15,000 to WESST to continue its financial literacy and Individual Development Account (IDA) program targeting low-income residents across the state. The program includes a 10-week intensive financial literacy education, followed by participants opening IDA accounts and making monthly deposits from earned income, matched over a two-year period by WESST.

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:

• Alamogordo agent Maria Pacheco for Junior League of Las Cruces Inc.;
• Albuquerque agents Tim Porter for Optimist International Foundation, Dean Chaney and John Hann for the Johnny O. Perea Foundation for Asbestos Education & Relief, Eladio Muniz for Junior Achievement of New Mexico, and Esther Wingfield for Junior League of Albuquerque, Albuquerque personal financial representative Ketan Patel for The Salvation Army of Albuquerque;
• Aztec agent Kelly Berhost for the Aztec Boys & Girls Club;
• Bernalillo agent Rosemary Atencio for Life Options Academy;
• Bloomfield agent Mattie Taylor for the Bloomfield Municipal School District 6;
• Carlsbad agent Gary Davis for Eddy County Casa Auxiliary;
• Espanola agent Dennis Rivera for Amigos Del Valle;
• Farmington agents Joy Wells for Home for Women and Children, Barbara Tedrow for The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, and BJ Brown, Deborah Hewett and Silvia Ramos for Boy Scouts of America Great Southwest Council;
• Gallup agent Erik Wells for City of Gallup Fire Department;
• Las Cruces agents Stacey Boswell for the Humane Society of Southern New Mexico, Larry Garcia for Tierra Del Sol Housing Corp., and Kelly Gonzales for Cowboys for Cancer Research Inc.; and
• Rio Rancho agents Shannon Kern for Rio Rancho High School's Rams Club Inc. and Jimmy Goodwin for Sandoval County Casa Inc.

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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