Allstate and Operation HOPE Join Together for Sandy Recovery Efforts

ATLANTA, Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Operation HOPE is pleased to announce that Allstate Insurance Company is committing $100,000 to bolster financial guidance and recovery efforts for the financial dignity nonprofit's initiative, Project Restore HOPE: Hurricane Sandy. Through Project Restore HOPE, volunteers are being recruited and trained to provide financial recovery assistance to those who need guidance restoring their homes and businesses.

Led by its preparedness and recovery division, HOPE Coalition America, the initiative is coordinating efforts by financial industry professionals and law firms to provide manpower and support for rebuilding and recovery guidance for individuals and businesses affected by the super storm.  Funds from Allstate will help fortify efforts in the New York and New Jersey areas.

"Hurricane Sandy has produced financial recovery challenges, disruption of revenues and individual income," said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE founder, chairman and chief executive officer. "We have responded on the ground, virtually and through our national call center in all the 14 impacted states, but principally in New York and New Jersey.  This is now an opportunity for the sector and its leaders to show a practical support."

Project Restore HOPE will help those who need help in obtaining lost or destroyed documents, completing home inspections, filing insurance claims, deferring payments or negotiating with creditors, and filling out FEMA assistance applications. Services are available through the organization's toll-free hotline at 888-388-HOPE (4673).

"As part of Allstate's commitment to rebuild and strengthen local communities impacted by Sandy, we are partnering with Project Restore HOPE to help expedite recovery," said Vicky Dinges, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Allstate. "Working together and coordinating efforts will help create a community response that makes rebuilding faster and more efficient.  This grant will bring together local, on the ground nonprofits and experts that can help impacted families obtain the resources they need to move forward and recover."

Allstate and The Allstate Foundation have donated more than $1.2 million to nonprofit organizations dedicated to Sandy recovery efforts.  Additionally, more than 1,200 Allstate employees donated to the American Red Cross to assist those impacted by the storm. 

Created in 2001, HOPE Coalition America has a working memorandum of agreement with the Red Cross, FEMA and Citizen Corps. HCA is a collaborative effort that allows knowledgeable, responsible individuals employed in the regulated financial services industry to provide one-on-one assistance to businesses, individuals and families recovering from disasters. It has provided financial triage services on-the-ground and through its toll-free hotline to survivors across the country for more than 30 disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, the Georgia Floods, and the 2007 California Wildfires, among others.

About Operation HOPE (HOPE)
Operation HOPE is a global nonprofit social investment banking and financial dignity empowerment organization. Through several global initiatives and three principal financial literacy programs: Banking on Our Future (teaching school children about money), HOPE Coalition America (financial emergency preparedness and disaster financial recovery), and the HOPE Financial Dignity Centers (loans, bill pay, computer literacy, understanding banking principles), HOPE is leading the "silver rights" movement towards making free enterprise and capitalism relevant to all underserved communities.

About HOPE Coalition America (HCA)
HCA is a collaborative effort that allows knowledgeable, responsible individuals employed in the regulated financial services industry to provide one-on-one assistance to individuals and families recovering from disasters. Since its formation in 2001, the result of a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, HCA has distributed over 500,000 copies of the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) and the Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide (PDPG) in addition to providing financial triage to survivors across the country for more than 30 disasters, including the Georgia Floods, and the 2007 California Wildfires, among others. The Project Restore HOPE initiative is activated for larger scale disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Sandy.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate^®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." As part of Allstate's commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company