National Association of Basketball Coaches, Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Allstate Announce Inaugural Good Works Teams®

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Allstate Insurance Company today announced the 20 men's and women's college basketball student-athletes named to the inaugural Allstate NABC Good Works Team® and Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®.

The award recognizes a unique group of men's and women's college basketball student-athletes who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement including building homes for the elderly, leading basketball clinics, reading to students and working with children with hearing disabilities. 

"The men and women being recognized with this award have demonstrated a commitment to excellence on and off the court," said Pam Hollander, senior director of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2013 NABC and WBCA Good Works Team® selection panels.  "Allstate commends these student-athletes for their contributions and are very proud to introduce the inaugural NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams."

The following players have been named to the 2013 Allstate NABC Good Works Team®:

The following players have been named to the 2013 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:

Athletic departments submitted 161 nominations for deserving student-athletes. From the nominations, two voting panels headlined by former University of Arizona student-athlete, five-time NBA champion and college basketball analyst Steve Kerr, and former University of Tennessee star and 2012 WNBA championship team member Tamika Catchings, selected two 10-member teams – each featuring five student-athletes from the NCAA® Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA® Divisions II, III and the NAIA.

"We believe in the potential of this exemplary program as an opportunity to promote the good works taking place in collegiate athletics," said Beth Bass, CEO of the WBCA. "The Good Works Team recognizes student-athletes who are conscientious and caring individuals who will continue to make significant contributions as civic leaders in communities across the United States."

Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA®, to the 2013 NABC Convention and 2013 NCAA® Men's Final Four® in Atlanta, where they will participate in a community project in the city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2013 WBCA Convention and at the 2013 NCAA® Women's Final Four® in New Orleans, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the NABC, WBCA and NCAA.

"The NABC is pleased to honor 10 outstanding men's basketball student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to charitable and community service-related activities," said Jim Haney, NABC executive director. "These student-athletes have made a significant impact on the organizations they have served, and have shown outstanding character on the court, in the community, and in the classroom."

In addition to Hollander, Kerr and Catchings, the 2013 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Team® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Greg Anthony (UNLV), Alana Beard (Duke) and former NABC Player of the Year Jason Williams (Duke), former head coaches Bobby Cremins, Al Skinner, Marsha Sharp, and Nell Fortner, WBCA board member Coquese Washington, and college basketball media members Seth Davis, Andy Katz, Carolyn Peck, and LaChina Robinson.

Since 2008, Allstate has partnered with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as sponsor of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, which shines a spotlight on the positive, off-the-field impact college football student-athletes have on their communities. Through an arrangement with the AFCA, NABC and WBCA, Allstate is able to expand the Good Works Team® to also recognize college basketball student-athletes at all levels who donate their time and effort to make a difference off the court.

More information about the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® and the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is available at www.nabc.org and www.wbca.org.

About the National Basketball Coaches Association

Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Forrest "Phog" Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.org.

About the Women's Basketball Coaches Association

Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.

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.

About AFCA

The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."

NCAA, Final Four and Women's Final Four are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company