Crawford High School Conducting Safe Teen Driving Event During Natl. Youth Violence Prevention Week

March 23, 2011 - PRLog -- Contact:  Patty O’Brien, Communications Mgr.   
E-mail:  pobrien@nationalsave.org   
Phone:  919-661-7800   

Jim Klapthor, Allstate Media Relations
E-mail:  Jim.Klapthor@Allstate.com
Phone:  (909) 612-6644

Crawford High School/SAY San Diego Conducting Safe Teen Driving event during National Youth Violence Prevention Week
Thursday, March 24, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C., (March 22, 2011) ––  The Crawford High School SAVE Chapter in San Diego, California,  will be holding an X the Text Event on Thursday, March 24, 2011 during national Youth Violence Prevention Week (March 21-25) to raise awareness, educate, prevent and reduce youth violence. The event will take place at the high school at the Quad during lunch from 12:20 pm - 12:50 pm.  There will be booths, activities and agencies that will discuss teen safe driving, teen dating violence, and alcohol and other substance abuse awareness. Participating organizations include Allstate, MADD, Operations for Hope, Star Pal, Youth Latino Council and SAY San Diego. The SAVE Chapter is advised by Lucia Acevedo.  Flyer can be viewed at:  http://www.nationalsave.org/PDF/crawford%20flyer.pdf

Thanks to the Allstate Foundation, the National Association of SAVE presented a grant to Crawford High School earlier this school year to increase youth safety and promote Teen Safe Driving.

With support from Allstate exclusive agents and volunteers, SAVE will demonstrate its chapter leadership in schools and communities by ensuring that students are encouraged to participate and engage in these educational activities enhancing teen safe driving and youth safety.  

SAVE is a peer-to-peer organization that focuses on the power of positive peer influences.  According to a recent Allstate Foundation survey, Shifting Teen Attitudes: The State of Teen Driving 2009, peers are a major influence on teens – both positive and negative.  Some of the concerning statistics that SAVE chapters will address include:

•   Eighty-two percent of teens reported using cell phones while driving.
•   Nearly half (48 percent) of girls admit they are likely to speed more than 10 mph over the limit, versus 36 percent of boys.
•   Seventy-seven percent of teens admit they have felt unsafe with another teen's driving.

“This generous grant from The Allstate Foundation will assist students in finding real solutions to the issues of teen safe driving that they face each day,” stated SAVE’s executive director, Carleen Wray.  

“By empowering teens to become smart driving activists in their schools and communities, we hope to reverse the staggering statistics,” said Damion Anglin.  Allstate agent in San Diego who will be present at Crawford High School's event. “Through The Allstate Foundation, we seek to develop innovative, teen-focused approaches to raise awareness of the issue and, ultimately, to help save lives and reduce injuries.”

Previous assistance from The Allstate Foundation has benefited SAVE schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Nevada, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin, California, Colorado, and Ohio.  

About the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere:     
SAVE started at West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, N.C. in 1989 following the tragic death of a student who was trying to break up a fight at an off-campus party.  Students met first to console each other, then as an organization to promote violence prevention and to work together to prevent future incidents from occurring.  SAVE provides education about the effects and consequences of violence and helps provide safe activities for students, parents and communities.  For more information on SAVE or starting a SAVE chapter, visit www.nationalsave.org, or contact SAVE at (866) 343-SAVE to receive free start-up materials and guidance.

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 partners with non-profit organizations on community initiatives that promote "safe and vital communities," "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity" and "economic empowerment." Teen driving and empowering victims of domestic violence have been major initiatives for the Foundation since 2005. For more information visit www.ProtectTeenDrivers.com.

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Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), Inc. is a nonprofit organization striving to decrease violence in our schools and communities by promoting student involvement, education and service opportunities to provide safer environments for learning.