Save And The Allstate Foundation Sponsor Teen Safe Driving In Nevada

May 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Contact:  Patty O’Brien, Communications Mgr.   
pobrien@nationalsave.org           
Phone:  919-661-7800   

Kari Mather, Allstate Media Relations:        
E-mail: Kari.Mather@allstate.com
Phone:  (602)-631-6248   


STUDENTS AGAINST VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE (SAVE) AND THE ALLSTATE FOUNDATION SPONSOR TEEN SAFE DRIVING IN NEVADA
Beacon Academy of Nevada Focuses on Teen Safe Driving

LAS VEGAS, N.V., (May 4, 2011) –– The National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) and the Allstate Foundation have partnered to increase youth safety and promote Teen Safe Driving during National Youth Traffic Safety Month (May). This is an important time to focus on teen driving safety with events surrounding the end of the school year including prom and graduation.  Through a grant from the Allstate Foundation, SAVE Chapters in Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Nevada are encouraging youth safety and conducting teen safe driving awareness campaigns.

The Beacon Academy of Nevada's SAVE Chapter is focusing on the creation of an online curriculum and activities to enhance and compliment their current driver’s education courses. Students are creating online materials, web pages, flyers, posters, and course materials.

With support from Allstate agents and employee volunteers, SAVE chapters are able to provide leadership in their schools and communities to ensure that all students will be encouraged and empowered with healthy life skills while engaging in educational activities and opportunities to promote 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 statistics that SAVE chapters will address include:

• Eighty-two percent of teens report 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 is assisting students in finding real solutions to the issues of teen safe driving that they face each day,” said 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 teen driving fatality and injury statistics,” said Kari Mather, Allstate spokeswoman. “The Allstate Foundation is working to develop innovative, teen-focused approaches to raise awareness of the issue and, ultimately, to help save lives and reduce injuries.”

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 .  Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment.  The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America's families achieve their American dream.

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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.