Allstate Agency Owners from Across the U.S. Come Together at the “People’s Pier” to Assemble 2,400 Backpacks for Chicago Youth
NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 22, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- More than 100 Allstate agency owners from around the country sorted and stuffed 2,400 backpacks with books and loaded them onto Chicago Public Library trucks at Navy Pier on Wed., May 17. The backpacks, which included books tailored for preschool, elementary and middle school students, were delivered to all 80 Chicago Public Library branches and will be distributed to youth this summer.
The event was part of The Allstate Foundation Helping Hands® program, which inspires and enables Allstate agency owners to volunteer and give back to their communities. As part of the program, agency owners who volunteer four or more hours can secure $1,000 grants to the nonprofits where they volunteer. Last year, The Allstate Foundation provided over $5.5 million in Helping Hands grants to recognize more than 3,000 Allstate agency owner volunteers across the country. Agency owners participating in the backpack volunteer event will be encouraged to support similar projects benefiting young people in their hometowns.
The Helping Hands event is one example of the Allstate and The Allstate Foundation’s efforts to empower youth to realize their full potential as part of its Good Starts Young℠ initiative.
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The Allstate Foundation is a National Co-Title Sponsor of WE Charity, a nonprofit organization empowering young people to change the world, and WE Schools, a yearlong educational program, which provides educators with resources to encourage students to broaden their understanding of world issues and take action on societal issues. To learn more, visit www.goodstartsyoung.org.
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The Allstate Foundation’s #THEYSAY Project challenges youth to defy negative stereotypes by empowering them to share their stories of the good they do every day via social media, using #theysay. In doing so, they demonstrate that youth are problem solvers and change-makers. Last year, The Allstate Foundation reached millions of youth through this project. To learn more, go to www.theysayproject.com.
“Our agency owners are passionate about empowering youth to achieve success in their lives,” said Vicky Dinges, Allstate’s senior vice president of corporate responsibility. “We’ve made it our mission at Allstate and The Allstate Foundation to help America’s youth gain the skills, resources and confidence to become our future leaders. That’s why we’re so excited to partner with the Chicago Public Library on this effort.”
Allstate Insurance Company and Chicago Public Library (CPL) have partnered on various initiatives over several years. Allstate was a longtime lead supporter of the Library's One Book, One Chicago program for adults, and most recently, supported teen programming in CPL's YOUmedia with a gift to the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
"Chicago's philanthropic community plays an important role in our library programming through gifts to our Library Foundation," said Brian Bannon, Chicago Public Library Commissioner. "We are so grateful to these Allstate employees and agency owners for donating their time today, and for The Allstate Foundation's generosity in helping serve our youngest patrons this summer."
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
