The Allstate Foundation: `Little Hands Playground' Dedication in East Austin; New Playground to Be Dedicated to the City of Austin Provides Safe Place to Play

Business Wire, Oct 29, 2004

AUSTIN, Texas -- Children in east Austin now have a new, safer playground to play on this Saturday, thanks to a partnership between The Allstate Foundation and Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) of Austin. The playground features two play structures, complete with slides and overhead ladders, a new swing set and a 10 station wellness course. Funded by a $70,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation, the "Little Hands Playground" is being donated to the City of Austin for neighborhood children and their families to enjoy.

According to the 2001 Children's Hospital of Austin Trauma Registry, falls (in home and play areas) are the third leading cause of childhood injuries in Austin and Central Texas.

"Without adequate surfacing and safe play equipment, children can and do sustain very serious injuries from falls while playing outdoors," said Dr. Julie Sanchez, pediatric surgeon and principal investigator for Injury Free Austin. "Through this partnership between The Allstate Foundation and Injury Free Austin, parents in east Austin have a safe place for their children to play."

The "Little Hands Playground" will officially open for play to neighborhood children and families with a ribbon cutting ceremony and Little Hands Playground Dedication and Family Fall Festival at 3 p.m., Saturday, October 30 at Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center, 2802 Webberville Rd. This event is open to the public.

About The Allstate Foundation

The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by The Allstate Corporation. The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate provides insurance and financial investment products to more than 16 million households and has approximately 12,500 exclusive agents and financial specialists in the U.S. and Canada. 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.

About the Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R)

The Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) of Austin is a child injury prevention program led by Children's Hospital of Austin - a division of Brackenridge Hospital, and affiliated with the Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) - one of the country's fastest growing and most effective injury prevention programs. Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) sites are independent, hospital-based, community-oriented programs, whose efforts are anchored in research, education, and advocacy, each driven by the Coalition's mission: preventing injury to children. The Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation located at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.