MINNEAPOLIS, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Natalie Hayford, 16, of Andover, Minn., has been selected to receive The Allstate Foundation's inaugural "Teen Activist of the Year Award" for her leadership role in encouraging teens to drive safely.
"I take activism very seriously, and it's a big part of my life," Hayford said. "I love helping others and encouraging positive choices in my peers, and I feel very lucky to be rewarded for something I love. The prize is a tribute to the hard working members of my Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapter as well, who worked with me on the activities. I hope to continue to convey safe driving habits for years to come."
Hayford rose above a pool of talented teen activists from across the country to earn a $10,000 cash award from The Allstate Foundation, which she is going to put into a college fund. She selected the Anoka High School SADD chapter to receive an additional $5,000 grant in her honor provided by The Allstate Foundation to continue youth safety efforts.
"Teens have the power to positively influence their peers and communities and ultimately curb teen driving deaths," said David Prendergast, assistant field vice president of Allstate's Midwest Region and father of a teenage driver. "We are so impressed by the meaningful advocacy work America's teens engaged in during 2007, but Hayford truly went above and beyond in working to raise awareness for this critical issue. We hope more teens will follow her lead."
At the 2007 National SADD Conference last summer, Hayford learned about Minnesota's high number of teen driving-related deaths. As the president of Anoka High School SADD, she returned from the conference determined to educate her school and community. Among her impressive efforts in 2007, she:
-- Worked with famed coach Tubby Smith to create three public service
announcements;
-- Co-wrote and co-produced a television program featuring experts'
advice on educating teen drivers;
-- Helped produce a school television segment encouraging teens to speak
up about unsafe driving.
In 2008, Hayford and the Anoka SADD team are planning to star in a DVD about teens and reckless driving that will be shown to health classes across Minnesota.
For more information on teen-led teen driving activism, please visit http://www.KeeptheDrive.com or http://www.ActOutLoud.org.
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.