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THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SAVE
GRANTS SPONSORED BY THE
ALLSTATE FOUNDATION - TEXAS REGION
The National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) is proud
to partner with the Allstate Foundation in Texas to support the
violence prevention efforts and teen safe driving efforts of students through their SAVE Chapters.
The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by the Allstate Corporation. Allstate and The
Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to 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. Additional information on the Allstate Foundation can reviewed at
www.allstate.com/foundation.
In continuation of the Partnership with the Texas Allstate Region for the 2009-2010
school year, four SAVE Chapters have received additional funding for their
Teen Safe Drivig Activities in Waco and Lubbock Texas. The participating
schools include:
IRA Independent School District, Ira, Texas
 The IRA SAVE chapter would like their students to improve in the following areas
in order to become better leaders and discover their own self worth in their
approach of a better life prepared person with endless opportunities before them. 1)
Develop a healthier self-concept, healthier relationships and personal responsibilities. 2)
Understand emotional intelligence and the skills it measures, including self-
awareness, self control, self motivation, and social skills. 3) Build skills in
public speaking and communication as well as understanding of personal image.
4) Recognize and resist peer pressure. 5) Learn to become better family members and
citizens. 6) Appreciate the need for vision in goal-setting, personally and socially.
Students will improve in these areas through conducting Teen Safe Driving
activities and youth safety activities.
Update: The Ira SAVE Chapter has been very busy this year with many
different projects. They kicked off the school year with back to school safety
tips for kids. The SAVE students handed out coloring books with tips on how to
get on the school bus properly, stay away from strangers, and how not to be a
bully in class. The students also conducted activities for Teen Safe Driving
Week, Red Ribbon Week and the Fall Festival. Each day had a theme and the
students had to dress according to the theme in order to participate in an
event each day. On Tuesday of that week the junior high and high school
students viewed a texting video and discussed safe driving. They hosted
a speaker from DPS who spoke to the students about impaired driving and
distractions and driving. On Wednesday the students put on a texting and
driving skit, students were moved to tears on the dramatic presentation.
On Thursday the SAVE Chapter hosted a Red Meal to commemorate Red Ribbon
week. They served a spaghetti meal to 200 community members and discussed
their SAVE chapter activities.
Lubbock Cooper High School, Lubbock, TX
The Cooper SAVE Chapter will continue to encourage seat belt
usage with seat belt checks, informing our community about
new seat belt laws in Texas, sponsor drug and alcohol awareness
throughout the year, sponsor internet safety and bus safety programs
for all campuses. They will conduct Red Ribbon Week activities
where they recognize students, faculty, and community members who are
role models to the students. The SAVE Chapter will partner with
other schools to host a SUMMIT (Students Uniting to Make Meanningful Influences Together)
that will deal with numerous teen issues including responsible
driving and drug and alcohol choices.
Update: The Lubbock Cooper SAVE Chapter conducted a Texting Course.
In this activity they made a course in which they had to text the
school song while going through an obstacle course. This showed
students that they need to pay attention on the road and that cell
phones are not for when moving. They also held a Red Ribbon Week
where they conducted daily activities. The week focused around being
drug and alcohol free. They had "Toilet Times" that gave facts on
drugs and gave facts over the announcements. The Chapter has impacted
around 1200 students so far this year. They try to get everyone involved
even if it as small as listening to an announcement about safe driving.
Marlin High School, Marlin, TX
The Marlin High School SAVE Chapter will conduct youth safety
activities including teen safe driving activities during key
times of the year including America's Safe Schools Week, National
Red Ribbon Week, and around the holidays. A major project will focus
on a school and community awareness campaign on Seat Belts and Passenger
Safety. They will utilize their local police department, Allstate
agents and others during the spring semester.
UPDATE:The Marlin SAVE Chapter members participated in two
activities during the fall semester including See You at the Pole
and Red Ribbon Week. The students established an information center
and placed it in the main hallway that holds brochures and pamphlets
with prevention and safety topics. The entire school was positively
impacted during the National Red Ribbon Week campaign. The prevention
event allowed students, faculty and staff to voluntarily wear a red
"Banding Together Against Drugs" wristband which symbolized their
commitment to a drug free community. To keep people involved the
wristbands were numbered so that participants could enter a drawing
for prizes at the end of week. Prevention information such as 10
Reasons to be Drug Free, and 8 Reason s I Choose a Drug Free Life,
was provided to listeners over the intercom during the morning
school announcements. To reinforce the messages, poster sheets
with the same information was placed in hallways and the cafeteria.
The goal was to heighten awareness and to remind the students and
staff of the importance of keeping oneself and others safe.
UPCOMING EVENTS: In February they will be hosting a Love
Enough to Buckle Up event to promote Seat Belts and Passenger Safety.
In May they will be conducting safe driving events around prom and
graduation to celebrate National Youth Traffic Safety Month.
Springlake Earth High School, Earth, TX
The Springlake Earth SAVE Chapter will be focusing on highway safety. Their
school is located in a rural area and students drive a distance to get there
every day. The law in Texas is changing requiring all individuals in a vehicle
to wear their seatbelts regardless of age or location in the vehicle. They will
focus on awareness activities of this law. In additional, all children under
the age of 8 must be restrained in a vehicle in a booster seat. Awareness
activities will be conducted including proper installation and importance of
child safety seats. Many Springlake students driver younger siblings, family
members or even baby-sitting charges around in car seats and they feel this is
an area that students are lacking important information.
Update: The chapter attended Peer Education Training in October. They
are currently working with elementary students and teachers to educate them on
the dangers of bullying. The chapter has conducted surveys with students and
compiled a power point presentation of the results to share with students.
They hosted a violence prevention awareness week and presented skits about
bullying to students. The Chapter hosted announcements about the changes in
law for Texas drivers, including the requirement that all passengers wear
seatbelts regardless of age, that it is against the law for anyone to text in
a school zone, and that all children younger than age 8 must be in a booster
seat if they are below a minimum weight.
Upcoming events: After losing a student in an unpreventable, yet tragic
car accident earlier this year, then losing the parent of some elementary and
junior high students a month later, the school has definitely seen the impact and
importance of safe driving habits. They are hosting a BUST (Buckle Up and Stop
Texting) event in the spring. An area sports reporter started the program after
an area student was killed while texting and driving on her way to school. He
will speak at their event, a pledge drive will be conducted, the parents of the
killed student will also speak. On Wednesday February 10, Rachel's Challenge
will conduct an assembly (student killed at Columbine). Four area high schools
will be in attendance.
Texas Allstate Partnership Mid Year Report
 The Allstate Foundation presented a grant of $100,000 to the National Association
of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) to fund Teen Safe Driving Summits
and activities in Texas high schools. In the first of a series of regional Teen
Safe Driving Summits, Lubbock area high schools met to focus on how and why
to address teen safe driving issues; what teen safe driving activism plans they
have for the coming school year; and what tips they have for other teens who want
to drive safely. Teens were engaged in interactive, participatory activities and skits.
The role of SAVE in working with teens to
learn wise decision making skills is becoming increasing important. Peers are a
major influence on teens - both positive and negative. Nearly half said they are
sometimes distracted by passengers (47 percent), and nearly as many said they
drive more safely without friends in the car (44 percent). More than half
(53 percent) said friends would be the most effective influence in getting
them to drive more safely. (Chronic, A Report on the State of Teen Driving,
The Allstate Foundation, 2005) It is important to involve teens in a meaningful
way in safe driving efforts.
"This generous grant from The Allstate Foundation will assist students in finding
real solutions to the issues of violence that they face each day," stated Dr.
Pamela L. Riley, Executive Director of SAVE.
With support from Allstate agents and employee volunteers, SAVE chapters in the
Lubbock, Waco, Brownsville and other areas of Texas area will be able to provide leadership school-wide
to ensure that all students will be encouraged and empowered with healthy life
skills while being engaged in educational activities and opportunities to promote
safe teen driving. SAVE believes that every student should be able to attend a
school that is safe and secure, free of fear and conducive to learning. Through
The Allstate Foundation grant, participating SAVE chapters across Texas will receive:
- Mini Grants - Each school will receive a $250 mini grant to use to create
an awareness campaign in their school/community regarding Teen Safe Driving.
- Educational / Promotional Materials
- Project Banners
- Free SAVE Chapter Registration
- A Teen Safe Driving Tool Kit with Student and Parent Brochures, Posters, and Lesson Plan
- Ongoing Support and Technical Assistance for School Safety and Teen Safe Driving Efforts
- 10 free registrations to a Teen Safe Driving Summit
- Opportunities to receive recognition and cash prizes for Activism Project
- Opportunities to Partner with local Allstate Agents on the Project
Teen Safe Driving Resources:
Participating schools include:
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Shallowater High School
The Shallowater High School SAVE Chapter has hit the ground running this school
year. To utilize a Peer-to-Peer approached they canvassed the town and passed out
brochures outlining organizations in school that students could join. Student
council and the DASH committee (Rock, Don't Roll) were included in the brochure.
They are in the process of planning a leadership workshop for all 63 schools on
the South Plains, which will focus on eliminating destructive decisions. The
Shallowater students will be presenting breakout sessions on: Marijuana and Meth
use; Motorcycle Safety; Street Racing; and hosting the Area 61 Teen Coalition
Against Destructive Driving mobile trailer exhibition (addressing speeding,
seatbelt use, distraction and inexperience, and impaired driving. Shallowater
conducted a seatbelt survey in September. Out of 100 drivers, 57% were wearing
seatbelts. Students will conduct another survey October 13 and see if there has
been improvement. Students are working to promote the establishment of a Responders
Memorial in Lubbock that will honor fallen men and women and well as those who
risk their lives daily. The students are working with the Thomas Agency to
produce a video about driving safety. Teens will also create PSA's addressing the
Fatal Four Behaviors of rural teen drivers.
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Ira Independent School District
The High School Students from Ira ISD will be conducting numerous activities for
Safe Schools Week and Red Ribbon Week. The SAVE students will participate in the
Teen Driving Summit in Lubbock. They will be conducting numerous presentations to
elementary and junior and senior high school students. The elementary presentation
is entitled "Don't take Candy from Strangers" and will focus on Halloween safety.
They will present to the junior/senior high school students " I am the Face of
Drugs" and "Have a line of Defense." The presentation focuses on what happens
with each drug and the effects of the drugs. The y will be distributing pretzels
that have a saying on them called "8 ways to use your head about drugs" and
provide information on the eight ways.
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Lamesa High School
The Lamesa High School SAVE Chapter will attend the Teen Driving Summit. They
plan to conduct an awareness campaign and emphasize the number of teens injured
and killed each year using posters and signs. They will host speakers who
emphasize how to change driving habits to create a safer environment and emphasize
sober driving during Red Ribbon Week. The chapter plans to produce a slide show
to be shown before movies and previews at local theaters.
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Springlake-Earth High School
The SAVE Chapter from Springlake - Earth High School will attend and participate
in Teen Safe Driving Summit. They will also attend and participate in Area 61
Teen Coalition Against Destructive Driving. They plan to sponsor a local Summit
at the school for all 6-12th graders. They will involve their local FCCLA Chapter
by planning and conducting a FACTS (Families Against Community Traffic Safety)
project. The chapter plans to conduct routine Tire Air Pressure and Seatbelt
checks in the school parking lot. The chapter will encourage safe driving habits
among the students, teachers, and community members through announcements,
posters, and various activities. They will educate students about the laws
regarding minors pertaining to traffic safety, drinking and driving, cell
phone use while driving, etc. The chapter plans to conduct an "Every 15 Minutes"
project during a school day. The students will host a "Ghost Out" program in
conjunction with Red Ribbon Week. They are organizing a car crash simulation
that will be carried out with the local rescue services showing all of the
possible driving distractions and the deadly effects they can have.
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Abernathy High School
The Abernathy High School SAVE chapter has several activities planned this year.
They will conduct awareness activities on multiple issues including drugs and alcohol,
teen driving and violence prevention. They plan to organize a White Out Drug Day,
painting faces to raise the awareness of students who lose their lives. They will
host multiple assemblies with guest speakers and conduct a seat belt awareness
check and awareness activity.
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Lubbock Cooper High School
The Lubbock Cooper High School SAVE Chapter is attending the Teen Driver Safety Forum
hosted by SAVE and will be coordinating Teen Driver Safety activities throughout
the school year. The chapter plans to do a monthly focus on certain SAVE projects.
In November they will conduct a seatbelt check or a good driving check where a team
of students will hand out "Smarties" to good drivers and "Dum-Dums" to drivers who
were speeding, not wearing a seat belt, etc. In December they are creating a
"Pledge Tree" where students will make their New Year's resolution to never
drive with distractions, drink and drive, etc. They will write them down and
put them on a tree. During January, they plan to follow up on how the students
are doing with their resolutions, and may go even further by having a story in
the paper of how a student kept their pledge. Other activities will be planned
for the spring.
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West High School
The West High School SAVE Chapter will attend the Teen Driving Summit.
They plan to team up their SAVE Chapter with Teens in the Driver Seat - America's first peer-to-peer
safety program for young drivers. West High School's SAVE Chapter will also participate in the Shattered
Dreams program on April 2 & 3, 2009.
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Marlin High School
The Marlin High School SAVE Chapter will take part
in the SAVE Teen Driving Summit. They will
utilize community newspapers, the school newsletter and daily school announcements to
SAVE spread awareness. They will also have guest speakers
from community agencies such as the Police Department, Heart of Texas Alcohol and Drug Abuse Agency
and the Texas Dept of Transportation. They will provide materials to the students that will t4each
about SAVE, Teen Driving and the consequences of wrong choices.
The Red Ribbon Event will continue on an annual basis.
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China Spring High School
The China Spring High School SAVE Chapter will participate in the
Shattered Dreams program, which involves the dramatization of an alcohol-related crash on or near a
high school campus, complete with police and EMS response, emergency room treatment, family notifications,
and the arrest and booking of the driver. They will also host a Parent Forum and attend
the SAVE Teen Driving Summit.
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University High School
The University High School SAVE Chapter is busy planning for
Spring Break and Prom Awareness issues, especially drinking and driving. They will attend the Teen
Driving Summit and hold seminars on general car safety, maintenance and driving tips.
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Rapoport Academy
The Rapoport Academy SAVE Chapter is implementing a
Community Council (mediation honor court, alternative discipline model) for dealing with students
who disrupt the community of learners. The council will lead efforts to create an environment of
diversity and tolerance with afterschool activities. They will attend the SAVE Teen
Driving Summit.
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IDEA College Prep
The IDEA College Prep SAVE Chapter in Donna, TX
attended the Teen Safe Driving Summit hosted by SAVE
in Brownsville, TX. The students are preparing Safe Driving activities for National
Teen Traffic Safety Month in May and other activities around Prom.
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Nikki Rowe High School
The Nikki Rowe High School SAVE Chapter in McAllen, TX
is hosting a safe driving pledge signing event during lunch where students will
pledge to drive safe. They plan to raise awareness about seat belt use by conducting
a seat belt check after school. The students a Click or Ticket Teen Seat Belt
Demo project that will be held at the Dodge Arena. Students also plan to organize
and conduct a presentation on the dangers of Teen Driving.
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Memorial High School
The Memorial High School SAVE Chapter is gaining
awareness of the Teen Driving Issue by attending several events including the Click or Ticket
Teen Seat Belt Demo Project and other awareness programs. They will be conducting
activities during May which is National Teen Driver Safety Month. These activities
will include research and awareness projects. The students hope to present their
findings at an assembly or other teen event.
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McAllen High School
The SAVE Chapter at McAllen High School will
be participating in numerous efforts to increase Teen Driver Safety. The students
will attend several Teen Driving events as well as plan and conduct numerous
activites for their school and community focusing on Teen Driver Safety. Students
will sponsor a Safe Driving Pledge Drive and distribute awareness information.
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Lamar Academy
The Lamar Academy SAVE Chapter in McAllen, TX
is conducting awareness and prevention activities focusing on Teen Driver Safety. They
plan to host a pledge signing event around Prom and will be attending numerous
events in their community. The students are planning projects to encourage
safe driving by students during the summer months.
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If you are interested in being a part of this Allstate Foundation project in Texas
by starting or supporting a SAVE chapter in your school or community contact SAVE.
National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere
SAVE: Youth Voices... Grown-Up Choices! Toll Free 866-343-SAVE
For more information contact cwray@nationalsave.org / Copyright 2010
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