Texas Allstate Agents Team Up To Aid Domestic Violence Victims

AUSTIN — Working together toward a common goal, owners of Allstate agencies across the state teamed up to secure a $91,000 grant benefiting nonprofits helping victims of domestic violence.

The Allstate Foundation Helping Hands® grant supports the mission of nonprofit organizations statewide to empower women and children in creating a violence-free environment for themselves. Allstate volunteers earned $91,000 for the domestic violence organizations by collecting much-needed items during a supply drive that took place from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3, in various locations across Texas including Austin, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Dallas, East Texas, El Paso, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio.

Participating Allstate volunteers are among thousands of agency owners and financial specialists around the country working to strengthen communities by volunteering their time to support the causes they care about most, officials said.

“As small business owners and community leaders, Allstate agency owners and financial specialists see firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing the communities they serve,” said Larry Sedillo, Allstate Texas field senior vice president. “Giving back is core to who we are, which is why we’re proud of our agencies who volunteer and raise funds to improve the lives of people in the state of Texas."

Among the groups benefiting from the grant are:

• Bexar County Family Justice Center;
• Center Against Sexual and Family Violence;
• East Texas Crisis Center;
• The Family Place;
• The Gatehouse;
• Houston Area Women’s Center;
• Martha’s Home;
• The Texas Advocacy Project;
• Women’s Shelter of South Texas;
• Women Together Foundation.

The Texas domestic violence nonprofits join thousands of organizations this year to receive Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants secured by agency owners and financial specialists on behalf of the nonprofits where they volunteer, officials said in a press advisory. The grants support organizations addressing domestic violence, youth empowerment, disaster preparedness, hunger and other causes, officials added.

Bronwyn Blake, legal director of the Texas Advocacy Project, lauded the efforts of Allstate agents in securing the grant. Her nonprofit offers free legal advice to domestic violence victims, with a staff of more than a dozen attorneys guiding them through the legal process involved in removing themselves from violent environments.

"Allstate has been a longtime, consistent supporter in our local area," Blake said during a telephone interview with Patch. "There can be a perception that domestic violence is on the rise, but it's been a consistent threat of physical abuse."

Blake noted other Allstate-led efforts benefiting victims, including the Handbags for Hope initiative collecting new or gently used purses for women with phone numbers for help resources imprinted on a piece of paper discreetly inserted inside each bag.

The Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grant is just one example of foundation’s legacy of service and giving for communities and nonprofits across the U.S., officials noted. Among their other causes:

• Since The Allstate Foundation was founded in 1952, it has contributed over $400 million to support community nonprofits.
• In 2016, The Allstate Foundation contributed more than $25 million to communities across the U.S.
• Each October, domestic violence nonprofits across the country participate in the Purple Purse Challenge to raise funds for financial empowerment programs for domestic violence survivors. This year, more than 220 domestic violence nonprofits participated. Along with the Allstate Foundation grants awarded, more than $4.18 million was raised during the Purple Purse Challenge. To learn more and donate, visit PurplePurse.com

Allstate agency owners from across a wide swath of Texas landscape participated in the drive. Among the agents were:

• Cheri Roman, Austin
• Cindy Aguirre, San Antonio
• James Aleman, Corpus Christi
• Ella Alvarez, Alice
• Danny Andrus, El Paso
• Oscar Arrieta, El Paso
• Melissa Azzam, Kilgore
• Volora Baldon, Missouri City
• Tim Bates, Humble
• Joe Blanco, Katy
• Bill Brandes, Grapevine
• Kimberley Bridenstine, Killeen
• Tiffany Brimberry, Spring
• Dan Brown, San Antonio
• Jeremy Burk, Flower Mound
• Herman Burroughs, Houston
• Jennifer Butler, Webster
• George Carranza, Plano
• Toya Coleman, Houston
• Rene Contreras, Ingleside
• Miguel Dominguez, McAllen
• Jeff Donaway, Amarillo
• Bill Eggar, Arlington
• Terry Everett, Sherman
• Mark Evetts, Portland
• Myrna Faz, El Paso
• Malisa Floyd, The Woodlands
• Linda Fullman, Longview
• Brian Garner, Spring
• Maria Golseth, Bedford
• Brenda Gomez, McAllen
• Elissa Gonzalez, San Antonio
• Wendy Gray, Austin
• Dwayne Hargis, Corpus Christi
• Jackie Harris, Pearland
• Laura Harris, Corpus Christi
• Ralph Hawkins, Humble
• Tricia Herte, Corpus Christi
• Enrique Hilton, Brownsville
• Paul Hinson, Kerrville
• Yvette Holguin, Arlington
• Brandy Jackson, Houston
• Melinda Jackson, San Antonio
• Dorian Jimenez, Grapevine
• Randy Jones, Euless
• Eric Kent, El Paso
• Brad Kerley, Addison
• Deepa Krishan, Spring
• David Kubicki, Pinehurst
• Ericka Leon, El Paso
• Heather Luhman, Bedford
• Amy Maddox, Cedar Park
• Grant Malone, White Oak
• Eddie Martinez, Corpus Christi
• Ashley Mauldin, Amarillo
• Cathryn McArthur, Fort Worth
• Bill McDonald, Amarillo
• Kevin McKee, Dallas
• Don Morrison, Corpus Christi
• Linda Morrison, Corpus Christi
• Katleen Muniz, Houston
• Andrew Norris, Round Rock
• Adebukola Oyejobi, Houston
• Courtney Phillips, Houston
• Jim Phillips, Austin
• Rise Phillips, Granbury
• Adam Pisani, Houston
• Roy Portillo, El Paso
• Linda Purnellodom, Farmers Branch
• David Reid, Spring
• Annette Roberts, San Antonio
• Johnny Rodriguez, Brownsville
• Paco Sanchez, El Paso
• Chris Sapp, Texas City
• Kelvin Smith, Richardson
• Deanna Stuart, Corpus Christi
• Brenda Ta, Houston
• Steve Thomas, Fort Worth
• Michael Thornton, Duncanville
• Elizabeth Torres, El Paso
• Doug Townsend, Georgetown
• Magdalen Vasquez, San Antonio
• Leticia Villalon, San Antonio
• Kevin Vincent, Amarillo
• David Vogel, Sherman
• Gabe Volinsky, Buda
• Gloria Wesley, Missouri City
• Charla White-Walters, Dallas
• Diana Wickman, Garland
• Don Wilde, Houston
• Ruth Williams, Houston
• Danny Wilson, Plano
• Mechille Wilson, Buna
• Rex Young, Amarillo

About The Allstate Foundation (provided text):

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.

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