Allstate, ''American Idol'' and Save the Children Plan Sequel to Last Year's 'Give Back' Program Benefiting Children in the Gulf Region

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Apr 09, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- For the second consecutive year, American Idol and Allstate Insurance Company will team up with FOX, 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America to benefit Gulf-Coast-area children as part of the star-studded, Emmy award-winning "Idol Gives Back," a special broadcast of "American Idol" that will air live on Wednesday, April 9 on FOX.

Last year's $1 million Allstate donation to support Save the Children programming in the Gulf region will be matched with another $1 million donation this year.

"We received so many positive letters from Allstate employees expressing pride and excitement about the company being involved in 'Idol Gives Back' last year," said Lisa Cochrane, vice president of marketing at Allstate. "Participating again allows us to continue our investment in the Gulf Coast area, deepen our relationship with Save the Children and make a great many Allstaters proud and excited again this year."

While programming plans for the $1 million donation are in progress, last year's Allstate donation is hard at work supporting Save the Children's Early Steps to School Success program, a cradle-to-classroom intervention program for children at high risk of struggling in school. The program includes home visits by teachers; parent education groups; toddler story book hours and play groups, as well as structured activities to promote early language and literacy skills, along with social and emotional development. All of these elements are designed to help build a strong foundation for school readiness. As children enter school, Save the Children provides after-school literacy programs and nutrition education.

The funds are also supporting Save the Children's work in obesity prevention, which continues to top headlines as a major public health concern. Save the Children is tackling the epidemic head-on by helping rural children develop healthy lifestyles.

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