Allstate Launches 'Safe Home Los Angeles' Program
Allstate Insurance Co. and the City of Los Angeles Friday announced a new public/private partnership that will leverage the power of volunteerism in Los Angeles to help the police and fire departments improve public safety, reduce crime and increase community involvement in crisis preparation and response.
The announcement of the $2 million "Safe Home Los Angeles" program was made during a City Council meeting, where it was heralded as a symbol of Allstate's commitment to Los Angeles by city officials, including Mayor Richard Riordan, Police Chief Bernard Parks, Fire Chief William Bamattre and City Council members in attendance.
"Public safety in our communities is certainly a priority to all city leadership," says Riordan. "We appreciate the support of Allstate in our effort to make our neighborhoods safer places to live and do business. We especially appreciate the approach of leveraging the work of volunteers to help protect their communities."
Allstate's financial contribution to the city will fund new city programs, as well as a social marketing campaign emphasizing safety. It includes:
- Crisis Response Volunteer Team (CRT) Run by the city's Volunteer Bureau, CRT will train volunteers to provide immediate, short-term, on-scene crisis support to individuals and families, and allow police and firefighters to return to their normal duties more rapidly.
- Los Angeles Police Reserve Corps The LAPRC gives citizens a unique opportunity to serve their community and provides additional support to the LAPD. Allstate will provide funding for the LAPD to recruit and equip 75 additional reserve officers by the end of this year.
- Safety NET (Neighborhood Emergency Teams) Safety NET volunteers promote self-sufficiency and emergency survival to communities citywide, and provide support for city residents during a disaster. Allstate's commitment will enable the program to expand in its scope and reach.
- Community Oriented Policing Business Advisory Boards (Boosters) in each of 18 city police divisions will work with Allstate agents to determine how to best utilize a $10,000 contribution by Allstate to each of the police divisions to foster safe neighborhoods.
- Crisis Preparedness Program Allstate will work with the City of Los Angeles to design and deliver a comprehensive, family-oriented disaster-preparedness outreach program for the city, including an advertising and promotional campaign concerning the necessity to prepare for earthquakes and other potential natural disasters.
Additional sponsorships will be announced in coming months.
"Allstate's commitment to this program is based on the city's indication that there is a need for increased resources for public-safety agencies to protect and serve the public," says Allstate Regional Vice President Frank Millar. "Under the guidance of Mayor Riordan, Los Angeles has become a national leader in effective deployment of volunteers to implement programs that make the city a better, safer place to live and work. It is Los Angeles' high degree of volunteer spirit that will make the 'Safe Home Los Angeles' program a huge success."
"We are thankful to Allstate for enabling us to implement programs such as the Crisis Response Team, which enables skilled, compassionate volunteers to serve the city," says Karen Wagener, director of the Volunteer Bureau.
In addition to the "Safe Home Los Angeles" program, Allstate says it has made a financial commitment to Los Angeles of $5.8 million through its Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP) in the Crenshaw community and $2 million through the Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC).