NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstate
Insurance Company, a longtime advocate of the motorcycle community,
announced today that it is teaming up with country music star and
avid rider, Frankie Ballard, for its
first-ever Guardians of the Ride initiative. Coinciding with May's
Motorcycle Safety and Awareness month, Guardians of the Ride will
recognize safety advocates who have dedicated their lives to
improving motorcycle safety through the education of riders and
drivers alike.
From educating future generations on the importance of safe
riding to working with lawmakers to implement motorcycle safety
legislation, the 2016 Guardians of the Ride recipients have
demonstrated an unwavering pledge to protect riders and promote
safety in the motorcycle community. To help recognize their
efforts, Allstate is shining a national spotlight on their
inspiring stories and contributions in hopes of encouraging other
riders to be Guardians in their own communities and make safety a
priority.
"Allstate has been an active force in the motorcycle community
for many years, always with the same goal in mind, to keep riders
riding," said Jennifer Egeland,
director of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company. "We are
dedicated to helping make riders feel more secure on the road and
are thrilled to honor riders who share similar passions to
Allstate."
Five riders from across the country are being recognized as the
2016 Guardians of the Ride. They will be honored during a
recognition ceremony in their hometown markets, where they will be
presented with the special award by a local Allstate agency owner.
In August, the Guardians will join Ballard at the annual Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota
where they will be acknowledged for their efforts.
Ballard, an accomplished country music singer-songwriter and
guitarist, enjoys hitting the open road on his Triumph Bonneville
when he isn't in the studio or performing shows across the country.
His breakthrough album Sunshine & Whiskey contained three
consecutive No. 1 hits - "Young & Crazy," the
platinum-certified "Sunshine & Whiskey" and the gold-certified
"Helluva Life" – and helped take the singer-songwriter to a new
level of popularity. His latest project, El Rio, is due out
June 10 and features the Top 20
single "It All Started With A Beer."
"I've been a rider for 15 years, and motorcycle safety has
always been something I take very seriously. When Allstate
approached me with the opportunity to help spread the word about
the 'Guardians of the Ride' program, I couldn't wait to get
started," said Ballard. "Each of these riders is more than
deserving of this honor, and I hope their passion for safety and
improving conditions for riders inspires others to get involved
like it has me."
The 2016 Allstate Guardians of the Ride are as follows:
Catherine Bochat-Duross –
San Antonio,
Tex.
Bochat-Duross is the founder of The Motorcycle School in
San Antonio that teaches more than
1,500 motorcycle trainees each year. She is the Texas legislative liaison for the Texas
Motorcycle Roadriders Association and Safety and Awareness
Committee Chair for the Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition. She has
also been a member of, and worked in conjunction with the American
Motorcycle Association for the last 10 years.
Ken Higginbotham –
Anderson, S.C.
Higginbotham is the Head Road Captain & Safety Officer of the
Electric City H.O.G. and regularly works to educate the chapter
members and public about motorcycle safety and the proper operation
of a motorcycle. He is also the coordinator for the 2016 South
Carolina H.O.G. rally.
Lisa Cook-Gordon – Melvin,
Mich.
Cook Gordon originally suggested
the Nathan Bower Act, which is in honor of her son's friend
Nathan Bower who died on his
motorcycle after being struck by a vehicle, to the state of
Michigan. The law requires that
driver education courses include lessons on bicycle and motorcycle
awareness and safety. She and the Bower family helped to get the
law passed in Michigan, and have
since traveled to other states to work with government officials in
an attempt to pass similar laws throughout the country.
Mark Howie Sr. – Omaha, Neb.
After serving with the Omaha
Police Department as a motorcycle officer for more than 20 years,
Howie retired to continue his work in rider education. He currently
manages and teaches the Learn-to-Ride program and is seen as an
expert in his community on motorcycle safety information,
frequently assisting local media with the sharing of important
safety tips.
Tom Wright – Roebling, N.J.
As president of the Central Jersey Rider Training, Wright oversees
the operation of state-approved motorcycle riding safety courses
and advocates for legislation in support of rider safety. In his
previous employment role, he dedicated a lengthy career to vehicle
safety, motorcycle safety advocacy and program implementation for
the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission.
For 50 years, Allstate has been providing motorcycle insurance
to riders and instituting safety and awareness initiatives as part
of the Allstate Rider Protection Project, including the
installation of 175 "Watch for Motorcycles" warning signs at
dangerous intersections across the country as part of its Once is
Never Enough program. Guardians of the Ride serves as the next
chapter in Allstate's mission to keep riders on the road and in
good hands.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest
publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16
million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home,
life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance,
Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Now celebrating its
85th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is widely known through
the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." The
Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home,
life and retirement products and services to customers in
the United States and Canada. In 2015, The Allstate Foundation,
Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $36 million to support local communities.
Allstate employees and agency owners donated 230,000 hours of
service across the country.
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SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company