'Little Hands Playground' for Little Kids of East Austin; Volunteers Join Injury Free Coalition & The Allstate Foundation to Build New Playground.

AUSTIN, Texas -- A community construction build will begin this weekend on a new playground for children in East Austin, thanks to The Allstate Foundation and Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R). Volunteers from across Central Texas will begin building the "Little Hands Playground" at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center. The Center is located at 2802 Webberville Rd. in Austin.

Funded by a $70,000 Allstate Foundation grant awarded to Injury Free Austin, the playground will consist of two play structures, complete with slides and overhead ladders, a new swing set, and a 10-station wellness course. The playground is open to the public.

According to the 2001 Children's Hospital of Austin Trauma Registry, falls in play areas and in homes are the third-leading cause of childhood injuries in Austin and Central Texas.

"Without adequate surfacing and safe play equipment, children can and do sustain very serious injuries from falls while playing outdoors," said Dr. Julie Sanchez, pediatric surgeon and principal investigator for Injury Free Austin. "Although we can't take all the risk out of life, when children are provided safe play equipment coupled with proper adult supervision, we can reduce the number of childhood injuries."

"Allstate is proud to contribute to the East Austin community and provide a safe place for children to play," said Stephanie Spillane, coordinator for the Allstate Foundation. "In addition to providing for the health and safety of our children, the Little Hands Playground will lay a firm foundation for safer, more vital community."

About the Allstate Foundation

The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by The Allstate Corporation. The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate provides insurance and financial investment products to more than 16 million households and has approximately 12,500 exclusive agents and financial specialists in the U.S. and Canada. Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote "safe and vital communities;" "tolerance, inclusion, and diversity;" and "economic empowerment." The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America's families achieve their American dream.

About the Injury Free Coalition For Kids

The Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) of Austin is a child injury prevention program led by Children's Hospital of Austin, and affiliated with the Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) -- one of the country's fastest growing and most effective injury prevention programs. Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) sites are independent, hospital-based, community-oriented programs, whose efforts are anchored in research, education, and advocacy, each driven by the Coalition's mission: preventing injury to children. The Injury Free Coalition for Kids(R) is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation located at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.