Innovative Campaign to Promote Financial Literacy Through
Personal Promises
NEW YORK, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
Allstate Foundation, Dress for Success and the producers of the
documentary To Catch a Dollar today launched an innovative
new financial literacy initiative that encourages Americans to take
concrete steps to improve their financial futures. The "My Dollar
My Life" campaign will provide Americans with the opportunity to
make specific promises to change their financial health and, for
the first 10,000 promises made, The Allstate Foundation will make a
$1 donation to Grameen America.
"We're honored to spearhead the 'My Dollar My Life' project,"
said Vicky Dinges, Vice President
for Public Social Responsibility at Allstate Insurance. "With each
promise, we grow closer to an America where people not only
understand the importance of planning for their financial future,
but where people are actively building a stable financial future
for themselves and their families. It's our hope that this campaign
will bring attention to financial empowerment for all
Americans."
To participate in "My Dollar My Life," users can visit
www.tocatchadollar.com/promise and facebook.com/tocatchadollar,
where they will have the ability to commit to one of a number of
promises to improve their financial future, from contributing to a
401K to passing up an unnecessary purchase to save money. With each
promise made, users will have the option of sharing their
commitment on their Facebook newsfeed and The Allstate Foundation
will donate $1 to the Grameen America
branch fund for the first 10,000 promises made.
"Dress for Success has long placed a priority on improving
financial literacy for women – especially those seeking to lift
themselves out of poverty," said Joi
Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide. "The 'My Dollar
My Life' initiative is a unique way to pursue this objective,
combining the power of storytelling with the reach of social media
to create real impact."
Audiences in hundreds of theaters across the country watched
To Catch a Dollar on March 31,
the story of the first Grameen America branch in the United States and how its borrowers are
using small loans to build businesses and improve their lives. The
Allstate Foundation and Dress for Success were supporters of the
film's launch event and are partners in its ongoing economic
empowerment campaign designed to educate, assist and activate a
growing community supporting microfinance services in the United States. Throughout the month of
April, in partnership with leading activist and advocacy
organizations, the To Catch a Dollar community is exploring
issues related to the film and relevant for America today: women in
poverty, the plight of the "unbanked" in America, savings and
financial literacy, and policy solutions. Visitors can learn more
at www.tocatchadollar.com.
"To Catch a Dollar tells an important story, but more
than that, it demonstrates to audiences that there are challenges
facing women in this country, but there are also solutions – so
long as we are willing to take the steps needed to reach them,"
said Gayle Ferraro, director and
producer of the film. "As a filmmaker, it's an honor to work with
organizations like the Allstate Foundation and Dress for Success to
extend the reach of my film to have real impact in people's lives.
We're excited to get started."
The "My Dollar My Life" campaign will begin today and continue
throughout the week on www.tocatchadollar.com.
About the Allstate Foundation
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 teen safe driving and
building financial independence for domestic violence survivors,
The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities;
tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For
more information, visit www.allstatefoundation.org.
About Dress for Success
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit
organization that promotes the economic independence of
disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of
support and the career development tools to help women thrive in
work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for
Success has expanded to more than 110 cities in the U.S.,
Australia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, the
Netherlands, New Zealand,
Poland, the UK and the West
Indies. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 600,000
women work towards self-sufficiency. Visit www.dressforsuccess.org
to learn more.
About Grameen America
Grameen America's mission is to provide affordable microloans to
financially empower low-income entrepreneurs. Since
January 2008, Grameen America, a
501(c)3, has loaned out over $16 million dollars in microloans to
over 5,500 members. Started in Jackson Heights, Queens,
Grameen America has quickly expanded to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and
Omaha, Nebraska. Our vision is to help create a world free of
poverty. We predict a market where any individual with a dream can
receive affordable financial products regardless of income,
previous credit history, education, or business experience.
We envision a world where burgeoning entrepreneurs are
empowered to lift themselves out of poverty through hard work and
determination to forge better lives for their families and future
generations (www.grameenamerica.org). Please contact
krosenberg@grameenamerica.org / (212) 735-4023.
About To Catch A Dollar
Immediately following its theatrical premiere on March 31, the producers of To Catch a Dollar
launched a text-to-give campaign to raise funds for a future
Grameen America branch. By texting 'AMERICA' to 85944, the public
will give a $10 donation to Grameen
America and in a unique online selection process, users are
simultaneously choosing from four candidate cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Los
Angeles and Washington, DC.
Using their Facebook accounts, voters will be able to vote once per
week for the life of the contest.
To Catch A Dollar is an independent documentary owned and funded
by the director Gayle Ferraro of
Aerial Productions. For more information go to
www.aerialproductions.com or contact
gayle@aerial-productions.com
Press Contact:
Kate Rosenbaum, 42West,
646.723.9696, Kate.Rosenbaum@42west.net
SOURCE Dress for Success Worldwide