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"The prize is a tribute to the hard working members of my Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapter as well, who worked with me on the activities. I hope to continue to convey safe driving habits for years to come."

Hayford rose above a pool of talented teen activists from across the country to earn a $10,000 cash award from The Allstate Foundation, which she is going to put into a college fund. She selected the Anoka High School SADD chapter to receive an additional $5,000 grant in her honor provided by The Allstate Foundation to continue youth safety efforts.

"Teens have the power to positively influence their peers and communities and ultimately curb teen driving deaths," said David Prendergast, assistant field vice president of Allstate's Midwest Region and father of a teenage driver. "We are so impressed by the meaningful advocacy work America's teens engaged in during 2007, but Hayford truly went above and beyond in working to raise awareness for this critical issue. We hope more teens will follow her lead."

At the 2007 National SADD Conference last summer, Hayford learned about Minnesota's high number of teen driving-related deaths. As the president of Anoka High School SADD, she returned from the conference determined to educate her school and community. Among her impressive efforts in 2007, she:

-- Worked with famed coach Tubby Smith to create three public service
announcements;
-- Co-wrote and co-produced a television program featuring experts'
advice on educating teen drivers;
-- Helped produce a school television segment encouraging teens to speak
up about unsafe driving.

In 2008, Hayford and the Anoka SADD team are planning to star in a DVD about teens and reckless driving that will be shown to health classes across Minnesota.

For more information on teen-led teen driving activism, please visit http://www.keepthedrive.com/ or http://www.actoutloud.org/.

Source: The Allstate Foundation