$40,000 Allstate Insurance Company Grant Funds Enhanced Auto Body Repair Training

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - July 31, 2003 - Seven collision repair training schools around the country are receiving the latest computer based training software, thanks to a $40,000 Allstate Insurance Company grant to the I-CAR Education Foundation. The Allstate donation is funding the purchase and distribution of I-CAR’s Enhanced Delivery CD-ROM based curriculum for instructors and students. “I-CAR’s Enhanced Delivery curriculum is an exciting new series of modularized training programs that combine instructor-led training with state-of-the-art CD ROM technology,” said Ron Ray, Executive Director of The I-CAR Education Foundation.

“The Education Foundation thanks Allstate Insurance Company for this generous grant, “ Ray said.

The Student CD-ROM contains interactive exercises, videos, and print materials that can be used to learn about different repair procedures. The Instructor CD-ROM contains interactive exercises, videos, and print materials that can be used when preparing to teach a program.

The first of the seven schools is in Exton, Pennsylvania, outside Philadelphia. The Automotive Training Center (ATC) was first established as an automotive training facility in 1917. Their collision/refinish training program is ASE Master Certified, and is 1,920 hours in length.

The process is now underway to select six additional auto body repair training schools around the country. Schools are being selected based on their proximity to Sterling Autobody Centers locations. Sterling Autobody Centers, Inc. is a chain of state-of–the–art repair facilities owned by Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings.

In addition to getting an enhanced classroom experience, students at the seven schools will have the opportunity to further their education by working with specially trained mentors during summer internships with nearby Sterling facilities.

“Internships at Sterling Autobody Centers will give these students real world experience with their hands on the latest auto body repair technology,” said Paul Huber, Director of Allstate Auto Field Support Services. “At Allstate, we work with thousands of repair facilities across the country. We want to promote advanced training to help guarantee the highest quality repairs for our customers.”

The I-CAR Education Foundation was created in 1991 to solve a problem. The collision repair industry was facing a critical shortage of quality entry-level employees. The career and technical education system was not turning out enough quality graduates, and the industry's poor image was hampering its ability to attract quality students. The foundation is a not-for profit organization that is working to attract quality entry-level candidates and assist in preparing them for careers in the collision industry. The Foundation provides the most advanced curriculum, instructor training research and related services to career and technical education.

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®” slogan, Allstate provides insurance products to more than 16 million households and has approximately 12,300 exclusive agents and financial specialists in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services through Allstate agents, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. EncompassSM and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. Allstate Financial Group includes the businesses that provide life and supplemental insurance, retirement, banking and investment products through distribution channels that include Allstate agents, independent agents, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

The I-CAR Education Foundation,founded in 1991,is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of entry-level employees for the collision industry.