“The dramatic improvement in safety equipment in today’s cars has helped lower the fatality rate, but driver error and distracted driving still account for a significant number of deaths in Texas and across the nation,” said Saginaw, Texas-based State Farm agent Linda Allen.

“Learning how to drive defensively is the key to lowering fatalities, particularly among Texas teenagers who have less driving experience and who can be more prone to answer a cell phone or check a text message while driving,” said Allen.

For Americans under the age of 25, the number one cause of death is traffic accident.

“State Farm has created some excellent defensive driving materials,” said Allen. “We would like to help make sure that anyone interesting can get them from our office,” said Allen.

Linda Allen is also offering a defensive driving course at her office from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, April 24, 2010.  The course is open to the public, includes lunch, and earns State Farm policyholders a 10% discount on liability, collision, and personal injury coverage.

Those interested in getting free materials on defensive driving or attending the course can call (817) 236-7200, e-mail a request to Linda@lindainsuresme.com, or mail a request to Allen’s State Farm office.

“Our defensive driving initiative is part of our effort to serve the community and to promote National Defensive Driving Month in April,” Allen said.

Allen’s focus on serving others led her to write “Out with Customer Service & In with People Service,” a book about applying the principles of excellent service to all aspects of life.

About the Linda Allen Agency:
The Linda Allen Agency is located at 8101 Boat Club Road, Suite 240 in Fort Worth (Saginaw/Eagle Mountain Lake), TX 76179. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Call State Farm agent Linda Allen and her team at (817) 236-7200, or visit them on the Web at http://www.LindaInsuresMe.com.

About State Farm:
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve more than 78 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

Fort Worth State Farm Insurance Agent Linda Allen decided to be one of those good neighbors and help collect food and clothing for the Haitian survivors. She knew that Texans were generous people, but has been stunned by the immensity of the response. “We couldn’t believe the number of contributions that came from our clients and friends in Saginaw. We got cash donations which weren’t requested, and over 3000 pieces of clothing. All of it will benefit those in need, with Ends of Earth Ministries’ help.”

Fort Worth-based charity Ends of the Earth Ministries, founded by Larry and Susan Buck, provides disaster relief and recovery for people around the world.  “We’re grateful to everyone in Saginaw and throughout Fort Worth who has contributed food or clothing,” said Larry Buck. “We will make sure all the donations reach those that need them.”

Allen chose to partner with Ends of the Earth Ministries because 100 percent of donations actually reach the people who need them. The entire EOE staff donates their time, and travel expenses are underwritten outside of the disaster relief budgets.

People dropped off donations at Allen’s agency at 8101 Boat Club Road, Suite 240 in Saginaw, and she and her staff helped sort through them and get them to Ends of the Earth. They received so many pieces of clothing that they had to weigh them to get an estimate of how much was donated.

As the author of the book, “Out with Customer Service & In with People Service,” Linda Allen is dedicated to serving others, and has plans to reach out to the community even more in 2010. “I’m so proud of the people of Texas, and I’m looking forward to partnering with them as we help others in need, both here at home and elsewhere.”

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About State Farm:
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve more than 78 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

About the Linda Allen Agency:
The Linda Allen Agency (http://www.lindainsuresme.com) is located at 8101 Boat Club Road, Suite 240 in Fort Worth (Saginaw/Eagle Mountain Lake), TX 76179. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Call State Farm agent Linda Allen and her team at (817) 236-7200, or visit them on the Web at http://www.LindaInsuresMe.com.

About Ends of Earth Ministries:
Ends of the Earth Ministries (http://www.EOEminstries.org) is a Christian ministry that provides medical and disaster relief throughout the world. Located at 6801 Old Randol Mill Road, Fort Worth, TX, it is a 501(c)(3) organization founded and operated by Larry and Susan Buck. Reach them at (817) 366-3060 or info@eoeminstries.com.

Linda Allen Opens State Farm Insurance Office
in Ft Worth, TX at 8101 Boat Club Road

February 16, 2010 – Fort Worth, TX – Fort Worth entrepreneur Linda Allen has opened a new State Farm insurance agency in Saginaw, TX. The new office will serve many of the clients of retiring Fort Worth insurance agent Melissa Stewart.

“Saginaw State Farm agent Melissa Stewart has been a star performer for our company for many years, so she leaves some big shoes to fill,” said Allen. “I’m eager to continue to provide the kind of superb service that she did to State Farm customers in Saginaw, Eagle Mountain Lake and beyond,” said Allen.

Linda Allen is a graduate of Emory and Henry College and worked for NBC as a television reporter and news anchor before joining State Farm in 1989. During her 20-year tenure, she has held leadership positions with State Farm in claims, training, human resources, financial planning and forecasting, and communications.

Ms. Allen is also the author of “Out with Customer Service & In with People Service” and frequently speaks to groups about how to give excellent service to clients, peers, friends, and family members.

Melissa Stewart’s son Scott is a State Farm agent in Saginaw, and her daughter Jenny Lynch is a State Farm agent in Blue Mound, Texas.

The Linda Allen Agency is located at 8101 Boat Club Road, Suite 240 in Fort Worth, TX 76179. The office is open on weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm and on Saturday 9 am to noon.  Call State Farm agent Linda Allen and her team at (817) 236-7200, or visit them on the web at http://www.LindaInsuresMe.com.

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Cutline: Author and State Farm agency owner Linda Allen has been with State Farm for 20 years.