Progressive® Insurance and TakePart.com Highlight Sports Safety in High School Football

LOS ANGELES (August 14, 2014) – Progressive® Insurance, as part of its Apron Project that celebrates unsung people and companies making progress in unexpected ways, has teamed up with TakePart.com, the digital magazine and social action platform of Participant Media, for a new campaign around the important issue of high school football safety.

“Progress Is: Playing Smart” gives 10 high schools the opportunity to outfit their football teams with Shockbox*, a helmet sensor technology that, according to the manufacturer, is designed to help coaches and parents better diagnose potential concussions.

“Keeping athletes safe so they can enjoy sports is our goal,” said Danny Crossman, CEO of Impakt Protective Inc., the makers of Shockbox. “We’re using technology to help parents and coaches make informed decisions about the impact of a tackle or block on the field.”

Starting today through September 19, anyone can nominate their favorite high school football team at http://www.takepart.com/playingsmart to be one of 10 teams selected to win a starter set of Shockbox sensors. Two winning schools will be announced each week starting August 25. In addition, TakePart will select one of the 10 schools to be featured in a celebratory video hosted by former All American and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver, J.J. Stokes on TakePart.com.

“TakePart brings a unique ability to inspire and educate consumers about important issues and get them to participate in solutions,” said Gargi Patel, marketing director at Progressive. “They’ll help us find the right schools to award Shockbox, a product that truly embodies what The Apron Project is all about.”

Shockbox helmet sensors bring technology onto the field and, according to Shockbox, offer the first ever consumer device intended to detect hits that are forceful enough to result in a concussion. The sensor, placed inside a player’s helmet, provides real-time data on the force of the impact that Shockbox believes can help team officials better diagnose concussions and act accordingly.

“TakePart is pleased to work with Progressive to launch this program in order to support an excellent competition that will inform and support young athletes and their fans,” said Karina Kogan, EVP Digital for TakePart.com.

In addition to nominating a high school football team, visitors to the “Progress Is: Playing Smart” site can see the ongoing winners, and get the latest updates on the competition.

For more information and to enter please visit: http://www.takepart.com/playingsmart.

*Neither Progressive, TakePart, or any of their parent or affiliated companies have tested Impakt Protective’s Shockbox^®technology or validated the manufacturer’s claims. As such, they do not endorse, make no representations or warranties and assume no liability whatsoever concerning the Shockbox^® helmet sensor, its manufacture, installation, use, efficacy, or function.

About Progressive

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach it whenever, wherever and however it’s most convenient–online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, on a mobile device or in-person with a local agent. Progressive also offers insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, as well as home insurance through select carriers. It’s the fourth largest auto insurer in the country, the largest seller of motorcycle insurance and a leader in commercial auto insurance. Progressive also offers car insurance online in Australia at http://www.progressiveonline.com.au. Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price(R), Snapshot(R), and Service Centers. The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at (NYSE:PGR).

About TakePart

Participant Media’s TakePart is a digital news and lifestyle magazine and social action platform for the conscious consumer. TakePart’s mission is to inspire and accelerate social change by connecting compelling content to action, and its proprietary “TakePart Action Platform” (TAP) is a widget that allows the site to embed petitions, pledges, and other actions within relevant editorial content. TAP also powers engagement for Participant Media films and for Participant’s television network Pivot, available in approximately 45 million homes in the US. Participant is the global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing, and digital content that inspires social change. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network, and its television network, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.