LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.,
Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Astoria Federal Savings is launching its 11th
annual Kids Tools for School collection drive in
August to help prepare children for the
start of the new school year. The program ensures
that youngsters have the necessary notebooks,
folders, pens, pencils and other supplies needed to learn and
perform well in school.
The community is invited to participate by bringing
their donations of new school supplies or
cash (to purchase supplies) to any of Astoria
Federal Savings branches in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens and
Westchester during the month of
August. Astoria Federal is committed to its philosophy of
"Putting people first" in the neighborhoods it serves, and
will match up to $10,000 in cash
donations to purchase supplies in bulk.
Astoria Federal Savings teams up with various schools, shelters
and human service organizations to distribute supplies to families
in need. There is a concern that this year, more families than ever
will find themselves in a situation of need many for the
first time due to unemployment and other hardships. A
typical supply list for elementary school children can easily run
$50 - $75, and for families with a
few children, that easily runs into hundreds of dollars. Some
children may arrive at school this September without supplies or
with an empty backpack, have to erase last year's notebooks or
even share supplies with a sibling.
Kids Tools for School spares children
from experiencing the embarrassment and disadvantages of being
unprepared on the first day of school. "No child should have
to worry about having basic school supplies," said Astoria Federal
Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards. "We recognize that
purchasing school supplies can be out of reach for many families
but together with our customers and the community we can help."
Over the past 10 years, he noted, Astoria Federal has distributed
literally tons of school supplies to thousands of children to
address this problem. "It's really great to see the smiles on
the faces of these children as they receive their very own
backpacks filled with supplies!"
Astoria Federal is proud of the support it has received this
year from their many program partners including:
Anton Community Newspapers, BJM Promotions, Inc., Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts of
Nassau County, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, Herald Community Newspapers,
Long Island Parent Magazine, The Long Island Radio Group,
The Long Island Railroad, Order Sons of Italy in America – Mario Lanza Lodge #2491, Village Office Supply,
The Garden City News, The Queens Courier, and
Queens Chamber of Commerce.
The Kids Tools for School Collection Drive is part of
Astoria Federal's Education First initiative, which includes
the Student Savers and Bank-at-School programs, an
annual Teach Children to Save Essay Contest and school
outreach program, as well as The First Home
Club™ to promote homeownership. These
programs and others were all designed to encourage lifelong
learning in the communities Astoria Federal serves. For additional
information about Astoria Federal's Kids Tools for School
collection drive visit www.astoriafederal.com.
Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of
$19.7 billion, is the holding company
for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association. Established
in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $12.2
billion, is the largest thrift depository in New York and embraces its philosophy of
"Putting people first" by providing the customers and local
communities it serves with quality financial products and services
through 85 convenient banking office locations and multiple
delivery channels, including its enhanced website,
www.astoriafederal.com. Astoria Federal commands the fourth
largest deposit market share in the attractive Long Island market, which includes
Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties with a population exceeding
that of 38 individual states. Astoria Federal originates
mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in
New York, an extensive broker
network covering sixteen states, primarily along the East Coast,
and the District of Columbia, and
through correspondent relationships covering seventeen states and
the District of Columbia.
SOURCE Astoria Federal Savings
Copyright . 10 PR Newswire