LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.,
Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria
Federal Savings held its 5th annual essay contest for children,
ages 5-12, asking the students to complete the statement: "If
I save a lot today, in the future I could..." The essay
contest was part of Astoria Federal Savings' fun and educational
Teach Children to Save Celebrations in April, in every
neighborhood branch throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester.
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(Photo:
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Of the more than 1,000 entries received, Astoria Federal Savings
judges selected seven top winners and one local winner from each
branch location. The grand prize winner was 12-year-old
Meagan Ochtera of East Rockaway, who received a new personal
computer. Adding to the excitement, the top winner's school was
also presented with a brand new computer.
In Meagan's essay, the Rhame Avenue School student writes that
with her savings she would get a college education to become a
teacher and open a school for children in Zimbabwe, where "all the kids would learn
about the arts by playing instruments and putting on plays while
they were learning."
Three first-place winners were chosen, and each received
a $500 Savings Bond. They are:
- 7-year-old Lauren Della of
Astoria, Queens
- 9-year-old Yasmin Madmoune of Queens Village, Queens
- 12-year-old Rachel
Mirzokandov of Forest
Hills, Queens
Three second-place winners were chosen, and each received
a $250 Savings Bond. They are:
- 7-year-old Taspia Rahman of Brooklyn
- 10-year-old Cami Berger of
East Rockaway, Nassau
- 11-year-old Alex Singer of
Roslyn Heights, Nassau
Every child who was selected as a local winner from their
community won a $50 U.S. Savings
Bond, a Teach Children to Save Celebration Award Certificate
and an Education First teddy bear and medal. All of
the winners were invited to their local Astoria Federal Savings
branches to receive their awards.
Most of the young writers said they wished to make the world a
better place. They would use their saved money for college and to
help their families financially, save the environment, stamp out
hunger and disease, and help others less fortunate. In general,
they all recognized that the first step to becoming successful is
to work hard in school and get a good education.
"We had great participation this year, and the essay contest
tied in nicely with our newly developed School Outreach Program.
Our managers visited local elementary schools to teach children
about making smart financial choices, even at a young age," said
Astoria Federal Savings Senior Vice President and Director of
Marketing Brian Edwards. "This
contest is a great way to get children to think about their goals
for the future and what it will take to get there."
Astoria Federal Savings' Education First initiatives
include the Student Savers and Bank-at-School
programs, as well as the Kids Tools for School Collection
Drive to help children be prepared on the first day of school by
providing them with new school supplies, and The First Home
Club™ to promote homeownership. These programs and
others were all designed to encourage lifelong learning. For
additional information about Astoria Federal Savings' Education
First financial literacy programs, please call
1-800-ASTORIA.
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