LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.,
April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In
celebration of national Teach Children to Save (TCTS) month
in April, Astoria Federal Savings has launched its sixth annual
essay contest for children ages 5-12 asking them to complete the
statement: "If I save a lot today, in the future I
could..." Astoria Federal invites children from throughout
Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester to enter and share their dreams
for the future. Entry forms are available at any Astoria Federal
branch and online at www.astoriafederal.com.
In June, an essay contest winner will be selected from each
branch, and those winners will go on to compete for the Grand
Prize, as well as 1st and 2nd Prizes in the following age groups:
5-7, 8-10 and 11-12. The Grand Prize winner and their school
will each receive a new laptop computer, while 1st Prize
winners will receive $500 U.S.
Savings Bonds, and 2nd Prize winners will receive $250 U.S. Savings Bonds. In addition, every
child selected as a local winner from their community will receive
a $50 U.S. Savings Bond, a
Teach Children to Save Celebration Award Certificate, an
Education First medal and have their photo taken for
community recognition.
The TCTS effort continues as branch managers from throughout
Astoria Federal's network participate in Astoria Federal's School
Outreach program. Conducted in cooperation with the American
Bankers Association (ABA) Education Foundation, the program enables
local bankers to visit schools and after-school programs to deliver
two age-appropriate and interactive lessons on saving money. Both
provide practical instruction to help children make sound financial
decisions.
Since introducing the school outreach program, Astoria Federal
has received positive feedback from the teachers whose classes
participated. In 2010, nearly 2,000 children participated in the
program.
"We have had an even greater impact this year by expanding our
curriculum and strengthening partnerships with local schools," said
Astoria Federal Savings Senior Vice President and Director of
Marketing Brian Edwards. "Our
Teach Children to Save program enables us to nurture good
saving and spending habits in young people, skills that will stay
with them throughout their adult lives."
In addition to the Essay Contest and School Outreach program,
Astoria Federal Savings offered a week-long Teach Children to
Save celebration in its neighborhood branches from April 10 - 16, providing children and teens with
special offers for Student Savers accounts, raffles and giveaways,
as well as bank tours for school groups and scouting troops.
The Teach Children to Save Celebration, Essay Contest and
School Outreach program, are part of Astoria Federal's Education
First initiative, which was created to inspire lifelong
learning in the communities it serves. Education First also
encompasses the Bank at School program -- which is an on-site
school banking service for students -- and Student Savers accounts
specially tailored to young people. Other Education First
programs include Astoria Federal's annual Teen Photo Contest
and its Kids Tools for School collection drive to help
prepare children for school by providing new school supplies, the
Lights, Camera, Save! Video Contest that inspires teens to
think about savings, and The First Home Club™ to promote
homeownership for adults.
For additional information about Astoria Federal's Teach
Children to Save Essay Contest, School Outreach program, or
Bank-at-School program, please call 1-800-ASTORIA or visit www.astoriafederal.com.
Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of
$17.7 billion, is the holding company
for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association. Established in
1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $11.5
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 fourteen states, primarily along the East Coast,
and the District of Columbia, and
through correspondent relationships covering fifteen states and the
District of Columbia.
SOURCE Astoria Financial Corporation