Amscot Financial Contributes Mini-Grants to 16 Non-Profit Service Organizations

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, has made mini-grants of $100 to $1,000 to 16 non-profit service organizations in its 15-county service area. The grants went to:

• Heartland Rural Health Network, Avon Park. This group serves the healthcare needs of Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties. Among its programs is the GoGirls club. GoGirls stands for "Giving Our Girls Inspiration and Resources for Lasting Self-Esteem." This innovative after-school program offers teenage girls education on the benefits of making informed healthy choices. For example, the program teaches girls the importance of avoiding risky behaviors, tobacco use, drugs and alcohol. For more information, please visit www.hrhn.org.

• Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida, Winter Park. This organization seeks to empower individuals with Down Syndrome in order to reach their full potential. For more information, please visit www.dsacf.org.

• Pregnancy Care Center, Tampa. The Pregnancy Care Center offers free pregnancy tests, educational classes, counseling and baby items such as clothing, diapers, food and strollers.  For more information, please visit www.pregnancycaretampa.com.

• College Reach-Out Program, Tampa. CROP is designed to increase the number of students who successfully complete postsecondary education. The program's primary objective is to strengthen the educational motivation and preparation of low-income and educationally disadvantaged students in grades 8 through 12, who otherwise would be unlikely to seek admission to a community college, state university or another post-secondary institution without special support and recruitment efforts. For more information, please visit http://www.ugs.usf.edu/crop/crop.htm.

• La Senda Antigua, Tampa. This Hispanic church is holding its First Annual Community Awareness Festival and shoe drive on Aug. 20. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness among families of the coming school year and to provide shoes and socks to economically disadvantaged children. For more information, please visit: www.lasendaantigua.org.

• Project LINK, Tampa. Project LINK is a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing community support for children and their families who live in Hillsborough County. Project LINK's mission is to help children become healthy, safe, educated, and contributing members of our society. Its Back-to-School program gives children needed school supplies. For more information, please visit http://www.project-link.org.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee, Bradenton. This organization offers after-school programs for at-risk youth. It is using donations to expand its offering of TUNEIn to Reading software for young at-risk students. The software is designed to increase literacy and reading comprehension. For more information, please visit http://www.bgcofmanatee.org.

• Florida's Vision Quest, Orange City. The mission of Florida Vision Quest is to ensure that uninsured or low-income children can see clearly enough to reach their maximum potential in school and in the workplace. It provides free vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams and free glasses on an as-needed basis. For more information, please visit http://flvq.org.

• Greater Palm River Point CDC, Tampa. Greater Palm River Point Community Development Corp. is a neighborhood-based, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of the Palm River community by investing in people and investing in the revitalization of the community. It is distributing school supplies at an education fair in August. For more information, please visit http://mypalmrivercdc.com.

• Junior Achievement, Pinellas Park. West Point Underwriters and American Traditions Insurance Co., both based in Pinellas County, are partnering to sponsor a bowl-a-thon to raise money for the Junior Achievement organization in Pinellas County. JA helps children learn about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

• Fountain of Life, Plant City. This Hispanic church will hold its first annual Community Mega-Expo on Sept. 26. The goal is to provide exposure for community service organizations working in east Hillsborough County. For more information, please visit www.fuentedevidaint.com.

• Holopaw Homeowners Association, Inc., St. Cloud. This rural service organization is organizing a book bag/school supply program for 200 children in east Osceola County.

• Children's Museum of the Highlands, Sebring. The museum's purpose is to provide a safe area for children to learn and explore. Through exhibits and ongoing programs, the museum provides ways for kids to enhance their curiosity, develop their imagination and learn about a variety of experiences. For more information, please visit http://www.childrensmuseumhighlands.com.

• Fair Oaks Neighborhood Crime Watch, Tampa. This neighborhood group is organizing a night of networking to promote crime prevention awareness.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, Sebring. This organization serves more than 150 at-risk children in Highlands County. Each child is matched with an adult mentor whose goal is to help the child improve academic performance and raise their self-esteem. For more information, please visit: www.bbbssun.org.

• Neglected & Delinquent Student Program, Tampa.  This program is operated by Hillsborough County Public Schools. It seeks to improve educational services for at-risk youth. Please visit http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/SSFPDIv/NeglectedDelinquent.asp for more information.

About Amscot Financial

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Amscot Financial is a leading provider of income tax preparation and electronic filing services, refund anticipation loans, prepaid debit cards, check cashing services, cash advance services, bill payment services, money transfer services and money orders through its wholly owned division, Amscot International Money Order Company.  Amscot also offers the Amscot Card, a pre-paid debit card that allows owners to make purchases from any location that accepts MasterCard™. Amscot Financial currently operates 174 tax preparation offices and 174 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 2,000 people. Amscot Financial has been recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of Tampa Bay's Best Places to Work for four consecutive years. For additional information, please visit the company's Web site at www.amscot.com.

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SOURCE Amscot Financial