Amscot Financial contributes mini-grants to 20 non-profit service groups

TAMPA, Fla., May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, recently gave mini-grants to 20 non-profit service organizations in the Florida communities it serves. Mini-grants went to:

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• James Elementary School, Tampa. On May 3, this elementary school in east Tampa hosted its annual Multicultural Festival. Students, parents and faculty were given the opportunity to learn about other countries and other cultures. The event included a parade, potluck dinner and musical performances. 
• Generation Debt Free, Inc., Davie. Generation Debt Free, Inc. is dedicated to teaching young adults about the importance of budgeting, understanding spending habits and using credit cards. Most parents of teenagers – particularly high school graduates on their way to living independently – want to talk to their children about these important money management topics, but are either not sure how to bring up the topic or face resistance from their children.  Generation Debt Free, Inc. was created for the purpose of reaching young adults and educating them about the not-so-comfortable-to-talk-to-my-parents-about life issues. For more information, please visit: http://www.mydebtfreegeneration.com.
• The Armed Forces Military Museum, Largo. The museum encourages patriotism and military history awareness among local children through its Duffle Bag Awareness Program. The duffle bags are each filled with a military item and a description of its significance. Duffle Bags are provided to teachers free of charge to enhance curriculum. For more information, please visit: www.armedforcesmuseum.com.
• YMCA of the Suncoast, Spring Hill. The Hernando County chapter of the YMCA offers an Elementary Water Safety program that gives kindergarten students the opportunity to experience hands-on ways to maintain their safety and respond to water emergencies. For more information, please visit: www.ymcasuncoast.org.
• Dress for Success, Tampa. The mission of Dress for Success Tampa is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. The group encourages women to embrace fitness as a life style. For more information, please visit: www.dressforsuccess.org/tampabay.
• The Rope Center, Hudson. Founder Jim Campbell and his wife were inspired to create a place to give people a leg up and not a hand out. They provide a transitional living center to help homeless people get back on their feet.  The center offers resources that help clients find jobs, food stamps, clothes and other aid. For more information, visit the website www.theropecenter.com.
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, St. Petersburg. JDRF's research mission is to discover, develop and deliver advances that cure, better treat and prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D). As the global leader in the fight against T1D, JDRF's research programs are comprehensive -- addressing the hopes and dreams of every person with T1D for the best quality of life and a cure for this disease. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.org.
• Lake Wales Family YMCA, Lake Wales. The Lake Wales Family YMCA strengthens the foundations of our community through well-being and fitness, family time, swim, sports and play, and other activities for people of all ages, incomes and abilities. The Y helps build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all with the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. With a commitment to nurturing youth development, promoting healthy living, and fostering a sense of social responsibility, the Y ensures that every individual has access to the essentials needed to learn, grow and thrive. For more information, please visit: www.lakewalesymca.org.
• The Children's Home, Tampa. The Residential Treatment Center at The Children's Home served 117 young people in 2011-2012. The children who are served are all foster children in the child welfare system. Many have serious mental health needs as a result of trauma and abuse. The agency seeks resources to pay for shoes and clothes for each child who arrives on campus. The average length of stay at the facility is  about seven months. Many children arrive with little more than a single grocery bag of possessions. For more information, please visit: www.childrenshome.org.
• Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School, Hialeah. The school's band director is seeking donations for the purchase of band uniforms. For more information, please visit: http://hml.dadeschools.net.
• Autism Speaks, Holiday. The Tampa Bay branch of the national Autism Speaks organization held the 2013 Walk for Autism on  April 20, 2013. Autism Speaks has grown into the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. For more information, please visit: www.autismspeaks.org.
• Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Immokalee. RCMA is seeking donations for physical education equipment at RCMA Leadership Academy, a charter middle school tailored to at-risk children of seasonal and migrant farmworkers. This unique school provides meaningful and intensive educational experiences for low-income children. For more information, please visit: www.rcma.org.
• Creative Clay, St. Petersburg. Creative Clay will host its 5th annual Summer Arts Camp, titled "Arts Around the World," for eight weeks this summer. The camp includes children and those with disabilities in a setting where they learn about the art of various countries. The camp is taught by a certified Pinellas County art teacher. For more information, please visit: www.creativeclay.org.
• Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Tampa. On May 31 and June 1, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation will host the 12th annual Johnny Ferlita Memorial Fishing Tournament. The organization seeks donations to enable children battling cancer to participate as anglers in the tournament. For more information, please visit: www.pcfusa.org.
• Cypress Elementary School, New Port Richey. The school operates a PAWS for Reading campaign and rewards students who keep a reading log and achieve certain milestones. One reward is a free book to every student who achieves 2,000 minutes. The school seeks community donations to continue purchasing books as a reward. For more information, please visit: http://ces.pasco.k12.fl.us.
• Science and Technology Innovation Center, St. Petersburg. The STEIC offers an array of comprehensive programs for K-12 students in Pinellas County relating to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs. For more information, please visit: www.sciencecenterofpinellas.org.
• Kiwanis Club of Kendall/South Dade, Miami. Kiwanians are volunteers changing the world through service to children and communities. Kiwanis members help shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged, and care for the sick. The Kendall chapter is planning a summer picnic for veterans and their families.  For more information, please visit www.kiwaniskendallsd.com.  
• 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.
• Kissimmee Main Street Program, Inc., Kissimmee. This organization works to preserve and enhance historic downtown Kissimmee for the enrichment of present and future generations.  For more information, please visit: www.kissimmeemainstreet.com.
• Central Florida YMCA, Orlando. The organization is seeking community donations to help send Orange County students to the annual YMCA Christian Values Conference in Blue Ridge, N.C.  For more information, please visit: http://ymcacentralflorida.com.

About Amscot Financial
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Amscot Financial is a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, including check cashing, bill payment, money transfers, cash advances 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 enables owners to make purchases from any location that accepts MasterCard™. Amscot Financial currently operates more than 200 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 2,000 employees. Amscot Financial has been recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of Tampa Bay's Best Places to Work for five years. For additional information, please visit the company's website at www.amscot.com.

SOURCE Amscot Financial