Amscot Financial Partners with Law Enforcement to Distribute 7,200 Bike Helmets in 13 Central Florida Counties

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, will donate and distribute 7,200 free bike helmets on Oct. 23 in 13 Florida counties where the company operates branch locations.

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The helmets are available in three sizes: small, medium and large and are being targeted towards children in pre-school and elementary school. They will be distributed from 9 a.m. to noon by Amscot Financial managers and by law enforcement personnel in the parking lots of the locations listed below.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida leads the nation in bicycle-related deaths. In 2008, the most recent year statistics are available, 125 bicycle-related deaths were recorded in Florida. National records indicate that more than 91 percent of all bicyclists killed are not wearing helmets. Moreover, helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85 percent.

This marks the eighth year that Amscot Financial has donated and distributed free bike helmets in counties where it does business.

"We feel strongly that every child who rides a bike ought to have a helmet," said Ian MacKechnie, founder and CEO of Amscot Financial. "Wearing a properly fitted bike helmet is a very simple, common sense thing to do. We hope that kids take their helmets home and wear them every single time they get on their bike."

For more information on how to obtain helmets, please contact Montrae Waiters, governmental affairs specialist for Amscot at (813) 637-6277.

Founded in 1989, Amscot Financial employs more than 2,500 associates who work at the company's 174 retail branches and at the company's corporate headquarters in Tampa. The company currently operates retail locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia and Brevard counties.

Amscot Financial is The Money Superstore™, offering an array of convenience-oriented financial services, including the cashing of personal checks, out-of-state checks and government checks; cash advances; Western Union wire transfers, notary services, pre-paid debit cards, free money orders income tax preparation. Amscot Financial also allows customers to make bill payments to more than 200 different utilities, municipal governments, cable and telephone companies.

Locations for the bike helmet giveaway include the following Amscot branches:

• Brevard County
  • 1515 Palm Bay Rd. NE, Palm Bay
• Hardee County
  • 1530 U.S. Highway 17 North, Wauchula
• Hernando County
  • 11148 Springhill Drive, Spring Hill
• Highlands County
  • 1203 U.S. Highway 27 North, Sebring
• Hillsborough County
  • 105 W Alexander Street, Plant City,
  • 7731 Palm  River Road, Tampa
  • 8231 W. Hillsborough, Tampa
  • 2301 Fowler Ave., Tampa
• Manatee County
  • 3611 1st Street East, Bradenton
  • 737 8th Avenue West, Palmetto
• Orange County
  • 939 N. Semoran Blvd., Orlando
  • 2033 Americana Blvd., Orlando
• Osceola County
  • 1021 Buenaventura Blvd., Kissimmee
  • 1120 W. Vine Street, Kissimmee
• Pasco County
  • 3416 U.S. Highway 19 North, Holiday
  • 7707 Gall Boulevard, Zephyrhills
• Pinellas County
  • 6800 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
  • 2551 34th St. S., St. Petersburg
  • 6596 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park
  • 1825 Gulf To Bay, Clearwater
• Polk County
  • 111 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven
  • 614 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland
• Sarasota County
  • 4206 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota
• Volusia County
  • 979 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
  • 2177 Howland Blvd, Deltona

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 2,500 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.amscotfinancial.com.

SOURCE Amscot Financial