Amscot Financial will partner with local law enforcement to distribute 12,788 bike helmets in 16 Florida counties

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TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, will donate and distribute 12,788 free bike helmets on Saturday, Oct. 18 in 16 Florida counties where the company operates branch locations.

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. The locations include four branches in Miami-Dade County and two in Broward County, reflecting Amscot's recent expansion into South Florida.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida leads the nation in bicycle-related deaths. In 2011, the most recent year statistics are available, 125 bicycle-related deaths were recorded in Florida.¹ In one medical study, 79 percent of all patients for bicycling related injuries were between the ages of 5 and 14.² Moreover, studies have shown that bicycle helmets – when properly worn – can prevent 88 percent of serious brain injuries.³

This marks the 12th year that Amscot Financial has donated and distributed free bike helmets in counties where it does business.

"Bike helmets save lives. We know that. We have had customers in the past who have come in to tell us how a helmet was instrumental in preventing a serious injury to their children," said Ian MacKechnie, founder and CEO of Amscot Financial. "That is a big reason why we commit to this bike helmet program year after year. We want to ensure that children who live in our communities have access to a properly fitted helmet."

¹ Traffic Safety Facts, 2011 Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811743.pdf
² National Center for Biotechnology Information; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18936286 via Florida Cycling Law Blog; http://floridacyclinglaw.com/blog/archives/bicycle-helmet-lawsuits
³ Pediatrics, Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics; http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/108/4/1030.full.pdf+html

FREE Bike Helmets will be available at these Amscot branches:

• Brevard County
  • 1515 Palm Bay Rd. NE, Palm Bay
• Broward County
  • 8828 W. S.R. 84, Davie
  • 315 S Flamingo Rd, Pembroke Pines
• 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
• Lake County
  • 1100 W. North Boulevard, Leesburg
• Manatee County
  • 3611 1st Street East, Bradenton
  • 737 8th Avenue West, Palmetto
• Miami-Dade County
  • 19353 S. Dixie Highway, Cutler Bay
  • 885 W. 49th Street, Hialeah
  • 891 N.E. 8th Street, Homestead
  • 19807 N.W. 2nd Ave., Miami Gardens
• Orange County
  • 939 N. Semoran Blvd., Orlando
  • 2033 Americana Blvd., Orlando
• Osceola County
  • 1084 Cypress Parkway, Kissimmee (Poinciana)
  • 1120 W. Vine Street, Kissimmee
• Pasco County
  • 3416 U.S. Highway 19 North, Holiday
  • 7707 Gall Boulevard, Zephyrhills
• Pinellas County
  • 3739 49th Street N., St. Petersburg
  • 2551 34th St. S., St. Petersburg
  • 6596 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park
  • 1825 Gulf To Bay, Clearwater
• Polk County
  • 2121 8th St. N.W., Winter Haven
  • 1412 U.S. Highway 98 S., Lakeland
• Sarasota County
  • 8458 Lockwood Ridge Rd
• Volusia County
  • 979 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
  • 2177 Howland Blvd, Deltona

Founded in 1989, Amscot Financial employs more than 2,000 associates who work at more than 200 retail branches and at the company's corporate headquarters in Tampa. The company currently operates retail locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Marion, Citrus, Flagler, Brevard, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

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SOURCE Amscot Financial