Astoria Bank and Long Island Girl Scouts Distribute School Supplies to Local Children

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Oct 07, 2014, 03:58 ET

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Oct. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Bank recently distributed over a ton of school supplies to over 60 social service organizations and school districts on Long Island and in New York City, in order to help children from families in need begin the school year with new materials. This event was the culmination of Astoria's 15^th annual Kids Tools for School collection drive, which took place throughout the month of August at the bank's branches throughout the greater New York metropolitan area.

Pictured at Astoria Bank's Kids Tools for School distribution day (left to right): Assistant Community Relations Manager at Astoria Bank Rebecca Martinez, Girl Scout Madeleine, Village Office Supply General Manager Bill Entwistle, Astoria Bank Levittown Branch Manager Melissa Kaiser, Regional Director EAC Network Rachel Lugo, Executive Vice President/Owner at Village Office Supply Jim Entwistle, Clerical Assistant at EAC Network Tiffany McKellop, and Director of Marketing Communications, Astoria Bank, Irene Ferrall.
(PRNewsFoto/Astoria Bank) — Pictured at Astoria Bank's Kids Tools for School distribution day (left to right): Assistant Community Relations Manager at Astoria Bank Rebecca Martinez, Girl Scout Madeleine, Village Office Supply General Manager Bill Entwistle, Astoria Bank Levittown Branch Manager Melissa Kaiser, Regional Director EAC Network Rachel Lugo, Executive Vice President/Owner at Village Office Supply Jim Entwistle, Clerical Assistant at EAC Network Tiffany McKellop, and Director of Marketing Communications, Astoria Bank, Irene Ferrall. (PRNewsFoto/Astoria Bank)

"There are many families in the area that can't afford to purchase new school supplies, putting their children at a disadvantage," said Astoria Bank Executive Vice President Brian Edwards. "Our goal is to help children be prepared for school and for them to be excited and confident as they start the school year."

Astoria team members were assisted by Girl Scouts from Nassau and Suffolk counties at Distribution Day, where they packed and distributed the school supplies at the Village Office Supply warehouse in Farmingdale, NY on August 28. Astoria representatives presented the Girl Scouts with a special Kids Tools for School patch to show their appreciation for the Scouts' assistance.

"This year's event was incredibly successful," Edwards said. "With the support of our customers and community partners, we were able to increase our collections by more than 30% compared to last year. With these supplies, we can help make a difference in the lives of thousands of local children by giving them the tools they need to succeed in the classroom."

In addition to the supply and cash donations the bank received over the course of the drive, Astoria matched $10,000 to purchase additional supplies for distribution. The Kids Tools for School collection drive is part of Astoria's Education First initiative, which includes special student savings accounts and local school outreach programs to promote financial literacy.

About Astoria Financial Corporation

Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $15.7 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Bank. Established in 1888, Astoria Bank, with deposits in New York totaling $9.7 billion, is the second largest thrift depository in New York and provides the customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 86 convenient banking branch locations, one business banking office, and multiple delivery channels, including its enhanced website, www.astoriabank.com. Astoria Bank commands a significant 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 Bank originates residential mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, a broker network in four states, primarily along the East Coast, and correspondent relationships covering 13 states and the District of Columbia and originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans, primarily on rent-controlled and rent-stabilized apartment buildings, located in New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area.