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

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Federal Savings, along with Girl Scouts from Nassau and Suffolk counties recently distributed school supplies to more than 60 local school districts, shelters and human service organizations to help disadvantaged children prepare for the upcoming school year.  The distribution was the culmination of Astoria Federal Savings' 13th annual Kids Tools for School collection drive, which took place throughout the month of August at each of its 85 branches in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, and Westchester counties.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120912/NY73184 )

"The 2012 Kids Tools for School program was once again a great success," said Astoria Federal Savings Executive Vice President Brian Edwards.  "We're thankful for the overwhelming support we received from everyone who donated school supplies for children in need.  We consider ourselves part of the community, and we are extremely proud to sponsor programs like this that strive to help local families."

Astoria Federal Savings also matched the $10,000 it received in cash donations to purchase additional supplies, which were also distributed to local children for this school year. 

To help pack and distribute the school supplies, Girl Scouts from Nassau and Suffolk counties came to the Village Office Supply warehouse in Farmingdale, NY on August 30, for Distribution Day. Astoria Federal Savings executives presented the Girl Scouts with a special Kids Tools for School patch to show their appreciation for the scouts' assistance.  In addition, teens from the Bethesda Eagles Pathfinder Club of Amityville provided uplifting music throughout the morning.

"We thank the Girl Scouts, the Astoria Federal Savings staff, donors and volunteers for helping organize and for participating in this year's Distribution Day, where they truly made a difference," continued Edwards.

Over the past 13 years, Astoria Federal Savings has collected and distributed more than 10 tons of backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils and other school supplies to local students who would otherwise start the school year unprepared.

The Kids Tools for School collection drive is part of Astoria Federal's Education First initiative, which includes special savings accounts for students, an annual Teach Children to Save Essay Contest and school outreach programs to promote financial literacy, as well as The First Home Club™  to promote homeownership. These programs and others were all designed to encourage lifelong learning in the communities Astoria Federal serves.

About Astoria Federal Savings

Astoria Financial Corporation, with assets of $17.6 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association.  Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $10.7 billion, is the largest thrift depository in New York and embraces its philosophy of "Putting people first" by providing the customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 85 convenient banking office locations and multiple delivery channels, including its enhanced website, www.astoriafederal.com.  Astoria Federal commands the fourth largest 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 Federal originates mortgage loans through its banking and loan production offices in New York, an extensive broker network covering fourteen states, primarily along the East Coast, and the District of Columbia, and through correspondent relationships covering fifteen states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE Astoria Federal Savings