Astoria Federal Savings Launches 11th Annual Kids Tools for School Collection Drive August 1-31, 2010

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Astoria Federal Savings is launching its 11th annual Kids Tools for School collection drive in August to help prepare children for the start of the new school year. The program ensures that youngsters have the necessary notebooks, folders, pens, pencils and other supplies needed to learn and perform well in school. 

The community is invited to participate by bringing their donations of new school supplies or cash (to purchase supplies) to any of Astoria Federal Savings branches in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester during the month of August. Astoria Federal is committed to its philosophy of "Putting people first" in the neighborhoods it serves, and will match up to $10,000 in cash donations to purchase supplies in bulk.

Astoria Federal Savings teams up with various schools, shelters and human service organizations to distribute supplies to families in need. There is a concern that this year, more families than ever will find themselves in a situation of need  many for the first time  due to unemployment and other hardships. A typical supply list for elementary school children can easily run $50 - $75, and for families with a few children, that easily runs into hundreds of dollars. Some children may arrive at school this September without supplies or with an empty backpack, have to erase last year's notebooks or even share supplies with a sibling.

Kids Tools for School spares children from experiencing the embarrassment and disadvantages of being unprepared on the first day of school. "No child should have to worry about having basic school supplies," said Astoria Federal Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards. "We recognize that purchasing school supplies can be out of reach for many families but together with our customers and the community we can help." Over the past 10 years, he noted, Astoria Federal has distributed literally tons of school supplies to thousands of children to address this problem.  "It's really great to see the smiles on the faces of these children as they receive their very own backpacks filled with supplies!"

Astoria Federal is proud of the support it has received this year from their many program partners including: Anton Community Newspapers, BJM Promotions, Inc., Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts of Nassau County,  Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, Herald Community Newspapers, Long Island Parent Magazine, The Long Island Radio Group, The Long Island Railroad, Order Sons of Italy in America – Mario Lanza Lodge #2491, Village Office Supply, The Garden City News,  The Queens Courier, and Queens Chamber of Commerce.

The Kids Tools for School Collection Drive is part of Astoria Federal's Education First initiative, which includes the Student Savers and Bank-at-School programs, an annual Teach Children to Save Essay Contest and school outreach program, 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. For additional information about Astoria Federal's Kids Tools for School collection drive visit www.astoriafederal.com.

Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $19.7 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association.  Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $12.2 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 sixteen states, primarily along the East Coast, and the District of Columbia, and through correspondent relationships covering seventeen states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE Astoria Federal Savings