Astoria Federal Savings Launches 12th Annual 'Kids Tools for School' Collection Drive August 1-31, 2011

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Federal Savings' 12th annual Kids Tools for School collection drive will take place throughout 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 schools, shelters and human service organizations to distribute supplies to families in need. More families than ever are likely to find themselves in a situation of need this year — many for the first time — and may be unable to provide their children with supplies, which typically might cost $50-$75 per child. For families with a few children, that easily runs into hundreds of dollars. As a result, some children may arrive at school this September without supplies or with an empty backpack or have to erase last year's notebooks.

"Children who go to school without school supplies are at a tremendous social and academic disadvantage. They may be embarrassed and discouraged, right from the start. This program levels the playing field. It's just a question now of how many children we can support," said Astoria Federal Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards. "Together with our customers and the community, we provide backpacks and school supplies to children who need them the most."

Over the past 11 years, Astoria Federal has collected and distributed literally tons of school supplies to thousands of children, through the support of its partners in the community.  This year, they are: 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 Rail Road, 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 $17.1 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association.  Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $11.2 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 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