Astoria Federal Savings Launches 14th Annual Kids Tools for School Collection Drive August 1-31, 2013

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., July 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Federal Savings' 14th 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 provides local students whose families struggle to afford school supplies with the much-needed educational tools to excel and perform well in the classroom. 

Starting August 1^st, the community is invited to participate by bringing their donations of new school supplies or cash to purchase supplies to any one of Astoria Federal Savings' 85 branches in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester.  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 additional supplies to be distributed to local children without school supplies for this upcoming school year.

Astoria Federal Savings will once again team up with local schools, shelters and human service organizations to distribute supplies to children in need. Many local families are in difficult financial situations and may be unable to provide their children with school supplies and backpacks, which typically cost as much as $100 per child.  As a result, some children may arrive at school this September without supplies or are forced to recycle last year's.

"We recognize that children who go to school without the necessary school supplies are at a tremendous disadvantage, both academically and socially. It's a prevalent problem but we are always very impressed by the incredible support our annual Tools for School program receives from individuals, businesses and local civic organizations who contribute to our supply drive each year," said Astoria Federal Savings Executive Vice President Brian Edwards.  "It's a great feeling to help a child start the year with fresh new supplies and a bright outlook."

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^TMto 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.

About Astoria Financial Corporation

Astoria Financial Corporation (NYSE: AF), with assets of $16.1 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association.  Established in 1888, Astoria Federal, with deposits in New York totaling $10.2 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 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 through correspondent relationships covering nine states and the District of Columbia.  Astoria Federal also originates multi-family and commercial real estate loans, primarily on rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment buildings, located in New York City and the metropolitan area.

SOURCE Astoria Financial Corporation