Astoria Bank Kicks Off 17th Annual Kids Tools for School Drive

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Aug. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Astoria Bank, the second largest community bank headquartered in New York, announced today it will hold its 17^th annual Kids Tools for School drive, beginning on Aug. 1, 2016. The bank will collect school supplies and donations, at all branch locations, to purchase supplies for local families who struggle to afford these items as their children begin the new school year. 

Astoria Bank's Kids Tools for School drive collects approximately one ton of school supplies each year, including backpacks, notebooks, art supplies and other assorted materials, which are distributed to more than 60 local schools, shelters and human service organizations. As part of the program, Astoria Bank will match cash donations up to a total of $10,000. The bank is looking to build on the program's success and to further expand its reach to thousands of local students.

"Buying school supplies may be difficult for local families going through tough financial times. Through our supply drive, we are able to join with our generous customers and others in the community to ensure that thousands of children in need will have the basic supplies they need to be prepared for school this September," said Brian Edwards, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Retail Banking.

Since its inception, the program has expanded greatly and evolved, largely through meaningful partnerships including those with the Girl Scouts organizations of both Nassau and Suffolk Counties and Village Office Supply, a local office supply company that volunteers its services for transporting and warehousing donated supplies.

"This program is about much more than pencils, notebooks and crayons. It's about helping kids in need feel good about themselves," said Edwards. "Astoria Bank is proud of this annual program that truly makes a difference throughout the New York metropolitan area."

Members of the community are encouraged to visit their local Astoria Bank branch to drop off supplies and cash donations. For more information on branch locations or acceptable donations, please visit www.astoriabank.com/kidstools.

About Astoria Financial Corporation

Astoria Financial Corporation AF, with assets of $15.0 billion, is the holding company for Astoria Bank. Established in 1888, Astoria Bank, with deposits in New York totaling $9.0 billion, is the second largest thrift depository in New York and provides its retail and business customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 88 convenient banking branch locations, a business banking office in Manhattan, and multiple delivery channels, including its flexible mobile banking app. 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 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 and 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.

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SOURCE Astoria Bank