Amscot Financial Contributes Mini-grants To 17 Non-profit Service Organizations

Tampa, FL – (April 5, 2011) –Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, has made mini-grants of $100 to $1,000 to 17 non-profit service organizations in its 15-county service area. The grants went to:

• For Each 1 Reach 1 Mentoring Program, Brooksville.  This organization was founded in October of 2001 by Lynette Mackey. It is dedicated to mentoring at-risk youths ranging in age from eight to 18. It offers a mentoring program and an outreach center. For more information, visit www.foreach1reach1.com.

• The Family Enrichment Center, Tampa.  The Family Enrichment Center, Inc. is a private, faith-based, not-for-profit, child-placement agency founded in 1992 by the College Hill Church of God in Christ. Through its foster care programs, adoption and kinship support, FEC has provided support for children in crises. For more information, visit www.fectampa.org. 

• Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Ruskin. The RCDF is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop and improve the community. Its latest effort is to convert a local firehouse to a community cultural center. This center will be open to everyone in the Hillsborough County and will offer programs and local events. For more information, visit http://ruskinfoundation.org.

• Emma’s Little Helpers Inc., Palmetto.  Emma’s Little Helpers was founded out of a need to help families with children undergoing medical treatment. Its purpose is to allow families to concentrate on their children rather than on the additional expenses such as gas, tolls, and household necessities. Currently, it offers food vouchers to families with children at children’s hospitals to offset additional expenses. To find out more, visit http://emmaslittlehelpers.org

• Family Network on Disabilities, Dunedin. This national network of organizations offers services in Pinellas County. It offers a Parental Information and Resource Center to provide assistance to parents, educators, community organizations and faith-based groups to increase parental involvement to increase student academic achievement.  The Transition, Independent Living, Employment and Supports program targets youth to young adults with disabilities. It helps individuals and their families to participate and meet with professionals. To learn more, visit http://fndfl.org.  

• A Kid’s Place, Brandon. A Kid’s Place is a licensed residential group care provider. This facility has 60 beds and provides a safe haven for children who have been removed from their current environment until a permanent home is found. What makes this facility unique is that it consists of five 3,200-square-foot homes located on five acres, each with a live-in house parent. This model provides stability for abused, neglected or abandoned children.  For more information, visit www.akidsplacetb.org.

• Town of Eatonville Community Redevelopment Agency, Eatonville. The Eatonville CRA is holding an Easter celebration for young people in the community. For more information, visit http://eatonvillecra.org.

• T.I.M. Works, Orlando. T.I.M. (Tomorrow’s Investments Matter) Works is a non-profit      organization designed to motivate professional women to become mentors to inner-city young women in Central Florida. For more information, visit www.apinkypromise.net.

• Bread of Life Fellowship, Winter Garden. This group strives to serve the community by feeding those in need. In 2010, it served more than 60,000 families in Central Florida. For more information, visit www.breadoflifefellowship.com.

• Metropolitan Charities Inc., Tampa. This organization offers an HIV-prevention program called Becoming a Responsible Teen. The BART program is focused on African American and Latino teens in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. For more information, visit www.metrocharities.org

• Orange County Library System, Orlando. Each summer, the Orange County Library System offers a summer reading program for kids and teens. For more information, visit http://www.ocls.info.

• Beverly Robinson Campbell Foundation, Orlando. This non-profit organization offers school age kids another option for the week of spring break. Its spring-break camp provides life-skills training and development for children and teens.

• Windsor Cove Tenant Association, Orlando.The association, along with local businesses, local government and residents, has created weekly events for families within the community. This promotes a safe healthy place for children to grow and become more acquainted with other neighbors.

• Higher Level Skills Camp, Apopka. Higher Level Skills Camp provides youth with educational and motivational seminars, which build self esteem, character and sportsmanship for future generations. Our events are organized through schools, community organizations, churches and local athletic leagues. For more information, visit www.higherlevelskillscamp.com.

• Computer Mentors Group, Tampa. This non-profit service organization is comprised of computer professionals and others interested in the future job opportunities of disadvantaged youths. Members dedicate their time and talent to encourage and guide young people toward a career in the computer industry. The group’s objective is to provide free, high quality, computer literacy training and technology access to underprivileged families all across America. More information:  www.computermentors.org.

• Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf, Clearwater. The mission of the Blossom School is to educate deaf and hard-of-hearing children, their hearing siblings and children of deaf adults and to prepare them for a lifetime of success in the community. For more information, please visit www.blossomschool.org.

• Driving Miss Darby Foundation, Inc., Tampa. This group is a nonprofit organization founded by Darby Steadman and her friends. Its mission is to support breast cancer research and patients enrolled in clinical trials. The foundation’s goal is to reduce the burdens that trial patients face during their treatment commitment by defraying the costs associated with travel, lodging and medical expenses. For more information, visit www.drivingmissdarby.org

About Amscot Financial
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Amscot Financial is a leading provider of income tax preparation and electronic filing services, refund anticipation loans, prepaid debit cards, check cashing services, cash advance services, bill payment services, money transfer services and money orders through its wholly owned division, Amscot International Money Order Company.  Amscot also offers the Amscot Card, a pre-paid debit card that allows owners to make purchases from any location that accepts MasterCard™. Amscot Financial currently operates 174 tax preparation offices and 174 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 2,000 people. Amscot Financial has been recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of Tampa Bay’s Best Places to Work for four consecutive years. For additional information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.amscot.com.