Sarasota, FL - Amscot Financial, as part of their Kids First Program, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Congresswoman Katherine Harris will be promoting bicycle safety and distributing free bike helmets to children in the community on Saturday, September 11, 2004 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Clubs, 1790 21st Street in Sarasota. As part of a heightened awareness on traffic safety, especially among our children, this effort will ensure that Sarasota's youngest citizens are safe while traveling on roadways.

Statistics show one of the leading causes of death among children is head injuries sustained from bicycle accidents and in the state of Florida more than 100 bicycle deaths occur each year. This is why Amscot Financial annually purchases and distributes thousands of bicycle helmets throughout the community. Simply ensuring that children wear industry standard bicycle helmets while riding their bikes can prevent the most serious and life threatening of these types of injuries.

More effort needs to be undertaken to protect young bicyclists and ensure that they wear helmets. Amscot Financial acknowledges and accepts its role in the community to improve quality of life, especially for children. Our goal is to provide the best one-stop financial services in convenient locations, while supporting the communities in which we do business.

Headquartered in Tampa, FL., Amscot Financial is a leading provider of income tax preparation and electronic filing services, refund anticipation loans, check cashing services, cash advance services, money transfer services and money orders through its wholly owned division, Amscot International Money Order Company. Amscot Financial currently operates more than 70 tax preparation offices and 70 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 1,500 people. For additional information, please visit the company's website at www.amscotfinancial.com.