Amscot Financial Contributes Mini-grants To 15 Non-profit Service Organizations

Tampa, FL – (February 20, 2012) – Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, recently made mini-grants of $100 to $1,000 to 15 non-profit service organizations in its 16-county service area. The grants went to:

• Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, Tampa. The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida is the premier leadership organization for girls ages five to 18. Girl Scouts encourages girls to discover, connection and take action in order to gain confidence, skills and experiences they will need to lead. For more information, please visit www.gswcf.org.

• BIG SIS, Inc., Orlando. BIG SIS stands for Becoming Independent, Goal-Oriented and Self-Sufficient In Society. BIG SIS, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create opportunities for positive change in the lives of women and young girls. BIG SIS offers self-esteem-building and mentoring programs for teen girls and teenage mothers. For more information, please visit www.bigsis.org.

• The Richardson Montessori Academy, Tampa. The Richardson Montessori Academy provides a well-rounded education by addressing the academic, social, emotional, physical and moral needs of its students. The school is seeking additional funds for library books. The school continually encourages intellectual curiosity and self-confidence, preparing students for future educational and life experiences and for effective roles in the world. For more information, please visit www.richardsonmontessori.org.

• Center for Drug-Free Living, Inc., Kissimmee. Osceola Prevention is a program of the Center for Drug-Free Living. The program seeks to shape the living of young people in Osceola County by providing them with academic assistance and life skills training. The goal is to offer kids a positive after-school environment. For more information, please visit www.cfdfl.com.

• American Diabetes Association, Tampa. The Tampa chapter of the ADA is supporting the national Stop Diabetes @ Work campaign. Across the United States, diabetes accounts for 15 million absent work days, 120 million work days with reduced performance and an additional 107 million work days lost to unemployment disability attributed to diabetes. For more information, please visit www.diabetes.org.

• City of Daytona Beach Leisure Services Department, Daytona Beach. The City of Daytona Beach Leisure Service Department is dedicated to providing the residents of Daytona Beach with safe facilities and programs that meet the community's recreational and civic needs. The department holds a quarterly health fair to provide free health screenings to seniors and young children. For more information, please visit www.codb.us.

• Orange County Library System, Orlando. The library’s Dream Big! and Imagine That! programs planned for the summer of 2012 will feature events and activities designed to keep kids reading and learning even when school is out. Kids will participate in Camp Savvy and TechKrew technology events and will be able to earn prizes for outstanding effort. For more information, please visit www.ocls.info.

• ThanksTroops.com, Clearwater. This group’s annual Tee It Up for the Troops golf tournament raises funds for combat-wounded veterans and their families. For more information, please visit www.teeitupforthetroops.org.

• Plant City Black Heritage Celebration, Plant City. The 9th annual Black Heritage Education and Cultural Festival was held Feb. 10-12. The event celebrates the rich cultural history of the African-American community in the Plant City community. The event also raises scholarship funds for local students.

• Creative Clay, Inc., St. Petersburg. This organization’s “Art Around the World” summer camp is designed for children with disabilities. The program, in its fourth year, features instruction from professional artists. Children create art pieces and learn how to work with others of differing abilities. For more information, please visit www.creativeclay.org.

• On the Cutting Edge Outreach Programs, Orlando. This Pine Hills-based program focuses on at-risk students. If offers after-school programs designed to help students increase academic performance. For more information, please visit http://www.moina3rd-designs.com/clients/oceafterschool/home.html.

• Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Clearwater. This non-profit organization works on behalf of children of low-income families to increase access to child care services. The organization estimates that there is a waiting list of more than 3,000 children on waiting lists in Pinellas County who cannot obtain services due to a lack of funding. For more information, please visit www.elcpinellas.net.

• Family Literacy Academy, Tampa. The Family Literacy Academy addresses the educational and social needs of parents and children with the overall goal of breaking the “intergenerational cycle of low literacy.” The organization believes that low literacy within families is a contributing cause of poverty in Hillsborough County. For more information, please visit www.tampabayliteracy.org.

• H.O.P.E., Inc., Orlando. Helping Other People Eat (H.O.P.E. Inc.) is a nonprofit organization focused on the prevention and awareness of eating disorders. Since 2001, the group has sought to educate all age groups on the warning signs, symptoms and side effects that accompany eating disorders and body image issues. It offers information, tutorials, references and public speakers to aid in the elimination of eating disorders. In addition, members of H.O.P.E. advocate for funding to treat those who cannot afford it. For more information, please visit www.hopetolive.com.

• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, St. Petersburg. JDRF's research mission is to discover, develop and deliver advances that cure, better treat and prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D). As the global leader in the fight against T1D, JDRF's research programs are comprehensive -- addressing the hopes and dreams of every person with T1D for the best quality of life and a cure for this disease. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.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, non-bank 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 175 tax preparation offices and 175 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.