TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, recently gave mini-grants of $250 to $2,500 to 15 non-profit service organizations in the Florida communities it serves. Mini-grants went to the following organizations:

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• Blossom Montessori School of the Deaf, Clearwater. They provide comprehensive & accredited education to deaf and hard of hearing children, their siblings and children of deaf adults and prepares them for a lifetime of success in the community. For more information, please visit: www.blossomschool.org
• Boys & Girls Club of Volusia/Flager, De Land. Their mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For more information, please visit: www.bgcvfc.org
• Bridge to Ability, Inc., Leesburg. A private school and learning center serving the educational needs of physical and cognitive disabilities. For more information, please visit: www.bridgetoability.org
• Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce, Fort Meade. Their program is designed to prepare today’s youth to be tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, please visit: www.fortmeadechamber.iconosites.com
• Homeless Emergency Project Inc., Clearwater. Serving hundreds of children and creating a safe and consistent place for academic and personal growth. For more information, please visit: www.ethep.org
• Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, Lakeland. Bringing Christmas cheer to the children in Lakeland. For more information, please visit: www.toysfortots.com
• Museum of Fine Arts-St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg. Educational programs engage diverse segments of the community, at risk youth, senior citizens, special needs individuals, military personnel, families and students. They have partnered with the Pinellas County schools and makes part of the curriculum for all six graders to visit the museum free of charge. For more information, please visit: www.fine-arts.org
• Ridge Community High School JROTC, Davenport. The JROTC program develops youth into the leaders of tomorrow. All freshman are required to take the class their first year. For more information, please visit: www.ridgecommunityhigh.com
• Rotary’s Camp Florida, Brandon. This camp hosts many groups with varying abilities (muscular dystrophy, autism, spinal injuries, etc.) to experience and make memories that in the past have only been afforded to kids without disabilities. For more information, please visit: www.rotaryscampflorida.com
• St. Luke Lodge # 530, Hollywood. Every year they host a Thanksgiving food drive and a Christmas Toy drive. Their mission is to enrich lives through the tenets of mutual support, morality, charity and civic responsibility. For more information, please visit: www.stluke530pha.com
• St. Petersburg College Foundation, Tarpon Springs. Providing free tours for children on field trips to the Leepa-Ratner Museum of Art. For more information, please visit: www.spcollege.edu/central/museum
• Tampa Bay ICO, Tampa. An outreach arm of the Sierra Club, whose mission is to expose youth from inner city and underserved populations to the wonders of natural environment. For more information, please visit: www.ico.sierraclub.org/tampabay/
• Tender Loving Care Center of Hope, Sanford. They reach out to the homeless communities and provide them with needed supplies. For more information, please visit: www.tlcchinc.org
• Venice D-Fy, Venice. An organization of middle and high school age peers who share the commitment to make positive choices and live a healthy, drug free life. For more information, please visit: www.venicedfy.com
• Where Love Grows, Tampa. Has a food service project called Victoria’s good table. A hot home cooked meal is prepared, delivered and served to families of children that go without dinner. For more information, please visit: www.wherelovegrows.org

In addition to the organizations supported above, Amscot also sponsored the 4^th annual Winter Wonder Ride event on December 13, 2014.  Amscot donated $2,500 and 500 bike helmets to ONbikes. Additional bike helmets were also donated to the following: Plantation Police Department, Ormond Beach Police Department, Pinellas County Toys for Tots, Sarasota Bay Parrot Head Club, Toys for Tots Punta Gorda, Genesis Children Academy, Eckerd College, Homestead Police Department, Sarasota Toys for Tots, Christmas Festival Little Havana, and the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Amscot Financial is a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, including check cashing, bill payment, money transfers, cash advances, prepaid cards and money orders through its wholly owned division, Amscot International Money Order Company.  Amscot Financial currently operates more than 200 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 2,000 employees. Amscot Financial has been recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of Tampa Bay’s Best Places to Work for five years. For additional information, please visit the company’s website at www.amscot.com