Astoria Federal Savings Announces Top Winners of the Teach Children to Save Essay Contest

		Teach Children to Save Essay Contest Winners. Back Row (L to R) - Michael A. DiAngelo from Astoria, Astoria Federal Senior Vice President/Director of Marketing, Brian Edwards, Grand Prize Winner Amanda Sirakowski from Massapequa Park, Astoria Federal Vice President/ Assistant Director of Retail Banking Administration & Sales Susan Ring. Front Row (L to R) - Matthew Rosenberg from Glendale, Kazi Shafia Maisha from Woodside, and Kevin Tobin from Wading River. (PRNewsFoto/Astoria Federal Savings) LAKE SUCCESS, NY UNITED STATES

Grand Prize Winner Receives a Personal Computer Astoria Federal's Education First Initiatives in Action LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In recognition of Financial Literacy Month (April 2006), Astoria Federal Savings held its first annual essay contest for children, ages 5-12, asking the students to complete the statement: "If I Save A Lot Today, In the Future I Could ... " The essay contest was part of Astoria Federal's fun and educational Teach Children to Save Celebrations, which took place in every neighborhood branch throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060710/NYM127 ) Astoria Federal local branch managers each selected one winner, and the six top winners were selected from these finalists. The grand prize essay winner was 11 year old Amanda Sirakowski from Massapequa Park, who received a new personal computer for her essay, which was themed "If I saved a lot today, in the future I could ... open a tuition-free dance studio and hold benefit performances to support medical research and entertain seniors." The second- place winner, 11 year old Jovana Santiago from Ridgewood, wrote about her desire to save money to help families dealing with AIDS and won a $1,000 Series EE U.S. Savings Bond. Four, third-place winners were selected and each received a $500 Series EE U.S. Savings Bond. Third place winners were 9 year old Michael A. DiAngelo from Astoria who is saving money to become a farmer, 5-1/2 year old Kazi Shafia Maisha from Woodside who is hoping to save enough to become a doctor, 10 year old Matthew Rosenberg from Glendale will use his savings to travel the world, and 6 year old Kevin Tobin from Wading River needs his funds to become a space scientist. Every child who was selected as a local winner from their community received a Teach Children to Save Celebration Award Certificate and an Education First medal. The top six winners and their families were invited to a reception at Astoria Federal's Lake Success Headquarters on July 7th, where they were congratulated by Astoria Federal executives and received their prizes. (Photo attached) According to Astoria Federal Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards, the community bank is continuing its work to improve financial literacy in young people, because early financial literacy builds the foundation for financial health as an adult. "We're always looking for unique, creative and fun ways to help strengthen the many communities we serve," Edwards said. "Teaching financial literacy is one great way to accomplish that goal. We want young people to understand that the student savers of today are the investors of tomorrow." Astoria Federal's Education First initiatives include the Student Savers and Bank-at-School programs, as well as the Kids Tools for School Collection Drive to help children be prepared on the first day of school by providing them with new school supplies, and The First Home Club(TM) to promote homeownership. These programs and others were all designed to encourage lifelong learning in the communities Astoria Federal serves. For additional information about Astoria Federal's Education First financial literacy programs, please call 1-800-ASTORIA. About Astoria Federal Savings Astoria Financial Corporation, the holding company for Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, with assets of $22.2 billion is the sixth largest thrift institution in the United States. Established in 1888, Astoria Federal is the largest thrift depository headquartered in New York with deposits of $13.0 billion and embraces its philosophy of Putting people first by providing the customers and local communities it serves with quality financial products and services through 86 convenient banking office locations and multiple delivery channels, including its enhanced website, http://www.astoriafederal.com. Astoria Federal commands the fourth largest 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 Federal originates mortgage loans through its banking offices and loan production offices in New York, an extensive broker network covering twenty-four states, primarily the East Coast, and the District of Columbia, and through correspondent relationships covering forty- four states and the District of Columbia.