Amscot Financial partners with law enforcement to distribute 9,440 bike helmets in 15 Florida counties

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, will donate and distribute 9,440 free bike helmets on Saturday, Oct. 20 in 15 Florida counties where the company operates branch locations.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060316/FLAMSCOTLOGO )

The helmets are available in three sizes: small, medium and large, and are being targeted towards children in pre-school and elementary school. They will be distributed from 9 a.m. to noon by Amscot Financial managers and by law enforcement personnel in the parking lots of the locations listed below. The locations include two branches in Miami-Dade County, where Amscot earlier this year launched an expansion into South Florida.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida is second in the nation – behind only California – in bicycle-related deaths. In 2010, the most recent year statistics are available, 83 bicycle-related deaths were recorded in Florida. Nationally, bicyclists between the ages of five and 16 accounted for 11 percent of all cyclists killed and 21 percent of all those injured in traffic crashes in 2010.[1]  National records indicate that more than 91 percent of all bicyclists killed are not wearing helmets.[2] Moreover, helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85 percent.[3]

This marks the tenth year that Amscot Financial has donated and distributed free bike helmets in counties where it does business.

"Bike helmets save lives. We know that. We have had customers in the past who have come in to tell us how a helmet was instrumental in preventing a serious injury to their children," said Ian MacKechnie, founder and CEO of Amscot Financial. "That is a big reason why we commit to this bike helmet program year after year. We want to ensure that children who live in our communities have access to a properly fitted helmet."

Founded in 1989, Amscot Financial employs more than 2,000 associates who work at more than 200 retail branches and at the company's corporate headquarters in Tampa. The company currently operates retail locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco,

Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Miami-Dade and Marion counties.

Locations for the bike helmet giveaway include the following Amscot branches:

• Brevard County
  • 1515 Palm Bay Rd. NE, Palm Bay
• Hardee County
  • 1530 U.S. Highway 17 North, Wauchula
• Hernando County
  • 11148 Springhill Drive, Spring Hill
• Highlands County
  • 1203 U.S. Highway 27 North, Sebring
• Hillsborough County
  • 105 W. Alexander Street, Plant City
  • 7731 Palm  River Road, Tampa
  • 8231 W. Hillsborough, Tampa
  • 2301 Fowler Ave., Tampa
• Lake County
  • 1100 W. North Boulevard, Leesburg
• Manatee County
  • 3611 1st Street East, Bradenton
  • 737 8th Avenue West, Palmetto
• Miami-Dade County
  • 19353 S. Dixie Highway, Cutler Bay
  • 2851 W. 68th Street, West Hialeah
• Orange County        
  • 939 N. Semoran Blvd., Orlando
  • 2033 Americana Blvd., Orlando
• Osceola County
  • 1021 Buenaventura Blvd., Kissimmee
  • 1120 W. Vine Street, Kissimmee
• Pasco County
  • 3416 U.S. Highway 19 North, Holiday
  • 7707 Gall Boulevard, Zephyrhills
• Pinellas County
  • 6800 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
  • 2551 34th St. S., St. Petersburg
  • 6596 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park
  • 1825 Gulf To Bay, Clearwater
• Polk County
  • 111 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven
  • 614 E. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland
• Sarasota County
  • 4206 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota
• Volusia County
  • 979 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
  • 2177 Howland Blvd, Deltona

About Amscot Financial

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 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 enables owners to make purchases from any location that accepts MasterCard™. 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.

[1] Traffic Safety Facts, 2010 Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811624.pdf.
[2] Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: http://www.bhsi.org/stats.htm
[3] Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality.aspx?topicName=Bicycles

SOURCE Amscot Financial

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED