Sarasota, FL, March 16, 2005/ - Amscot Financial, a Florida-based tax and retail financial services company, invites all to come out and have fun the “Amscot way” at its Open House on Saturday, March 19, 2005 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 560 N Washington Blvd. in Sarasota. Amscot Financial Recruiters will be on-site reviewing resumes and conducting interviews from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00p.m.

During the event, Amscot Financial will present a $1,000 donation to The Mary Bradley Weeks Educational Project, Inc., to help fund the purchase of school supplies for Sarasota and Manatee County students in need. The Sarasota-based non-profit organization was established in 2002 by Mary Bradley Weeks in memory of her two-year-old great grandson who was killed by an unlicensed hit-and-run driver. Participants in the school supply giveaways become eligible by referral from designated community agencies. The giveaways are held before the fall and winter semesters, each August and January. Since the project was founded, hundreds of students have benefited from this act of love. Throughout the year, the program is supported by donations from local and national corporations, businesses, organizations and individual sponsors.

Also participating in the grand opening event is the Child Protection Education of America, Inc. (CPEA), a national non-profit organization for missing children based in Tampa , FL. The CPEA will be on-site to provide free fingerprinting for children through their “ID ME NOW” program, which produces a state-of-the-art, specially designed card, for parents to keep. The card contains a set of the child's digital fingerprints, a black and white photo of the child, a dental chart, and instructions on how to do a simple DNA collection. Safety brochures are provided with the fingerprint card, as well as an envelope containing further information on how to complete their child safety kit. This information can assist parents and law enforcement officers involved with a missing child case. An interactive child safety CD-ROM can also be purchased for $5.00 at the event with profits going to the CPEA for creating the CD-ROM.

During the grand opening event, entertainment will be provided for the community by juggling mime Calvin Roe and radio station 106.5, which will be broadcasting live from Amscot's parking lot and giving away prizes. Free refreshments will be served courtesy of Hungry Howie's Pizza.

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 86 tax preparation offices and 86 retail financial service centers throughout Florida and employs more than 1,500 people.