For Immediate Release:
November 20, 2009

For more information, contact:
Francine Patella Ryan
ESL Public Affairs Manager
fpatella@esl.org
585.336.1089 or 585.261.6220 (cell)

HELP "SHARE THE WARMTH" THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

ESL Federal Credit Union invites the public to join its employees and members with collecting new and/or gently used winter items for donation to local community organizations

Rochester, New York...As a way to help support individuals in the greater Rochester area who are in need of winter clothing, ESL Federal Credit Union is asking the public to join its employees and members and help "Share the Warmth" this holiday season by donating new and/or gently used winter clothing at any of its 18 branch locations.

Donations of adult and children-sized mittens, scarves and hats can be brought to any ESL branch from Tuesday, Nov. 24, through Saturday, Dec. 19, during normal business hours. Items also can be dropped off at ESL's administrative offices located at 100 Kings Highway South, in Irondequoit, from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays. Branch locations and hours can be found at www.esl.org or by calling 585-336-1000.

Branches will donate the items to a pre-determined organization within their respective communities during the week of December 21. Each organization will distribute the clothing to those in need within its service area. Participating organizations can also be found at www.esl.org.

"One of ESL's core values is to support the community through various activities," said Francine Patella Ryan, ESL's public affairs manager. "This initiative provides an ideal venue for our employees and the public to work together to help those in need."

Founded by George Eastman in 1920, ESL Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with $3.6 billion in assets. ESL employs approximately 600 people locally and has nearly 293,000 members world-wide. Access to the credit union includes 18 branch locations and more than 40 ATM locations, a Tele-Banking Center, and online banking channels. The company is headquartered at 100 Kings Highway South in Rochester and can be found on the Internet at www.esl.org.