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Michael Serao, Senior VP, and Anna-Marie Vallone, Business Development officer with students from the Vicki Kasomenakis Business Society at Queensborough Community College
tion is just one more way of accomplishing
that,” said Serao. “We’re pleased to
support the Boys & Girls Club of Metro
Queens and other local organizations
that impact the lives of our local residents,
and hope many more people
will utilize the coin donation collection
points to help the Boys & Girls Club of
Metro Queens serve the community.”
In addition to the coin-counting
machine, FCSB placed donation bins
in JFK Airport Terminal 5 as well as in
high-traffic stores and community spaces
in Queens in an effort to support Boys
& Girls Club programming.
“I’m very grateful that FCSB chose to
donate to us with their coin-counting
machine. We’ll put the collected donations
to work helping youth in our community.”
said David Kupecky, executive
director of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro
Queens.
In an effort to reach out to new U.S
citizens and to spawn the next crop of
small businesses and grow the personal
wealth of citizens and green-card holders,
FSCB is active in the Immigration
Advocacy Services Inc., a not-for-profit
immigration outreach center. Through
their partnership, FCSB provides the
nonprofit with a literacy program to
help America’s newest citizens to educate
themselves about the programs and
services that the bank offers to help start,
grow and expand small businesses. The
program also aids in building personal
wealth with practical money skills,
which will help them integrate into the
U.S. economy.
By the end of the program, participants
are equipped to take charge and improve
their understanding of financial concepts
and services so they are empowered to
make informed choices to improve their
financial well-being.
“With more than a quarter-century of
dedication to community banking, FCSB
continues its legacy of service with commitment
to providing financial education
and practical information to new
customers at all financial levels, regardless
of immigration status” said Serao.
In addition to supporting literacy for
new citizens, FCSB supports literacy for
local students. Michael Serao was recently
appointed to the Board of Trustees for
the Freeport Educational Foundation, a
nonprofit organization that funds innovative
educational programs that provide
extraordinary learning experiences for
students in the Freeport Public Schools.
“I am immensely proud of this nomination
from the Freeport Educational
Foundation,” said Serao. “Our bank is
dedicated to and actively engaged in
organizations and activities that support
our community and make it a better
place to live and work.”
Members of FCSB’s staff are incredibly
active in the communities they
serve. Michael Serao, a graduate of
Queensborough Community College,
delivered a keynote address to the
school’s Vicki Kasomenakis Business
Society on Sept. 19, 2017.
In the address, Serao took time to
describe the philosophy of community
banking at First Central Savings and the
importance of building personal, oneon
one relationships to the business students.
Serao also announced the kickoff
of recruitment for the First Central
Savings Bank internship program.
FCSB’s employees have been recognized
for their work in community.
On Oct. 5, the Astoria-LIC Kiwanis
Club recognized Ara Yegoryan, newly
hired assistant branch manager of First
Central Savings Bank in Astoria, as “Our
Future Astoria-Long Island City Kiwanis
Community Leader.”
Yegoryan, a longtime member of the
Kiwanis Club, was presented with the
award at the club’s 30th Anniversary
Cocktail Party at Riccardo’s By The
Bridge. The award ceremony recognizes
individuals who have made contributions
to the Astoria and LIC community
through substantive achievements in
their career and community arenas.
“We are immensely proud of Ara’s
accomplishments as a leader in the
Kiwanis and as a trusted voice in the
Astoria community which reflects our
philosophy of community banking. He
knows all his clients by name, and they
know him,” said Serao.
As we head into the holiday season,
every branch of FCSB will serve as a
drop-off site for three community drives.
Residents can drop off canned goods,
which will be donated to Quality Services
for the Autism Community (QSAC), toys
for the Family Service League’s Project
Toy drive, and pajamas and books for the
Pajama Program.