ADVISORY, April 11, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) --
What: John R. Koelmel, President and CEO of First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (FNFG) will preside over the opening bell to celebrate the financial services company's 10th anniversary as a public company. Mr. Koelmel will be joined by four 5th grade students, all from Upstate New York. Bradley Schneider, Lockport, Brooke Testa, Rochester, Griffin Lenkiewicz, Baldwinsville, and Lauren Juliana Litz from Niskayuna won a recent essay contest. The 4 students and their parents received an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City, including transportation, hotel, sightseeing, and the market opening at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square. In addition to the trip to New York City and attending the NASDAQ market opening, the winners earned $1,000 donations to their elementary schools for computer equipment, plus $250 personal savings accounts at their local First Niagara Bank branches. The students were winners of an essay contest answering the question: "What new business would you start to help people in your community?" First Niagara selected the top essays from 400 entries across Upstate New York. Where: NASDAQ MarketSite - 4 Times Square - 43rd & Broadway - Broadcast Studio When: Monday, April 14, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. ET Contacts: Helen Tederous 716.697.2335 Helen.tederous@fnfg.com Leslie Garrity 716.316.1781; Leslie.Garrity@fnfg.com Lisa DiPietro 631.495.5020; Lisa.Dipietro@fnfg.com NASDAQ MarketSite: Jolene Libretto; 646.441.5220; mobile - 347.219.9539 Jolene.Libretto@NasdaqOmx.com
Feed Information:
The opening bell is available from 9:20 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. on uplink IA6 C band / transponder 24, downlink frequency 4180 horizontal. The feed can also be found on Waterfront fiber 1623. If you have any questions, please contact Jolene Libretto at (646) 441-5220.
Radio Feed:
An audio transmission of the opening bell is also available from 9:20 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. on uplink IA6 C band / transponder 24, downlink frequency 4180 horizontal. The feed can be found on Waterfront fiber 1623 as well.
Webcast:
A live webcast of the NASDAQ Opening Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx
Photos:
To obtain a hi-resolution photograph of the Market Open, please go to http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_events.stm and click on the market open of your choice.
About First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (FNFG):
First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary First Niagara Bank, has assets of $9.1 billion and deposits of $6.2 billion. First Niagara Bank is a full-service, community-focused bank that provides financial services to individuals, families and businesses through 115 branches and four Regional Market Centers across Upstate New York. For more information, visit www.fnfg.com.