Comerica Bank supports Detroit students with $10,000 back to school gift

DPS Foundation launches transportation fund, annual appeal

To celebrate the back to school season, Comerica Bank today announced it will serve as the first corporate contributor to launch a Transportation Fund through the Detroit Public Schools Foundation to support student field trips within Detroit Public Schools. The announcement was made at John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy in Detroit.

The initial contribution of $10,000 will support transportation to approximately 40 field trips and competitions and impact approximately 2,000 DPS students.

This contribution also serves to kick off the DPS Foundation’s Annual Appeal Campaign, this year corresponding with back to school season and aptly named Give Back to Detroit Schools.

The annual fundraising drive runs through October 31 and aims to raise thousands of dollars to support value-added programs and activities for the benefit of the Detroit Public Schools, DPS-authorized charter schools, DPS schools placed in the Education Achievement Authority and their respective students.

“By helping the DPS Foundation kick off its annual fundraising drive with the creation of the Transportation Fund, we hope to enhance the educational experience for students by inspiring them to think beyond the walls of the classroom,” said Thomas D. Ogden, president, Comerica Bank-Michigan. “We hope other contributors will join us, and together we can enrich the lives of Detroit’s future leaders.”

“We thank Comerica Bank for its generous contribution to this much needed Transportation Fund. Comerica is the first of what we hope will be many organizations contributing to the fund to help further the education of DPS students,” said Dr. Glenda Price, incoming President, Detroit Public Schools Foundation.

In addition to supporting the Transportation Fund, Comerica is supporting students from elementary through high school by sending the first field trip of elementary students from John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy to the Detroit Zoo to experience the African Adventures exhibit, which was made possible in part through a grant from the Comerica Charitable Foundation. Students will hear true stories from the Zoo’s Education Specialist about growing up and being a safari guide in rural Africa, as well as view the animals featured in the stories as they tour the grounds.

Comerica is also creating an educational opportunity for high school students by providing funds to transport them to Michigan College Access Network’s Detroit College Night at Detroit’s Youthville.

For more information including how to support the Give Back to Detroit Schools campaign or the Transportation Fund, visit www.detroitpsfoundation.org.

About Comerica Bank

Comerica Bank, with 218 banking centers in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated. Comerica recently completed a $17 million renovation of its building at 411 W. Lafayette in Detroit, which has been renamed Comerica Bank Center and is now the bank’s Michigan Market headquarters. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. To receive e-mail alerts of breaking Comerica news, go tohttp://www.comerica.com/newsalerts . To find us on Facebook, please visit www.facebook.com/ComericaCares.  Follow Comerica Chief Economist Robert Dye on Twitter at @Comerica_Econ.

About Detroit Public Schools Foundation

The Detroit Public Schools Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising, managing and stewarding funds and other resources to support value-added programs and activities for the benefit of the Detroit Public Schools, DPS-authorized charter schools, DPS schools placed in the Education Achievement Authority, and their respective students. Detroit Public Schools Foundation operates independently of the Detroit Public Schools. For more information, visit detroitpsfoundation.org.