Collaboration to support nine nonprofit
organizations transforming the community
DETROIT, Sept. 5,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank and the Detroit
Lions are teaming up for the eighth consecutive year on a
season-long initiative that assists community partners throughout
Michigan. The Comerica First Down
Program ensures every Lions first down gained during the 2024
regular season at Ford Field stretches well beyond 10 yards and
reaches those in need in the community.
During every Lions home game this season, a local philanthropic
organization will benefit by receiving $100 for each Lions first down gained. This
year's program includes all nine regular season home games at Ford
Field.
"Our First Down Program partnership with the Lions in supporting
community difference-makers has provided much needed resources for
organizations who dedicate their daily missions to helping others
and serving those in need," said Steve
Davis, Michigan Market President. "As with Lions fans here
in Detroit, across the state of
Michigan and throughout the
country, we share in the excitement and anticipation of this season
and look forward to the team's continued success on the field
inspiring further positive impact in the community."
The Lions' offensive prowess, ranking among the NFL's top five
in 2022 and 2023, has revved up the community support produced
through Comerica's First Down Program as they have been among the
league's best in moving the chains in recent years, especially in
front of Lions fans at home. With 401 first downs and averaging
23.6 per game at Ford Field, the Lions are the only team in the NFL
to gain 400 first downs at home in the regular season over the past
two seasons, which has converted to impactful resources for the
program's recipients.
"With the 2024-25 NFL season upon us, we are excited to continue
our partnership with Comerica through the First Down Program," said
Detroit Lions Vice President of Detroit Lions Foundation and
Community Relations Roxanne Caine. "Teaming up with such an
impactful organization allows us to translate our on-field success
into meaningful support for our local communities through the game
of football."
During the Lions home opener at Ford Field when they host the
Los Angeles Rams in a re-match of the Lions first playoff win in
over 30 years, the Comerica First Down Program will support ACCESS
in Dearborn, who has served the
community for over 50 years.
Additional 2024 Community Partners
For the remaining
eight regular season home games, the Comerica First Down Program
will support:
Sunday, Sept. 15:
Gianna House
Monday, Sept 30: Greater
Pontiac Community Coalition
Sunday, Oct. 27: GROW
Sunday, Nov. 17: Hannan
Center
Thursday, Nov. 28:
USnapBac
Thursday, Dec. 5: Belle Isle
Conservancy
Sunday, Dec. 15: Detroit
Cristo Rey
Week 18: Motor City Pride
First Down Program Impact
Since its inception in 2017,
Comerica has contributed approximately $133,000 to approximately 35 local community
organizations through the First Down program.
Previous recipients include: A Girl Like Me, Abigayle
Ministries, Alternatives For Girls, Arab American and Chaldean
Council, Beyond Basics, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Charles H. Wright
Museum of African American History, Citadel Community Development
Corporation, DEFY Program, Destined For Greatness, Detroit
Organizations of Black Organizations, Detroit Police Athletic
League, Inc., Detroit Public Schools Foundation, Dutton Farms,
Inc., Family Assistance for Renaissance Men (F.A.R.M.), Focus:
HOPE, HAVEN, Henry Ford Health's Game On Cancer, Horatio Williams
Foundation, IMAGINE Mentoring, Judson Center, LASED, Lebanese
American Heritage Club Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities,
Life After Care, Life Directions, Mostyn Community Development, My
Sister's Keeper, Neway Works, Pure
Heart Foundation, RTTM Community Center, Ruth Ellis Center, SER
Metro-Detroit Jobs for Progress, Inc., The Children's Center,
Winning Futures, and Women of Tomorrow.
During the 2022 season, Comerica and the Lions celebrated a
significant milestone in the six-year history of the program. Last
year, the 1,000th first down was garnered by the Lions
since 2017, moving the overall contributions generated for local
charities to $100,000.
175 Years of Raising Expectations
This year, Comerica
Bank is celebrating 175 years of serving its communities, making it
Michigan's longest-serving bank.
Comerica was founded in 1849 in Detroit during a time when all banks in the
city were exclusive to the business community. This was the
motivation behind Comerica's decision to gear its banking for the
people and for those who wanted to secure their personal and
financial future. Since its inception, Comerica has grown in
Michigan and throughout the
country by focusing on the customer first and offering personal,
small business and commercial banking services, as well as wealth
management services.
About Comerica Bank
This year, Comerica Bank
celebrates 175 years of raising expectations for its customers,
colleagues and communities. Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica
Incorporated, has served Michigan
longer than any other bank with a continuous presence dating back
to its Detroit founding in 1849. It is
the largest bank employer in metro Detroit and has more than 4,300 employees (FTE)
statewide. With one of the largest banking center networks in
Michigan, Comerica nurtures
lifelong relationships with unwavering integrity and financial
prudence. Comerica positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by helping customers be
successful, providing financial support that assists hundreds of
charitable organizations, and actively participating in
Detroit's downtown revitalization.
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company
strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial
Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Comerica, X: @ComericaBank and Instagram:
@comerica_bank.
About the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a
professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the
North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the
National Football League (NFL), and play their home games at Ford
Field in downtown Detroit. The
team located to Detroit in 1934 and is
the National Football League's fifth-oldest franchise.
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SOURCE Comerica Bank