The baseball team at Lincoln Park High School will go to bat this season with an extra $10,000, thanks to Comerica Bank. The bank surprised students at a special assembly with the news that they had been chosen as the Southeast Michigan recipient of Comerica Bank’s $10,000 Grand Slam Grant. The baseball team will be officially recognized during a check presentation ceremony at Comerica Park on Saturday, April 7.
More than 1,300 Lincoln Park High School students and staff were joined by representatives from Comerica Bank, the Detroit Tigers including mascot PAWS, the DTE Energy Squad and Fox Sports Detroit celebrity emcee Shannon Hogan. DJ Kenny Applegate of 98.7 AMP Radio was also on hand to provide music and entertainment for the students during a surprise pep assembly.
The students received a personal congratulations video message from Detroit Tigers outfielder Brennan Boesch, who served as the Tigers celebrity guest judge on the Comerica Bank Grand Slam Grant selection committee.
“Lincoln Park High School’s Grand Slam Grant application demonstrated not only a real need, but also an inspiring dedication to the development of student athletes,” said Thomas D. Ogden, president, Comerica Bank-Michigan. “Comerica Bank is a proud supporter of this team’s project, which will ultimately provide a great value to the students, the community and our future all-stars.”
In addition to the $10,000 grant, Lincoln Park High School will receive 60 tickets to the see the Detroit Tigers take on the Boston Red Sox on April 7, where Coach Brian Amorose will have the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Comerica Bank Grand Slam Grant program was created in 2011 to help public high schools in Michigan create, expand or improve a baseball or softball program. The Lincoln Park High School baseball team was chosen out of more than 50 schools that applied for this year’s grant program. The school plans to use the funding to finance much-needed renovations to its underground pit facility, which is utilized by baseball, softball and local little league players year-round.
Last year, the baseball team at Renaissance High School in Detroit was awarded Comerica Bank’s inaugural Grand Slam Grant and used the funds for equipment, a new scoreboard and a travel showcase youth clinic.
Comerica Bank, with 217 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 to http://www.comerica.com/newsalerts
