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(St. Louis, MO – August 8, 2006 ) – In response to recent summer storms in the metropolitan St. Louis area, the William T. Kemper Foundation and the Commerce Bancshares Foundation announced $35,000 in contributions to area food banks. The recent summer storms, along with slow food donations in the summer, have caused a severe shortage of food supplies. In addition, because of the power outages, some perishable foods targeted for the needy had to be destroyed.
The grants were made to the following organizations serving the St. Louis metropolitan region:
- Operation Food Search and St. Louis Area Foodbank serving food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and emergency food programs in counties in Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois
- Glen Ed Food Pantry, the Collinsville Area Ministry Association, and Come Share sponsored by the First United Methodist Church, all located in and serving the Metro East Area
David Kemper, chairman, president and CEO of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. commented, “We are pleased to be able to support the good work of these agencies in alleviating hunger and assist those in need to cope with the aftermath of the storms and the challenges of our summer weather.”
The William T. Kemper Foundation -- Commerce Bank, Trustee was established in 1989, following Mr. Kemper’s death. The Foundation is dedicated to continuing Mr. Kemper’s lifelong interest in improving the human condition and quality of life. Its philanthropic areas of focus include education, health and human services, civic improvements and the arts.
The Commerce Bancshares Foundation is the corporate foundation of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. and focuses on making grants in the markets within which Commerce Bank does business. A key focus of the Commerce Bancshares Foundation is enhancing the quality of life of individuals and families and the economic vitality of the communities Commerce serves.
About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank is the principal subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $14.3 billion regional bank holding company. For more than 140 years, Commerce has been meeting the financial services needs of individuals and businesses. Commerce provides a diversified line of financial services, including business and personal banking, wealth management and estate planning and investments through its affiliated companies. Commerce currently operates in approximately 340 locations in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. Commerce also has operating subsidiaries involved in mortgage banking, credit related insurance, venture capital and real estate activities.
For more information contact:
Jeanne Howard
Director of Regional Marketing
314-746-3672
jeanne.howard@commercebank.com
Website: www.commercebank.com
e-mail: mymoney@commercebank.com
SYMBOL: CBSH
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