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(St. Louis, MO, October 29, 2004) --- Five area non-profits were awarded grants by the Commerce Bancshares Foundation at a reception held on Tuesday, October 26 at the Commerce Bank Tower Grove Banking Center. Grants totaling $32,500 were awarded to Area Resources for Community & Human Services (ARCHS), Fanning Middle School, International Institute, St. Louis Public Library - Carpenter Branch and South City YMCA to support cross-cultural youth programs.
Commerce Bank strives to make a difference in local neighborhoods and communities, and in our region, by strategically focusing charitable resources. A major challenge facing the South Grand area is the tension that exists between youth of diverse cultures. In some cases, this tension has led to violent confrontations and a sense of distrust. Each of the five organizations honored has committed to serving youth of diverse cultures through special programs. Seth M. Leadbeater, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Commerce Bank, noted that the recipient organizations already provide quality activities for youth and the Commerce Bancshares Foundation investment will expand their cross-cultural programs. He added, "It is our privilege to have strong relationships with the organizations being honored tonight, and we look forward to future opportunities to invest in our community."
The contribution recipients are listed below along with their plans for the Commerce Bancshares Foundation grants:
Area Resources for Community & Human Services (ARCHS), a public/private partnership that supports the community by leveraging financial, human, and social capital resources will pilot a before/after school program for New American youth at Oak Hill Elementary School and Meramec Head Start Center.
Fanning Middle School will create an after-school discussion group that brings together African-American and New American youth for the purpose of encouraging communication and a better understanding of cultural differences and similarities between the two groups.
International Institute, an organization that works to strengthen the St. Louis community by helping immigrants and their families become secure and successful Americans, will offer programs and activities that encourage the participation of, and positive interactions between, youth from diverse cultures.
The Carpenter Branch of the St. Louis Public Library provides learning resources and information services that support and improve individual, family, and community life. The Commerce Bancshares Foundation grant will support an after-school tutoring program, which serves hundreds of area youth from all ethnic backgrounds.
South City YMCA will use the Commerce Bancshares Foundation grant to support recreation and leadership programs that encourage teamwork and have significant participation of youth from diverse cultures.
About Commerce Bank
Commerce Bank is the principal subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH), a $14.1 billion regional bank holding company. For more than 135 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 Bancshares operates in approximately 330 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
(314) 746-3672
Website: www.commercebank.com
e-mail: mymoney@commercebank.com
SYMBOL: CBSH
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