DETROIT, Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Comerica Bank announced that it will offer its Grand Slam Grant for the third consecutive year. The program offers two $10,000 grants to high school baseball or softball teams to create, expand or improve their programs. Like last year's Grand Slam Grant program, Comerica will award the grants to one high school from Southeast Michigan, and another in the Central/West Michigan region.

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"Comerica is proud to support Michigan's hometown teams by presenting the Grand Slam Grant for the third consecutive year," said Thomas D. Ogden, president, Comerica Bank-Michigan. "In the first two years of the grant program, local coaches and school administrators have demonstrated incredible passion and creative thinking when it comes to improving youth programs and positively impacting the community. We can't wait to see their amazing ideas this year."

The grant recipients will be recognized on the field prior to the game on April 6 against the New York Yankees during the Detroit Tigers 2013 opening weekend. In addition to the grant, each winning school will also receive tickets to the opening weekend game.

Public high schools in Comerica's markets of Southeast Michigan and Central and West Michigan are eligible to apply for the Grand Slam Grant. One grant recipient will be chosen from each of the two regions. The funds can be used for field improvements, equipment, training camps, or other baseball or softball-related expenses. 

Grant applications will be reviewed for a variety of criteria including overall need, creativity, and school and community impact. The grant recipient will be selected by the Comerica Bank Grand Slam Grant Selection Committee, consisting of representatives from Comerica Bank and the Detroit Tigers.

Eligible schools can download the grant application at www.comerica.com/grandslamgrant. Once complete, the application, along with supporting materials such as photos or videos must be submitted via email to grandslamgrant@comerica.com no later than 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. 

Last year, Comerica awarded grants to baseball teams from Lincoln Park High School and Kalamazoo Central High School. Lincoln Park High school used the funds to support much-needed renovations to its underground pit facility, which is utilized by baseball, softball and local little league players year-round, while Kalamazoo Central High School put the funds toward a batting cage project that would also be used by the school's softball program as well as area youth teams.

About Comerica Bank
Comerica Bank, with 216 banking centers in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated. Founded in Detroit in 1849, Comerica continues to invest in Michigan. Comerica's $17 million renovation of its building at 411 W. Lafayette in Detroit was completed last year and the renamed Comerica Bank Center 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. To find us on Facebook, please visit www.facebook.com/ComericaCares. Follow us on Twitter at @ComericaCares.

About The Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers, Inc., a charter member of the American League in 1901, have won four World Series and 11 American League pennants. The team is owned by Michael Ilitch who purchased the ballclub in 1992. Michael and his wife, Marian, jointly own other companies in the food, sports and entertainment industries include: Little Caesars Pizza, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, the Detroit Red Wings, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, Champion Foods, Uptown Entertainment and Ilitch Holdings, Inc.  Marian Ilitch is the sole owner of MotorCity Casino Hotel. For more information, visit www.tigers.com.

SOURCE Comerica Bank