DALLAS, Dec. 13, 2019 – Comerica Bank surprised 22 local high school students from the Project Still I Rise Urban Scholars Program with technology packs at their holiday community service project on Thursday evening.  The students decorated Buckeye Commons Head Start, a school where they often serve, and later were presented with personal laptops and accompanying accessories (bag and mouse) and service plans as a reward for their hard work and dedication in the classroom and community.

Research shows nearly one in five teens have trouble finishing their homework because of a digital divide – often referred to as the “homework gap” – for teens who lack access to digital technologies (reliable access to a computer and/or internet connection) at home. Teens from lower-income households, are especially likely to face school-related challenges as a result. [Source: Pew Research Center]

“For the past decade, Comerica Bank has partnered with Project Still I Rise to help empower today’s youth for tomorrow’s opportunity through academic enrichment, mentoring and leadership development,” Pete Guilfoile, Comerica Bank Chief Credit Officer and Project Still I Rise volunteer said. “We are committed to helping close the homework gap by equipping youth in the communities we serve with reliable technology tools for future success.”

About Project Still I Rise, Inc. Urban Scholars Program

Project Still I Rise, Inc., is a community-based nonprofit organization founded in 2002. The mission of the agency is to empower today’s youth for tomorrow’s opportunities through academic enrichment, mentoring, and leadership development programming. PSIR’s headquarters office is in Dallas, Texas. 

The Urban Scholars program is designed to assist students who are transitioning between academic settings.  Participants enter the Urban Scholars program during their ninth-grade year and beyond. Graduating high school seniors are awarded a one-time scholarship for their commitment to service and academics. Students participate in community service projects, professional development workshops, and corporate engagement opportunities.  Urban Scholars also have the chance to be joined by a pool of Project Still I Rise, collegiate students two times per year for collaborative workshops.

About Comerica

Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and 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. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.