Bank of America’s Keep the Change Savings Program Benefits Little League Urban Initiative

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Aug. 27, 2006) – Bank of America, the official banking partner of Little League Baseball and Softball, recently presented $500,000 to the Little League Urban Initiative through its Keep the Change savings program.

Dave Winfield, Baseball Hall of Famer and spokesman for Bank of America, visited Little League International in 2005. He attended several games played in the second annual Urban Initiative Jamboree.

Today, David James, director of the Little League Urban Initiative, Baseball Hall of Famer and Bank of America spokesman Ozzie Smith, Diane Morais, deposits and debit products executive for Bank of America, and the Northwest Region champion Murrayhill Little League team from Beaverton, Ore., were on hand as NBC’s Today show broadcast the check presentation.

In July of this year, Mr. James, Baseball Hall of Famer and Bank of America spokesman Dave Winfield, Mrs. Morais, and several members of the Parkchester (N.Y.) Little League appeared on the Today show to formally introduce the matching program. The program matches five percent of all Keep the Change purchases, and those contributions will be utilized by the Little League Urban Initiative to improve Little League Baseball and Softball fields throughout the United States.

“Bank of America recognizes the significant impact of the Little League Urban Initiative since its inception in 2000,” Mr. James said. “The Urban Initiative has seen steady growth in urban settings throughout the country, and for the past three years local leagues benefiting from it have been afforded the unique experience of attending the Urban Initiative Jamboree held annually at Little League International.”

Throughout the summer, Bank of America brought baseball to a number of communities around the country. Bank of America provided communities the chance to help in the fundraising efforts by participating in a Speed Pitch challenge, along with other baseball-themed activities like the Peanut Toss and House of Cards photo booth. Using the accuracy of every pitch, Bank of America raised its donation to the Little League Urban initiative.

“Bank of America prides itself on its relationships with baseball, but none is more fulfilling than supporting and encouraging America’s youth through Little League Baseball,” Mrs. Morais said. “Keep the Change is an easy way for Americans to help the Little League Urban Initiative with everyday purchases - one penny at a time.”

Bank of America has national sponsorship agreements with the four leading organizations that represent America's national pastime-Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Little League Baseball and Softball, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Bank of America's deep-rooted support for baseball includes banking sponsorships with 10 Major League Baseball Clubs and 68 Minor League Baseball teams. Additionally, Bank of America's completed merger with MBNA further expands its support of baseball with affinity credit and debit card relationships with 23 Major League Baseball Clubs.