Comerica Bank, KPMG's Family for Literacy Donates 4,000 New Books to Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy

Comerica Bank and its community partner KPMG’s Family for Literacy Dallas donated 4,000 new books to Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy library on Thursday, Jan. 30.  Former Texas Rangers infielder Michael Young also participated in the literacy event, helping Comerica and KPMG volunteers sort genres in the library and hand out fiction books to more than 400 eighth graders to take home for their personal collection. 

“Literacy is number one in our school - we are striving for our scholars to enjoy reading in and outside the classroom,” said Dr. Rosenid Hernández-Badía, Benjamin Franklin IEA librarian.  “Having enough choices available for the scholars during their free reading period is vital to developing readers.  Before the donation, there were not many books on the shelves because our enrollment size increased and the books we did have were checked out.  This donation will enhance our collection and reach the hands of our wonderful scholars.”

Comerica Bank's Snider Plaza Banking Center hosted a new book drive from Jan. 13 - 24, which benefitted nearby Franklin IEA, a Dallas Independent School District campus, that welcomed 350 displaced Cary Middle School students after last fall's North Texas tornadoes destroyed their campus. 

“At Comerica, we strive to help people in the communities we live and serve in be successful, and one of the ways we do that is through equipping youth, like Franklin’s students, with the necessary tools today, so they will be prepared for tomorrow’s opportunities,” said Brian Foley, Comerica Bank Texas Market President. “We were honored to partner with KPMG Family for Literacy on this important assignment, benefitting Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory School.”                                  

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. Comerica reported total assets of $73 billion at Dec. 31, 2019, and celebrated its 170th anniversary in August 2019.

About KPMG Family for Literacy

KPMG’s Family for Literacy (KFFL) is the firm’s flagship Citizenship program with a mission to eradicate childhood illiteracy by putting new books into the hands of children in need and developing the next generation of young leaders through reading.  Since its inception in 2008, KFFL has distributed over 5 million new books to low-income children in 100+ communities across the United States. KFFL translates across borders having spread through KPMG’s global network to India, Mexico, South Africa, Zambia, the U.K., Kenya, Canada and China.