AbilityFirst Children and Adults with Disabilities Take on Challenge of Los Angeles Marathon with Support from Presenting Sponsor Comerica Bank

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AbilityFirst's mission of helping individuals with disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, reach their full potential throughout their lives, will be on display when hundreds of the organization's program participants, employees and supporters gather in Exposition Park at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on Sunday, March 2 at 7:15 a.m., to participate in the 5K Walk event of the Los Angeles Marathon, raising funds for AbilityFirst.

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As an Official Charity of the Los Angeles Marathon, AbilityFirst is an original charitable partner of the event, marking 23 consecutive years of participation. Adding extra excitement to this year's Marathon efforts, AbilityFirst is pleased to announce that Comerica Bank has committed to joining the AbilityFirst 5K Marathon Team as Presenting Sponsor.

"We are motivated and inspired by the commitment that Comerica Bank has made to AbilityFirst," states Lori Gangemi, AbilityFirst President. "By sharing our vision of focusing on capabilities and expanding possibilities, Comerica Bank is helping to increase awareness of our organization throughout the community."

The AbilityFirst Marathon Team is welcoming Comerica Bank employees to the AbilityFirst family. On race day, Comerica Bank employees and their family members and friends will join together with AbilityFirst to create the largest Los Angeles Marathon 5K Team, and demonstrating a mutual commitment to children, teens and adults with disabilities.

"Giving back is more than just writing a check. It is about people dedicating time to make a difference," said Mike Dokmanovich, executive vice president, Comerica Bank Middle Market. "At Comerica, our objective is to build meaningful relationships with organizations that value the growth and well-being of our community. Our ongoing employee-community support is a cornerstone of our success."

In addition to traditional Marathon fundraising methods, AbilityFirst Marathon Team members and sponsors also raise money via the AbilityFirst website at http://www.abilityfirst.org/. Team members and AbilityFirst locations have created personal pages that communicate why they are participating in the Marathon, as well as their financial goals. Family, friends, co-workers, employers and businesses can visit the pages to sponsor an individual or specific location. Upon completion of the on-line form, sponsor messages of support are posted, along with total dollars raised to date, allowing spirited competition and encouraging increased giving.

Participants of the 5K event will begin and end the 3.1 mile course at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. In addition, many team members will participate in the full marathon and biking event in support of AbilityFirst.

For additional information on becoming an AbilityFirst Marathon Team Member or sponsor, please call Julie Benn at 626.396.1010, ext. 334.

About AbilityFirst

AbilityFirst, established as the Crippled Children's Society in 1926, is one of Southern California's largest and oldest nonprofit social service organizations. AbilityFirst operates a network of 23 facilities for people of all ages with physical and developmental disabilities (including autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Down syndrome, and other neurological impairments). Operating in the greater Los Angeles area, AbilityFirst supports children and adults with disabilities with after school programs at community/recreation centers, work centers, community employment, year round camping, affordable and accessible residential housing complexes, and family-style homes for adults and seniors. Through these venues, its skilled, professional staff provides support in a wide variety of employment, recreational and social service programs. AbilityFirst is accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) and the American Camping Association. Additional information about AbilityFirst can be found at http://www.abilityfirst.org/.

About Comerica Bank

The Western Market of Comerica Bank includes 94 banking centers in two states, California and Arizona: 85 in the key California markets of San Francisco and the East Bay, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz/Monterey; and nine banking centers in greater Phoenix, Ariz.

Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated , a financial services company headquartered in Dallas and strategically aligned into three major business segments: the Business Bank, the Retail Bank, and Wealth & Institutional Management. Comerica focuses on relationships and helping businesses and people be successful. Comerica bank locations can be found in Michigan, California, Texas, Florida and Arizona, with select businesses operating in several other states, Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $62.3 billion at Dec. 31, 2007. For more information, go to http://www.comerica.com/.