BBVA Compass announces concert for human rights in Birmingham this September

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BBVA Compass on Thursday announced its sponsorship of a benefit concert for human rights in support of 50 Years Forward, a year-long celebration in Birmingham commemorating the 50th anniversary of what many see as the turning point in the civil rights movement.

The BBVA Compass Concert for Human Rights, co-produced by Live Nation, will take place at the end of a week-long remembrance of the events of 1963 involving the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The incident helped galvanize the civil rights movement and change the course of history. The benefit will be held at The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center on September 14 with an all-star line-up that will be announced later this spring. 

"The concert will be a joyful celebration of how far this country has come," said Alan Register, BBVA Compass Birmingham city president. "We expect people to come from across the nation to commemorate an important chapter in our history — and to also honor Birmingham for the pivotal role the city played. The hope is that the concert's message will inspire the next generation of innovators, risk-takers and leaders to make a difference in our communities."

Musicians and comedians will perform during the three-hour event, and community, human rights and civil rights movement leaders will make special appearances. The event's executive producers — Shawn Gee, Geoff Gordon and Scott Mirkin — have staged some of the largest concerts in the U.S., including The Philly Fourth of July Jam and Budweiser Made In America.

50 Years Forward: The Movement that Changed the World, spearheaded by the City of Birmingham, is an ongoing commemoration of the profound and sometimes tragic events that took place in Birmingham in the '60s — events that led to positive, transformative and lasting change. The concert serves as a global call-to-action to propel human rights issues forward with the goal of equality for all.

"We are appreciative of all of the national attention the city has received so far this year," said Birmingham Mayor William Bell. "It underscores the value of not only preserving our rich cultural heritage but also the urgency of civil and human rights 50 years forward. Our thanks to BBVA Compass and Live Nation for hosting such an important event in 2013 for our city."

About BBVA Group

BBVA Compass is a subsidiary of BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BBVA (NYSE: BBVA) (MAD: BBVA). BBVA is a customer-centric global financial services group founded in 1857. The Group has a solid position in Spain, is the largest financial institution in Mexico, and has leading franchises in South America and the Sunbelt region of the United States. Its diversified business is geared toward high-growth markets and relies on technology as a key sustainable competitive advantage. BBVA ranks among the leading eurozone banks in terms of return on equity and efficiency. Corporate responsibility is at the core of its business model. BBVA fosters financial education and inclusion, and supports scientific research and culture. It operates with the highest integrity, a long-term vision and applies best practices. More information about the BBVA Group can be found at www.bbva.com.

About BBVA Compass

BBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 708 branches, including 367 in Texas, 93 in Alabama, 79 in Arizona, 65 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 21 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass ranks among the top 20 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks among the largest banks in Alabama (2nd), Texas (4th) and Arizona (5th). BBVA Compass has been recognized as one of the leading Small Business Administration lenders and ranked third in American Banker's 2012 reputation study of the leading 30 banks in the U.S. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com.

Editor's Note: BBVA Compass is a trade name of Compass Bank.

SOURCE BBVA Compass