Houston Charity Dedicated to Empowering Women Awarded $4,800 Grant

HOUSTON, Sept. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) today awarded a $4,800 Partnership Grant Program (PGP) grant to PowHer Play Inc., a Houston-based organization that empowers women to improve their lives.  

The PGP award will be applied toward scholarships for women in transition and to offset expenses of the annual PowHer Play event. The one-day interactive workshop supports women to improve themselves and attain their goals.

Vanessa T. Reed, assistant vice president of Corporate Public Affairs and Community Reinvestment at Comerica Bank, said she previously attended one of the PowHer Play conferences and "was most impressed by the impact of the work they are doing in the community."

After sharing her experience with her colleagues at Comerica, they began discussing how they could become involved in supporting the organization. "As women, sometimes we have the desire to move to the next level but lack the direction and resources to take action," Ms. Reed said.

PowHer Play, which does business as The Chatman Women's Foundation, was founded in 2008 by consultant Shantera Chatman. PowHer Play is a professional women's event that allows women in business to mentor and coach each other. It also helps to raise money for scholarships for women in business, for women in transition (moving out of shelters), and those going back to school to better themselves.  

Ms. Chatman said the event has grown from 30 attendees in 2008 to more than 250 this year.

"I am thankful to Comerica Bank and FHLB Dallas for this opportunity to give back. Women everywhere are building strong businesses, going back to school, and raising their families with little to no help," Ms. Chatman said. "We are encouraging women to go after all the things they desire, both personally and professionally."

This is the first year PowHer Play has received a PGP award from Comerica Bank and FHLB Dallas.

PGP awards provide grants up to $12,000 to community-based organizations (CBOs).The funds may be used for research, organizational capacity-building, grant- and funding-application assistance, or contractual services. Through the PGP awards, FHLB Dallas matches a member's contribution to a CBO of $500 up to $4,000 at a 3:1 ratio. The grants are offered via a lottery system once a year through FHLB Dallas members. In 2015, FHLB Dallas awarded $225,000 in PGP funds to support 25 organizations. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

"The Partnership Grant Program provides resources to help community-based organizations with operationally related expenses," said Greg Hettrick, vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. "Grant funding often comes with specific stipulations about how the money may or may not be used. Operational expenses typically are not allowed, so a significant need exists for this type of financial support."

About Comerica Bank

Comerica Incorporated 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 $69.9 billion at June 30, 2015.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $42.6 billion as of June 30, 2015, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 865 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information.

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SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

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