Inning," which debuts September 28-29 on PBS and is the much
anticipated sequel to the landmark 1994 documentary, "Baseball." As
the sole corporate underwriter of the film - and Official Bank of
Major League Baseball(TM) and sponsor of nine MLB clubs - Bank of
America will utilize its relationship with Burns, and its long-
standing support of America's national pastime, to provide
opportunities for children in three iconic baseball cities to enjoy a
unique experience with the filmmaker.
Bank of America will leverage its MLB local club sponsorships to give
kids from nonprofit organizations in Chicago, New York and Boston the
chance to either experience the thrill of attending game at an MLB
ballpark, or attend a private screening of "The Tenth Inning." In
conjunction with the game or screening in each market, the children
will meet Burns and be able to quiz him about his upcoming film. The
first such activity occurs tomorrow, when 12 local students - who are
winners of an essay contest about baseball - will attend the Chicago
Cubs game at Wrigley Field and receive a special visit from Burns.
"Baseball truly exemplifies America's collective spirit and sense of
potential; and there are few better storytellers of this great game
than Ken Burns," said Anne M. Finucane, Global Strategy and Marketing
officer, Bank of America. "Our investment in 'The Tenth Inning' is
helping Ken Burns create for baseball fans another world-class film
that celebrates the game and captivates audiences."
Immediately preceding the PBS broadcast of the film, Bank of America
will air a customized version of its 30-second TV spot, entitled
"Stitching," which debuted during the 2010 Major League Baseball(R)
All-Star Game last month. The version for "The Tenth Inning" will
culminate with a voiceover that references Bank of America's proud
support of the film.
"Bank of America's involvement in this film really excites me because
they're using it as an authentic vehicle to celebrate the company's
long-standing support of America's national pastime with their
associates, customers and community partners - many of whom are
interested in seeing the 'The Tenth Inning,'" said Burns. "I am
especially proud to have Bank of America's backing for this film
because its history is so intertwined with the history of baseball."
Bank of America and Baseball
Bank of America's history with baseball dates back to the late 1880s,
when the bank first sponsored employee baseball teams in Washington,
D.C., and in the ensuing years in Massachusetts, Illinois, California,
and other states. That heritage of support for baseball continued at
Bank of America for more than 100 years through sponsorships,
promotions, advertising, charitable donations and other programming
that has been preserved in photographs and items in the company's
archives. Today, Bank of America is the Official Bank of Major League
Baseball(TM), and a proud sponsor of the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore
Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York
Yankees, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis
Cardinals, along with dozens of Minor League(TM) clubs. Bank of
America is also recognized as a leading financial advisor across the
global sports landscape, and the bank's Sports Finance and Advisory
Team helps to set opportunity in motion for owners, leagues and
franchises by addressing their full range of financial needs.
Bank of America began its support for Ken Burns on PBS with "The War"
in 2007 and continued in 2008 with "The National Parks: America's Best
Idea."
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions,
serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and
large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset
management and other financial and risk management products and
services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United
States, serving approximately 57 million consumer and small business
relationships with 5,900 retail banking offices, more than 18,000 ATMs
and award-winning online banking with 29 million active users. Bank of
America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and
is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading
across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations,
governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of
America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million
small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use
online products and services. The company serves clients through
operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation
stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average
and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
"The Tenth Inning"
"The Tenth Inning"tells the tumultuous story of America's national
pastime from the early 1990s to the present day, introducing an
unforgettable array of players, teams and fans, celebrating the game's
resilience and enduring appeal, and showcasing both extraordinary
accomplishments and devastating losses and disappointments. The film
highlights dramatic developments that transformed the game. "The Tenth
Inning" is a production of Florentine Films and WETA Washington, DC.
Directors: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. Writers/producers: David
McMahon, Lynn Novick and Ken Burns. Editor: Craig Mellish. Additional
editing: Erik Ewers. Cinematography: Buddy Squires, with Allen Moore
and Ken Burns. Narrator: Keith David.
