BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The BBVA Compass Foundation announced today that it made a grant of $25,000 to support the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute's mission to promote civil and human rights worldwide through education.

"As a member of the Birmingham community, we hope our donation will preserve an important element of the city's history and help remind everyone that it's up to them to improve the city, nation and world for future generations," said BBVA Compass Foundation Executive Director Reymundo Ocanas.

Saturday's BBVA Compass Concert for Human Rights in Birmingham, Ala., also put a spotlight on civil rights, recognizing pioneers who were instrumental in changing both Birmingham and the nation. The event, hosted by Jamie Foxx, celebrated 50 years of progress in the city since the events of 1963 galvanized the civil rights movement.

Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the Rev. Joseph Lowery, were honored by Birmingham Mayor William Bell at the concert, held at The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Lowery, now 91, co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and led the Montgomery bus boycott sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest in 1955.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. also made a surprise appearance and praised the city's role in the civil rights movement.

Co-produced by Live Nation, the BBVA Compass Concert for Human Rights took place at the end of a week-long remembrance of the 16^th Street Baptist Church bombing, which killed four girls in 1963 and marked what some consider a turning point in the struggle for civil rights.

"Those that gave up everything for each and every one of us, they had a passion for people and they had an unstoppable spirit because they were building a better future for all people," BBVA Compass East Regional Retail Executive Rosilyn Houston said as she kicked off the concert.  "Let's all, together, commit to keep that legacy alive and continue to work for life, liberty and human rights for all."

For his part, Foxx charmed the crowd with humor. He also shared personal conversations with individuals he admires, such as Harry Belafonte — conversations he said inspired him to make a difference.

The night was rounded out with lively performances by 2013 BET Lifetime Achievement Honoree and R&B singer-songwriter Charlie Wilson and Grammy® award-winning singer-songwriter Jill Scott, who both kept the crowd on its feet.

Shawn Gee, Geoff Gordon and Scott Mirkin were executive producers of the concert and are the same creative team behind some of the largest concerts and live streams in the U.S., including The Philly Fourth of July Jam and Budweiser Made In America Festival. Charlie "Mack" Alston also served as co-producer for the BBVA Compass Concert for Human Rights. 

"What an incredible evening," said Live Nation's Geoff Gordon. "To have superstars like Jamie Foxx, Jill Scott and Charlie Wilson come together with so many amazing leaders to bring attention to Birmingham and the city's national impact on the civil rights movement was a one of a kind experience."

About BBVA Compass FoundationThe BBVA Compass Foundation is a private foundation that funds eligible 501(c)(3) organizations through six focus areas: community development (including financial education), education, health and human services, arts and culture, diversity and inclusion, and environment and natural resources. The Foundation considers grant requests from nonprofit organizations serving the communities where BBVA Compass has a presence, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Texas. The Foundation targets 60 percent of its total giving to two primary focus areas, community development and education, which are designed to help reduce traditional barriers to financial well-being for low- to moderate-income communities — resulting in a better educated, more informed and smarter customer base that strengthens BBVA Compass' position in our communities. In 2012, more than $5 million was donated through the Foundation and charitable sponsorships to support endeavors in our six focus areas. For additional information visit www.bbvacompass.com/foundation.   

About BBVA CompassBBVA Compass is a Sunbelt-based financial institution that operates 688 branches, including 352 in Texas, 90 in Alabama, 78 in Arizona, 64 in California, 45 in Florida, 38 in Colorado and 21 in New Mexico. BBVA Compass ranks among the top 25 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 was recently awarded the 2013 Celent Model Bank Award for its new core banking platform. Additional information about BBVA Compass can be found at www.bbvacompass.com.

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

About Live Nation EntertainmentLive Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV) is the world's leading live entertainment company comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster.com, Live Nation Concerts, Artist Nation Management and Live Nation Media/Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.

About Birmingham Civil Rights InstituteThe mission of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) is to promote civil and human rights worldwide through education. Opened in 1992, BCRI presents an in-depth look at the Civil Rights Movement through time, from before the movement's inception through today's international struggle for universal human rights. BCRI is more than just a museum; it is a place of research, a teaching facility and an acknowledged learning center for people of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, BCRI reaches more than 140,000 individuals through tours and exhibitions as well as school and community outreach, public programs, special events, and archival collections. BCRI was recently named (for the second time in four years) Alabama Attraction of the Year by the Alabama Tourism Department. BCRI is open 10am - 5pm Tuesday through Saturday and 1pm - 5pm on Sunday. Ask about AAA, Smithsonian and Military discounts. Location: 520 Sixteenth Street North Birmingham, AL 35203. Call 205-328-9696 or www.bcri.org for more information.

SOURCE BBVA Compass

RELATED LINKShttp://www.bbvacompass.com