The Atlanta Braves will host the third annual Atlanta Braves Youth Baseball Classic, presented by Bank of America, July 29-31, at the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy.

"We are thrilled to sponsor this competition among the next generation of great baseball players and help sustain a program that develops not only athletic abilities, but character and teambuilding skills," commented Geri Thomas, Bank of America Georgia Market President. "We believe we prosper as a company when our communities prosper. In 2010, Bank of America provided $4.5 million in philanthropic giving across the state to organizations and programs like this through which we see the long-term impact of our community investments."

"The Atlanta Braves continue our commitment to promote the growth of youth baseball through this program, which will also instill values such as character, discipline and teamwork that will have a positive impact on these youngsters for their lifetime," said John Schuerholz, Atlanta Braves team president. "The Atlanta Braves Youth Baseball Classic supports our on-going efforts to develop baseball and the young athletes who play it."

Thirty-two teams ages 5-12 will compete in the exciting pool play style tournament, take a team photo with an Atlanta Braves player, attend the Braves vs. Marlins on Saturday, July 30 at 7:10 p.m., and participate in a parade around the warning track before the game at Turner Field. All players will receive an official Atlanta Braves Youth Baseball Classic T-shirt, Braves gift bag and commemorative medal. Registration is now open at braves.com/youthclassic.

Last July, 32 youth baseball teams, made up of 450 athletes from Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, travelled to the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy to take part in the second annual Atlanta Braves Youth Baseball Classic. The 2010 Youth Baseball Classic Champions were: Sandtown Blue Jays from the 5 & 6 year old division, Murray Bandits from the 7 & 8 year old division, Tennessee MVP from the 9 & 10 year old division, and the Atlanta Eagles from the 11 & 12 year old division.

About 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 59 million consumer and small business relationships with 6,000 retail banking offices, more than 18,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with nearly 30 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 more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 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.

About the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy:
The Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy, opened in 2006, includes four baseball fields, funded by current and former Atlanta Braves players Chipper Jones, Brian Jordan, Mike Hampton, and John Smoltz each of whom contributed $75,000 to the Metro Atlanta YMCA, bringing an eight-acre signature youth sports complex to the heart of the redeveloped Carver community near Turner Field. The Atlanta Braves Foundation contributed $500,000, and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund contributed $144,000 to support the academy. This year alone, more than 3000 youth will play baseball in free or low-cost summer leagues at the Atlanta Braves Baseball Academy through the Junior Braves/RBI program.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.