Bank of America Chief Administrative Officer Andrea Smith said that the company's presenting sponsorship of the Augusta National Women's Amateur "will be longstanding," according to Erik Spanberg of the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Bank of America is one of five presenting sponsors for the ANWA, and Smith said as soon as the tournament was announced, "We were the first ones to say, 'We'd love to sponsor that.'" World Golf HOFer Annika Sorenstam said the partnership with BofA was "organic," after having "found the connection 15 years ago" when the company was the title sponsor for the '03 Colonial, where Sorenstam became the first woman to compete in a PGA Tour event (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/3). Bank of America will debut a new spot during NBC/Golf Channel’s coverage of the tournament, which follows the path of a golf ball from a young girl’s living room to a tee box at Augusta. The spot demonstrates the bank’s emphasis on empowering women, especially in the workforce. Smith: “This is a historic moment that is so aligned with our values … this is a no-brainer" (John Aceti, THE DAILY).
