Award-winning, South Texas images featured at main branch in honor of environmental conservation
LAREDO, Texas - Commerce Bank will host a photo exhibit from the Images for Conservation Fund (ICF) “Images for Conservation, Book Three: Borderlands Edition,” at their main branch at 5800 San Dario beginning Tuesday, March 22 through April 11. The exhibit is free to the public during regular bank operating hours.
The exhibit, which makes its stop in Laredo after being on display at the Texas Capitol and the main branches of IBC Bank - Austin and San Antonio, features a vivid, full-color collection of over 300 photographs of spectacular wildlife from Webb and adjacent South Texas counties taken by 20 professional nature photographers from throughout North and South America and Europe. Each photographer was paired with a border-region ranch to create 20 competitive 2010 Pro-TourTM Photography Contest teams.
“We are very pleased to host an exhibit that celebrates the natural beauty of Laredo and our borderlands,” said Commerce Bank President & CEO Ignacio Urrabazo. “We look forward to having the community attend the exhibit and witness the work of an organization that has helped put Laredo’s environment in the spotlight through these captivating images.”
2010 marked the fifth consecutive year IBC was the Pro-Tour official bank and sponsor. This year, the bank participated in the contest with its hunting camp in Webb County. IBC Bank - Zapata CEO Renato Ramirez’ ranch, El Veleno, participated in the contest, as well. The photo submitted from the El Veleno team was awarded second place. In recognition of the commitment to nature, photography, and to the ICF, the book that features last year’s top images was dedicated to Renato Ramirez.
Images for Conservation Fund (ICF), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, creates sustainable development of rural economies through the establishment and prosperity of the Private Lands Nature Photo Tourism Industry. Nature Photography has the unique ability to preserve habitat permanently by making it profitable.
Commerce Bank is a member of International Bancshares Corporation (NASDAQ: IBOC), a $11.9 billion multi-bank financial holding company headquartered in Laredo, Texas, with 278 facilities and more than 440 ATMs serving 107 communities in Texas and Oklahoma. More information is available at www.ibc.com.
