DETROIT, December 14, 2010 – Quicken Loans Inc., the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender and a top-five retail mortgage lender, and its sister companies announced they raised nearly $400,000 for The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association’s Walk to Defeat ALS, well exceeding the group’s fundraising goal of $250,000. The effort resulted in record-breaking fundraising for the ALS chapters in Detroit, Cleveland and Scottsdale – where Quicken Loans has offices. There are approximately 150 Walks to Defeat ALS held across the country each year.
“This year, I asked Quicken Loans and our family of companies to double the $120,000 we raised last year. True to how our team members always respond, they weren’t satisfied with meeting the goal, they far exceeded it, raising nearly $400,000,” said Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson. “ALS research and support is close to my heart and to be able to help the ALS Association with such a huge donation is incredibly gratifying and speaks volumes about the 4,000 team members of our companies.”
ALS, more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When the cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement dies with them. Each year, 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed withALS, and every 90 minutes, someone dies as a result of the disease.
This year, Quicken Loans and sister company Fathead, the leading brand in sports and entertainment graphic products, served as official sponsors of the Cleveland, Detroit and Scottsdale’s Walk to Defeat ALS.
“We are so appreciative of the enthusiasm and support that Bill and the entire Quicken Loans family of companies brought to our walks,” said Michigan ALS Association’s Executive Director Stacey Orsted. “The Walk to Defeat ALS is our signature fundraiser and, thanks to all the support, we are going to be able to help a lot of people in the year ahead.”
The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global cutting-edge research and to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.
“I have been truly honored to serve as the corporate chair of the Detroit Walk for the past two years in an effort to bring awareness to this disease and to lead the charge in raising funds that will hopefully someday lead to a cure for all those suffering with ALS,” said Emerson.
Quicken Loans’ donations were raised through individual team member contributions, auctions, and creative team competitions that included themed lunches, bake sales and barbeques.
“Money raised by Quicken Loans and its family of companies will impact the ALS community greatly with funds going directly to ALS Certified Centers serving more than 400 local patients and families with patient advocacy and education,” said Orsted.
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About Quicken Loans Inc:
Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender and among the five largest overall retail home lenders in the United States. The company closed more than $25 billion in retail home loan volume across all 50 states in 2009, and recently closed its 1 millionth loan. Quicken Loans employs approximately 3,700 team members and generates loan production from five web centers located in Michigan, Ohio and Arizona. The company also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Michigan as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked #1 in customer satisfaction for home mortgage lending in the United States by J.D. Power and Associates for 2010. “QuickenLoans.com” has been named “Best of the Web” by Forbes and Money magazines. The company also has been named to Fortune magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies To Work For” seven consecutive years, ranking as high as #2, and named in the top-15 of Computerworld magazine’s “100 Best Places to Work In Technology” for six years in a row. Quicken Loans ranked #1 in the Detroit Free Press’ ‘Top Workplaces of 2010’ List. The company recently moved its headquarters and 1,700 of its 3,700 full-time team members to downtown Detroit. For more information about Quicken Loans, please visit www.quickenloans.com.
About Fathead LLC:
Fathead LLC is the industry leader in officially licensed sports and entertainment graphics, offering a wide range of images that unleash a fan’s passion and bring their favorite inspiration to life. The company’s “Real.Big.” flagship line offers life-size, high-definition wall graphics of professional athletes, animated heroes, entertainment characters, team helmets and logos. Fathead maintains more than 350 licenses including NFL, MLB, NASCAR, NBA, WNBA, MLS, NHL, WWE, UFC, AHL, Live Nation, Lucas film, Marvel, DC Comics, Hasbro, Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers, and many more. Fathead has been featured extensively on a variety of television shows, including Extreme Makeover Home Edition, ESPN, CNN, The Price is Right, Extra, 30 Rock, House and Big Bang Theory. Fathead, which designs and manufacturers its products in Michigan and Ohio, was recently named to the Detroit Free Press’ “Top Workplaces of 2010” list. To learn more about Fathead, visit www.fathead.com.
About Rock Holdings Inc:
Rock Holdings Inc. is the parent company for several financial services related businesses and employs over 4,000 team members. These client-focused and technologically-driven companies include Quicken Loans, the nation’s largest online home lender and its One Reverse Mortgage unit, the fastest growing reverse mortgage lender in America; Title Source, a nationwide leader of title insurance and settlement services; Quicken Loans Mortgage Services (QLMS), a mortgage origination platform servicing community banks and credit unions across the country; In-House Realty, the preferred real estate partner of Quicken Loans that matches clients with trusted real estate agents in all 50 states; and, Quizzle.com, the online innovator and website where consumers manage their home, money and credit. Rock Holdings, Inc. also recently moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit.