By: Victoria Araj

Each year, Crain’s Detroit Business seeks young professionals who are considered difference makers in the metro Detroit area and honor them with the 20 in their 20s Award.  Quicken Loans is pleased to have one of their team members, Ryan South, 26, nominated for this prestigious award.  Ryan is a President’s Club banker at Quicken Loans, which is the company’s highest distinction for mortgage bankers to achieve and previously served as a Director of Mortgage Banking.

“This has been a personal goal of mine and it’s an honor to be a part of the nominated class because this award highlights the talent our area has to offer and the individuals who are dedicated to staying here and growing our city and state,” South said.

The 20 in their 20s Award highlights the business and creative talents of local professionals under the age of 30.  The criteria for nominations revolve around professional and personal achievements and community involvement.  Nominees hail from the arts, retail, technology, and many other professions but have one common goal:  to make metro Detroit an exciting region to live, work and play.

Since becoming a homeowner in the Albert Kahn-designed Garden Court Condos in the Rivertown District at the age of 23, Ryan has considered himself a PR rep for the City of Detroit.  He promotes Detroit events to anyone who will listen and was a featured homeowner in the Crain’s Detroit House Party the last two years.  The Detroit News featured Ryan and his condo on the front page of their Homestyle special section, complete with all of the details of his move and his ability to modernize his home while keeping the historic details inherent throughout the loft.

“I don’t leave the city unless I’m driving to work,” said South.  In just a few months, he won’t even have to leave for work, as Quicken Loans will be moving its headquarters to the Compuware Building.

“In the next several years, I believe we are going to see more people moving back into the City, growing and enjoying all that the city has to offer.  We will start to see more people making the decision to be part of something big right here in their own backyard,” South contends.  “Urban living is a beautiful thing, it’s affordable here and there’s a variety of places to live.  There have been significant improvements just since the Super Bowl--the Riverfront, residential developments, events like the Winter Blast, we will see consistent betterment.”

Quicken Loans wishes Ryan good luck as the 2010 class of 20 in their 20s will be announced at the end of the month.

By: Victoria Araj

On Saturday, a few of us got bundled up and braved icy temperatures to hang out with thousands of people at the Motown Winter Blast, a winter celebration in the heart of Detroit on Campus Martius.  The words “live music, free ice skating and marshmallow roast” was all that we needed to hear to hop in the car and head downtown.  The cost to enter was a donation of either clothing, canned food, a book or $1—all of which would be donated to Matrix Human Services.

First, we headed to the Hard Rock Café for lunch and watched out the window as kids waved the crafty creations they made at the kids tent.  It was fun to see families together having a great time taking in the sights and sounds of the City and munching on an elephant ear or two. 

We were interested in checking out the Ice Sculpture Garden that Quicken Loans sponsored and we were impressed with the array of designs and the cool lights that made them glow.  We sat in giant ice thrones and put our faces through the “cut outs” of Eskimos made of ice.  Athletes, animals and cartoons were depicted and the Motown Museum sculpture commemorated 25 years of operation.  In fact, each band that performed on stage played a variety of Motown songs during their sets which definitely added to the Detroit flavor.  Continuing with the theme was a Motown stand set up inside the Compuware Building where I purchased a 50th Anniversary t-shirt while watching a live Michael Jackson tribute.

We wandered around Campus Martius taking in all of the sights:  families ice skating, people roasting marshmallows at stations around the rink and kids throwing snowballs in Cadillac Square.  The laughter of children echoed from the outdoor games, amusement rides and snowshoe areas while the familiar scent of cotton candy and other food filled the air.  After five hours of investigating every corner of the event, we warmed up in one of the comfort zone tents and finished our day with a glass of wine at Enoteca’s wine tasting event. 

While during the spring and summer months, Detroit is known for fun times on the riverfront, the Winter Blast proves Detroiters know how to have a good time in any weather!  Oh, and that small cost to enter made a big difference…75,000 people attended Winter Blast and more than 500,000 pounds of items were collected in donations that will serve our community.  Chillin’ at the Winter Blast was cool in more ways than one!

Twelve passionate Quicken Loans team members from our Cleveland office spent a cold winter’s night spreading compassion at Pearl Road United Methodist Church last week.

The group pitched in to help feed the homeless and the working poor at the church. Many of the volunteers expressed how much they enjoyed reaching out in their community.

Volunteer Quicken Loans mortgage banker Michael Santora said, “I have been searching for an opportunity to do something just like this!” The Community DIFF team is proud of the way that Cleveland team members are willing to spend their time coming together to help make a difference.

First place winners, Senior Alexis Akrisge and Junior Donte Green both of Cass Tech, are flanked by Pistons legend Rick Mahorn and Fathead COO Patrick McInnis.

Quicken Loans, Fathead and the Detroit Pistons Palace Foundation sponsored the 5th Annual Know Your Black History Event on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History (CHW).  Approximately 200 students came together from Southwestern High School, Cass Tech High School and University Prep. Academy High School to cheer on their classmates and participate in the tour of the  “And Still I Rise” exhibit at the CHW Museum.

Guest speakers included Rick Mahorn (Detroit Pistons legend), Patrick McInnis (Chief Operating Officer of Fathead), Wendy Kemp (Director of Community Relations for Quicken Loans), Juanita Moore (President and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum), Sharon McClendon (Director of Community Affairs for MY-TV 20), Dr. Darius (WJLB Deejay), and Tuskegee Airmen Frank Gregory.  The speakers shared personal experiences, contributed inspiring dialogue and expressed the impact of Black History in their own lives and took time to answer questions from the students in the audience.

Each of the participating schools chose two students to represent them in the scholarship competition. The contestants had three minutes to present their appreciation for Black History via different mediums such as speech, song, rap, poetry, video montage, and other art-focused submissions.  The winners took home scholarship prizes to offset their cost of higher education, a Pistons Fathead and four tickets to the Detroit Pistons v. San Antonio Spurs game on Feb. 21. 

The judges had a difficult time deciding which student would win the $10,000 prize.  As time ran out, the discussion turned to how much was needed to grant two first place prizes. Within seconds, Quicken Loans took the lead with Fathead and offered the additional funds needed to award two $10,000 scholarships. Everyone was impressed with the variety of talent from all of the students who presented. 

Senior Alexis Akrisge of Cass Tech won with an inspirational speech and video montage and Junior Donte Green of Cass Tech won for his combination of rap, poetry and speech.  The students held hands in anticipation of finding out the winner and both jumped in excitement when they learned they had both received first place. Teachers, parents and students were shocked and excited by the offering of the second scholarship. It showed that people involved with the event cared and wanted to set a precedence for the younger students in the audience that no matter what they should do their best, because they could be the next winner of the Know Your Black History scholarship contest.

Kiara Rucker of University Prep won a $2,500 scholarship and Mack Taylor (Southwestern), Crystal Sims (University Prep) and Christina Wright (Southwestern) were each awarded $1,000.

The students certainly made this special event memorable with their creativity and guest speakers inspired the audience by their personal stories of determination and success. All of us at Quicken Loans and Fathead congratulate all of the participants in this year’s scholarship competition and we look forward to seeing the students on center court at the February 21 Pistons game.

Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson and Community Relations Director Wendy Kemp at the ALS Assocation's Award Reception.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Quicken Loans’ CEO Bill Emerson accepted the Iron Horse Award from the ALS Association’s Michigan Chapter at the 25th Anniversary Research Update and Chapter Recognition Reception held at the Southfield Public Library.  The award was presented to Emerson for his efforts as the 2009 Corporate Chairman for the Walk to Defeat ALS in Detroit.  He is serving in the same role for the 2010 Walk which will be held on the Detroit River Walk in September.

Emerson challenged all Quicken Loans team members and its sister companies to raise $75,000 for the disease that affected both his brother-in-law and a close friend. Through team member contributions, internal auctions for unique prizes and creative team competitions, the goal was surpassed. Quicken Loans team members raised more than $120,000 to support the ALS Association’s signature fundraising event.

In addition to the Iron Horse Award, Quicken Loans and Fathead were honored as the top Corporate Team.   Two team members from the Quicken Loans family of companies were among nine individuals recognized for their outstanding fundraising efforts.  The award, a foot-shaped glass rendering, was presented to Brenda Patton of Quicken Loans and Ross Sanders of Bizdom U.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (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 these cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement dies with them. Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes, someone dies as a result of the disease.

The ALS fundraising event was coordinated through Quicken Loans’ Community DIFF (community relations) team. In 2009, Quicken Loans donated nearly $1 million to more than 100 local charities.

Detroit’s transportation system of yesterday and tomorrow will be featured in a PBS special airing on Monday, Feb. 8 at 10 p.m. on Detroit Public Television. “Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City” features the M-1 RAIL Project -- the light rail line that will connect the City of Detroit’s riverfront, downtown business district, leading educational, cultural and medical institutions, and key neighborhoods -- and includes an interview of Rock Enterprises’ President and Chief Operating Officer Matt Cullen. As President and CEO of the M-1 RAIL project, Cullen discusses the opportunity for Detroit to be more globally competitive and how a regional transit system is just one way to drive economic development by connecting cultural, employment and entertainment centers in Michigan.

Dan Gilbert and Roger Penske serve as co-chairmen, laying the groundwork for construction which is scheduled to begin later this year on Detroit’s Woodward Avenue.  The 3.4 mile light rail line will pass Quicken Loans’ future home at the Compuware Building at Campus Martius.

The “Blueprint America” series undertaken by PBS is a collection of TV, radio and Web stories that explore our nation’s infrastructure and how the government can help improve this decaying part of our landscape.

By: Victoria Araj

Michigan winters can be grueling and for many, basic necessities like heat and electricity are often a burden on family budgets.  Quicken Loans is proud to be a sponsor of The Heat and Warmth Fund’s (THAW) 7th Annual WWJ NewsRadio 950 Winter Survival Radiothon which begins Friday, Feb. 5 and runs through Saturday, Feb. 6.  THAW is the coolest non-profit bringing heat to those whose service is off, received a utility company shut-off notice or has depleted heating fuel.

Quicken Loans is sponsoring the online auction that features cool wall graphics from Fathead.com along with trips, tickets and much more.  The auction is now open and will be available until 6 p.m. eastern on Thursday, Feb. 11!  Click here to start bidding on your favorite items!  The 31-hour Radiothon takes place at the MGM Grand in Detroit, staffed with volunteers taking phone pledges from 5 a.m. Friday until noon on Saturday.

Since 1986, THAW has provided around $70 million in assistance to more than 124,000 Michigan elderly, unemployed, underemployed and disabled individuals who found themselves in need of emergency energy assistance.  Donors are truly helping their neighbors since 91 percent of every dollar received directly helps those in need.

Help us in assisting THAW reach their goal of $700,000, our dollars help families here in our home state of Michigan stay warm this year!