By: W Kemp

Arts and Scraps has been named one of the 16 “Green Leaders” statewide by the Detroit Free Press. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this month, Quicken Loans team members and their guests learned firsthand why Arts & Scraps were given such a GREEN honor. Working in the Arts & Scraps warehouse, team members prepared art kits for special events and children with items that were donated and recycled.

Packets included everything that is needed to let a child’s imagination run wild and create something interesting….like cool CD People with hair made from shredded paper, the toe area of socks (yep, you read correctly) as legs, and used raffle tickets to add flare. How many times have we thrown away used raffle tickets after an event? Well, not anymore. All the items in the art kit require no gluing or scissors. This makes for easy clean up and projects can be done anywhere since everything needed is in the bag.

Arts & Scraps works with more than 250,000 children a year and recycles 28 tons of donated products. The Community DIFF Makers did a fantastic job sorting, packing, and laughing at our visit with Arts & Scraps. Team member Megan LaFave, from the FOCUS team, said “this is the best volunteer event ever, I would totally come back”.

Quicken Loans and our family of companies congratulates Arts & Scraps on being soooo GREEN! If you would like to learn more about Arts & Scraps check out their website at where there is fun for all ages.

By: Victoria Araj

On Saturday, Oct. 3, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association held its annual Walk to Defeat ALS on Belle Isle and more than 500 people, including Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, braved rainy weather to raise awareness for the disease that affects someone every 90 minutes.  ALS, (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the cells that aid in muscle control.

This year, Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson served as the Corporate Chairman for the Walk and he 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 individual team member contributions, internal auctions for unique prizes, creative team competitions such as raffles, themed lunches and even valet parking for a day, the goal was surpassed and more than $120,000 was raised.  Of the total that was donated, the Cleveland office raised $9,000 and the Scottsdale office raised over $10,000 for their respective chapters.