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Giving Back
Solutions provider CoreLogic announced that it has seeded Operation HOPE’s new Disaster Fund with $250,000. The fund was launched to enable a first line of response for financial recovery to disaster survivors.
Colonial Savings held a back-to-school supply drive at the company’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters to benefit two area schools. Hundreds of supplies were collected for students at Stripling Middle School and Fort Worth ISD Leadership Academy at Forest Oak.
“Colonial’s long history of contributing to the community is inspiring,” said Debbi Spiker, associate vice president of employee relations and benefits. “The generosity and compassion of the Colonial family, in support of these two wonderful schools, was extraordinary and made such a difference in the lives of so many children.”
Colonial has a longstanding relationship with Stripling Middle School who recently named their auditorium after Colonial Founder and Chairman Emeritus Jimmy Dubose, who attended the school.
After the back-to-back disasters of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, businesses in the housing, mortgage and finance industries all leant a hand for the relief efforts from these two devastating storms. Here are just a few of the contributions:
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are extending relief to homeowners affected by both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, including suspending foreclosures and evictions.
Wells Fargo is donating $500,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, and an additional $500,000 to local nonprofits focused on recovery and relief efforts in Texas.
JPMorgan Chase said it is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross and other nonprofit organizations working to provide immediate relief. Additionally, the company said it will match employee donations to these organizations.
BB&T Corporation is contributing $100,000 to the American Red Cross of Greater Houston to help support disaster relief, along with sending shipments of humanitarian supplies. The company also donated $500,000 to disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Irma. The donation will be split between the American Red Cross and the remainder will be comprised of eight truckloads worth of humanitarian supplies such as bottled water and other basic essentials.
Civic Financial Services closed their Redondo Beach, California, headquarters for one day to assemble backpacks with relief items for Hurricane Harvey evacuees staying at the BakerRipley Emergency Shelter at Houston’s NRG Stadium. The company’s 100+ employees put together 1,000 backpacks which included essential supplies including towels, socks, toiletry items and snacks – along with a note of support and encouragement.
Coppell, Texas-based Caliber Home Loans announced it partnered with the American Red Cross to provide shelter and supplies to families affected by Hurricane Harvey. The lender also established a matching gift program for all Caliber Home Loans employee donations received through October.
Coming to aide in the relief in a different way, Notarize is offering free notarizations to those impacted.
“Like many in America, we’ve wondered both individually and collectively how we can do our part to help. Frankly, we weren’t exactly sure what that would be, but our team has been searching for ways we could make life even a little easier for those who have lost everything,” the company said.
Homebuilder Lennar also pledged at least $1 million to the United Way of Greater Houston Flood Relief Fund to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Assurant Foundation, the charitable arm of Assurant, donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross for its Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
BBVA Compass, whose holding company is headquartered in Houston and which has a significant presence in the city, announced that its foundation will donate $250,000 to the American Red Cross and the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to aid disaster recovery.
Launches
Michigan-based Flagstar Bank has formally launched its charitable arm, Flagstar Foundation. The venture isn’t new, but formalizes a process of giving back to the community that Flagstar has been involved in for decades. The bank said its
focus will be charitable giving in specific areas that align with the bank’s community reinvestment activities, employee board memberships, and volunteer activities.
“Flagstar has a 30-year tradition of investing in its communities,” said Beth Correa, president of the foundation. “We now want to formalize that investment through a foundation that will support our corporate goals as well as our employees’ involvement in the nonprofit world. Our objective is to make focused, impactful grants in the communities where we do business.”
Awards
loanDepot CEO Anthony Hseih was recently named Person of the Year by the Asian Real Estate Association of America. The annual award is given to a person who made biggest impact increasing Asian American and Pacific Islander homeownership.
“It is very humbling to be recognized as Person of the Year by AREAA,” Hsieh said. “For me, it has been important to challenge the status quo and look for smarter ways to approach business.”
