Quicken Loans and its family of companies is supporting disaster relief efforts for the people of Haiti devastated by the recent earthquake. Following the news of the disaster, concerned Team Members immediately began asking how they could contribute to the cause. We are working with two of our valued partners to help with the effort, Samaritan Feet and the American Red Cross. With the help of a corporate donation, Samaritan Feet will be shipping up to 10,000 pairs of new shoes to provide relief to the children. Funds raised by team members through a payroll deduct campaign, jeans days, other fundraisers will be matched by Quicken Loans to support the American Red Cross’ Disaster Relief efforts for Haiti. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone who has been affected by this devastation.

To find out how you can help with disaster relief efforts, click on the following link which will take you to the American Red Cross page.

It's getting harder to donate these days due to the economy. Those who, in the past, donated regularly are even cutting back. Yet, charities need help now more than ever.

Detroit is one of the cities in dire need of support. Detroit's unemployment rate has risen to "17.8% vs. 9.8%" nationally. CNN's article "How to Give When the Giving Gets Tough" lists 13 creative ways to maximize your charitable impact without writing a huge check. It's even got a quote from one of our own:

Your company may be willing to give you more leeway than you think. To raise money for the Michigan chapter of the ALS Association this fall, Tony Nuckolls, 36, a vice president at Quicken Loans' Livonia, Mich., office, found some creative ways to solicit donations from fellow staffers.

In return for a $10 contribution, employees could escape the corporate dress code for a day. Or they could have an executive valet-park their car in the company lot. Campaigns like this generate awareness as well as money, says Nuckolls, whose office raised more than $30,000: "It's a topic of conversation, like viral marketing."

By C Niemiec

PROUD is the only word used to describe how I felt during the Flint Boys and Girls Club gym dedication. Rock Financial/Quicken Loans was one of the sponsors that helped make this renovation possible.

On the day of the dedication, the Community DIFF team and Patrick McInnis, president of Rock Financial/Quicken Loans, arrived early to get a good look at the new gym, and it looked gorgeous!

The first thing I noticed was the beautiful center court logo highlighting our investment along with the Detroit Shock, the Pistons Palace Foundation and the IMA Recreation Association. The renovations also included new lighting, bleachers, a new electronic scoreboard, paint and the addition of a brand new gym floor!

About 20 minutes later, 100 students arrived to see the new gym. As the kids took a seat on the floor for the dedication, I thought to myself, we donated much more than a new gym floor….we donated a safe place where kids can go to play and learn and essentially have a brighter future.  WOW, what a PROUD feeling!