-2010 walk represents Association’s 25th year in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease-
Detroit, Mich. – Sept. 16,2010 – Quicken Loans Inc., the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender and fifth largest retail lender overall, and Fathead LLC, the leading brand in sports and entertainment graphic products, today announced they will serve as the official sponsors of Detroit’s Walk to Defeat ALS, the ALS Association’s annual fundraising event on Saturday, September 25, 2010. This will be the second year Quicken Loans and Fathead have participated in the event. The two companies have pledged to make the 2010 walks in Detroit, Cleveland (Sunday, Sept. 19) and Scottsdale (Sunday, Oct. 24) — where Quicken Loans has offices — record-breaking fundraisers for their respective ALS chapters. Quicken Loans’ family of companies employs more than 3,200 team members in the Metro-Detroit area. Quicken Loans and its family of companies in August moved their headquarters and 1,700 team members to downtown Detroit.
This year’s walk will take place on the Detroit Riverfront, where participants will enjoy walking along the river with spectacular views of both Detroit and Windsor, Canada. Check-in for the three-mile walk is at 9 a.m.; the walk begins at 10 a.m.
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 with ALS, and every 90 minutes, someone dies as a result of the disease.
The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to find a cure for ALS through global cutting-edge research. The group also is dedicated to empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s disease to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.
“I’m honored to serve as the corporate chairman of the Detroit walk for a second year and I’m excited to walk with hundreds of our team members to raise awareness about ALS. This role has given me the opportunity to challenge our family of companies to do all they can do to help combat this terrible disease that touches the lives of so many families, including my own,” said Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson.
To expand fundraising opportunities beyond the cities hosting walks, Quicken Loans will kick off a “Tweet for ALS” campaign on Monday, Sept. 20 with a goal of raising $70,000 in seven days. Visit www.crowdrise.com/quickenloans for more information.
The Walk To Defeat ALS is the Association’s national fundraising event, which includes corporate sponsorships, and corporate and family walk teams. To register for the Detroit walk, visit www.alsa-michigan.org. For more information about The ALS Association, the Michigan Chapter and the critical research and patient services offered, call (248) 680-6540 or visit www.alsa-michigan.org.
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About Quicken Loans Inc.:
Quicken Loans Inc. is the nation’s largest online retail mortgage lender and the 5th largest overall retail home lender in the United States. The company closed more than $25 billion in retail home loan volume across all 50 states in 2009. Quicken Loans employs nearly 4,000 team members and generates loan production from five web centers located in Michigan, Ohio and Arizona. Quicken Loans also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Michigan as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. “QuickenLoans.com” has been named “Best of the Web” by Forbes and Money magazines. Quicken Loans has been named to Fortune magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies To Work For” eight consecutive years, ranking as high as #2. Quicken Loans has also been named in the top 15 of Computer World magazine’s “100 Best Places To Work In Technology” for six years in a row. Quicken Loans recently moved its headquarters and 1,700 full-time team members to downtown Detroit. For more information about Quicken Loans, please visit www.quickenloans.com.
About Rock Holdings Inc.:
Rock Holdings Inc. is the parent company for several financial services related businesses. 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. employs nearly 4,500 team members and recently moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit.
About Fathead LLC:
Fathead LLC is the leading brand in sports and entertainment graphic products. Fathead products give fans the opportunity to bring their favorite passion or inspiration to life. Fathead products include Fathead Customs, Fathead Tradeables, Fathead Skins, and Fathead’s flagship “Real Big:” the officially licensed life-size, hi-def wall graphics of professional athletes, animated heroes, entertainment characters, team helmets and logos. Fathead maintains license agreements with leading consumer brands across many industries and professional sports leagues. For more information, visit www.fathead.com.