Chicago, Dec. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Guaranteed Rate Foundation, created in 2012 to positively impact lives in times of need, encourages people affected by tragedies and natural disasters to apply for assistance. The Foundation has also revamped its online presence and streamlined the application process to reach a wider audience and help more people.
"The goal of the Guaranteed Rate Foundation is to provide relief for people facing dire circumstances where we can make a huge impact in helping them recover or get back on their feet," says Guaranteed Rate Founder and Chief Executive Officer Victor Ciardelli. “We want to ensure that those in communities recently impacted by tragedies and natural disasters are aware of the Foundation and that we are here as a potential resource for them. Every single penny donated goes to assist someone in desperate need of help and Guaranteed Rate covers 100 percent of all of the Foundation's expenses."
Since its founding five years ago, the Guaranteed Rate Foundation has provided assistance to hundreds of people, including:
- The family of a firefighter who collapsed and died in the line of duty. The 54-year old left behind his wife and five children, ages 12 to 19. The Foundation covered mortgage payments and provided additional living expenses for one year to help the family stay on their feet.
- A retired woman whose roof, heating and walls were damaged during Hurricane Matthew. When she was denied assistance from FEMA due to insurance, she was unable to fully restore her home. The Foundation aided in covering the repairs to her roof and damage inside her home.
- A man whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey, leaving him with irreparable damage to his appliances, furniture, drywall and cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen. With social security as his only source of income, funds fell short when repairing the home to a livable condition. The Foundation stepped in to cover the cost of new appliances and building materials.
Foundation recipient Maureen Toscano, whose husband passed away while on duty as a firefighter, notes that the Foundation helped her family by providing financial assistance during an emotional time. “It’s just nice not to have that financial burden that can bring a lot of people down; it’s hard enough dealing with the emotional grieving process. We really appreciate what the Guaranteed Rate Foundation is doing for all of us and it means so much to myself and the children to know that people out there care.”
About the Guaranteed Rate Foundation
The Guaranteed Rate Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation established with one simple objective: Impact the lives of Guaranteed Rate employees, their families and their communities in times of desperate need in a meaningful and positive way. Since our founding in 2012, the Foundation has helped over 800 individuals who have experienced unforeseen hardships. Requests range from providing food, clothing and shelter following a natural disaster to assisting with housing, transportation and outstanding bills as a result of a medical emergency or loss of life. The Guaranteed Rate Foundation is funded by Guaranteed Rate Inc. and its employees in addition to private sponsors. To ensure every dollar donated is allocated to those in need, Guaranteed Rate Inc. underwrites all Foundation expenses. For more information on The Foundation and how to apply for assistance, visit www.rate.com/foundation. Special thanks to the Foundation’s Gold Level Sponsors for their support: CBCInnovis, DataVerify, Radian and Write-Green.
About Guaranteed Rate
Guaranteed Rate is one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, the company has approximately 195 offices across the U.S. and Washington, D.C., and is licensed in all 50 states. Since its founding in 2000, Guaranteed Rate has helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances and funded nearly $23 billion in loans in 2016 alone. The company has become the Home Purchase Experts® by introducing the world's first Digital Mortgage technology and offering low rate, low fee mortgages through an easy-to-understand process and unparalleled customer service. Guaranteed Rate won an American Business Award for its Digital Mortgage technology in 2016, ranked No. 1 in Scotsman Guide's Top Mortgage Lenders 2016, was chosen as Top Lender 2016 and 2017 by Chicago Agent magazine and made the Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces list seven of the past eight years. Visit rate.com for more information.
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