On March 16, Quicken Loans Community Fund and the Gilbert Family Foundation announced a $1.2 million donation toward various entities working to combat COVID-19. The donation follows other charitable efforts in Quicken Loans affiliated cities such as: Detroit, Cleveland, Phoenix, and Charlotte. The QL team members in these cities will participate in a matching fundraiser campaign, and the funds will be donated to the following organizations and communities:
- Detroit – Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Focus: HOPE, Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners Community Food Bank.
- Cleveland – Cleveland Food Bank and the United Way of Greater Cleveland.
- Phoenix – St. Mary’s Food Bank, the Area Agency on Aging of Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun United Way.
- Charlotte – Second Harvest Food Bank and the United Way of Central Carolinas.
The $1.2 million investment will include:
- $250,000 donation by both the Quicken Loans Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation into the United Way for Southeastern Michigan COVID-19 Community Response Fund that will support vulnerable populations and the nonprofits serving those in need amid the coronavirus pandemic ($500,000 total).
- $250,000 investment by the Gilbert Family Foundation to the United Community Housing Coalition to address housing instability, including mortgage, rental and utility assistance, as well as additional issues exacerbated by the effects of coronavirus on the community.
- $450,000 to be provided as flexible investments by the Quicken Loans Community Fund for small businesses and existing grant partners to ensure they can maintain operations in the weeks ahead.
“As Detroit’s largest employer and in an effort to prioritize the health, well-being and safety of our team members and community, it was important to Quicken Loans and the Rock Family of Companies to have our team members work from home over the coming weeks to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Jay Farner, CEO of Quicken Loans. “However, we understand that the coronavirus pandemic is going to cause unique consequences for our home community, which is why we are announcing a $1.2 million investment from the Quicken Loans Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation to support Detroit nonprofits and those in need during this difficult time.”
“Our actions today will impact the trajectory of the coronavirus tomorrow, which is why it is so critical that we, as a philanthropic community, immediately support Detroit residents through direct investments in families and those nonprofits that provide crucial services,” said Jennifer Gilbert, co-founder of the Gilbert Family Foundation. “The Gilbert Family Foundation is proud to invest in United Way and United Community Housing Coalition in order to mitigate the impacts of this virus today and for the foreseeable future. We encourage other organizations to join us in supporting this necessary cause.”
The United Way for Southeastern Michigan COVID-19 Community Response Fund will impact families by providing healthcare information, resources, food, and employment-related issues. Also, there will be a match dollar-for-dollar initiative through QL and Detroit-based organizations such as Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Focus: HOPE, Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners Community Food Bank.
“We are grateful to the Quicken Loans Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation for their leadership in helping to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations and organizations in Metro Detroit,” said Dr. Darienne Driver Hudson, President and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “There are 681,000 households in our area already struggling to meet their basic needs who are especially vulnerable to the potential impact of COVID-19, and this donation will ensure support and continuity of service for these families.”
“Today we are living in a moment of uncertainty, but I am steadied by the fact that so many of our team members and partners have come together to learn more about how each of us can do our part,” said Laura Grannemann, Vice President of the Quicken Loans Community Fund. “By investing alongside our 30,000 team members across the country and providing flexible funds to grant partners and small businesses in need, we are working together to build the health and resilience of our communities.”
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