Float will debut in America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van
DETROIT, November 21, 2019 – Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans and The Parade Company unveiled a new float, “Home for Your Dreams,” today outside of the Quicken Loans headquarters in downtown Detroit. Paul W. Smith of News/Talk 760 WJR served as emcee and was joined by Detroit Public Schools Community District All City Marching Band and hundreds of Quicken Loans team members in unveiling the float.
The highly-anticipated float, which will make its debut in the 93rd America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van, was introduced to much fanfare, accompanied by Master of Ceremonies Paul W. Smith of News/Talk 760 WJR, the Detroit Public Schools Community District All City Marching Band and surrounded by hundreds of Quicken Loans team members.
Built by The Parade Company, “Home For Your Dreams” is a celebration of the power of homeownership and the incredible impact it will have on future generations. The centerpiece of the float is a 25-foot-tall home, which features two Detroit children dreaming of the positive impact they’re going to have in their community. Thirty-two signs are placed within the float to represent different Detroit neighborhoods. Additional highlights include a nine-foot Q-LINE replica that is cantilevered throughout the float, as well as cars that appear to be driving around Belle Isle. Even the Joe Louis Fist monument is included, with the fist moving back and forth in a virtual fist bump to spectators.
Tony Michaels, President & CEO of The Parade Company, was joined by Laura Grannemann, Vice President of the Quicken Loans Community Fund, the philanthropic arm of Quicken Loans, at today’s unveiling.
“We’ve enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Quicken Loans and we are so pleased they could mark this historic event with this bold and creative float,” said Michaels. “This float is a special representation of so much of what makes Detroit great and we can’t wait for Detroiters and our television audience to see it on Thanksgiving Day.”
“America’s Thanksgiving Parade is one of Detroit’s most treasured traditions and one that Quicken Loans is proud to have supported for the last ten years,” said Grannemann. “This float celebrates the unique neighborhoods that are the soul of the city, while highlighting the commitment Rocket Mortgage has to supporting an inclusive, thriving and resilient Detroit by investing in housing, employment and public life.”
Rocket Mortgage is passionate about giving back to its hometown. Through the Quicken Loans Community Fund, Rocket Mortgage has invested more than $200 million to Detroit-based organizations and programming, and its team members have spent more than 400,000 hours volunteering in Detroit’s neighborhoods.
Voted as America’s No. 1 Holiday Parade by the 2018 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and recognized as one of the best Thanksgiving parades in the country by U.S. News & World Report Travel, the 93rd America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van takes place on storied Woodward Avenue on Thursday, Nov. 28.
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About Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage
Detroit-based Quicken Loans is the nation’s largest home mortgage lender. The company closed nearly half a trillion dollars of mortgage volume across all 50 states from 2013 through 2018. In late 2015 Quicken Loans introduced Rocket Mortgage, the first fully digital mortgage experience. Today, 98% of all home loans originated by Quicken Loans utilize Rocket Mortgage Technology.
Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010. Today, Quicken Loans and its Family of Companies employ more than 17,000 full-time team members in Detroit’s urban core. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Phoenix. Quicken Loans also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction for primary mortgage origination by J.D. Power for the past 10 years, 2010 – 2019, and also ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers the past six consecutive years, 2014 – 2019.
Quicken Loans was once again named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2019 and has been included in the magazine’s top 1/3rd of companies named to the list for the past 16 consecutive years. In addition, Essence Magazine named Quicken Loans “#1 Place to Work in the Country for African Americans.”
For more information and company news visit QuickenLoans.com/press-room.
About The Parade Company
Founded in 1984, The Parade Company is a not-for-profit organization governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation whose board of directors is comprised of key civic and corporate leaders in the greater Detroit region. The Parade Company is celebrating more than 90 years of Parade tradition in Detroit and is committed to funding, creating and executing the best family events in Michigan. The Parade Company staff, board of directors and thousands of parade volunteers work year-round to bring a wide variety of magnificent events to the City of Detroit and the region including the Ford Fireworks, Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot, and America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van. Follow The Parade Company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.