The countdown is on to make all the things come together and to cross off all our neverending lists. From shopping lists to holiday traditions checklists, we’re all doing our best to show our loved ones how much they mean to us (and to be sure we haven’t forgotten something or someone)!
The “most wonderful time of the year” can also be one of the most stressful. But this is especially so for families struggling with job loss, a death in the family, military deployment, a health crisis, etc.
Enter #SpreadCheer2021
Although the need is overwhelming, we’re are hoping to make the Christmas season a bit brighter for at least a few. Our team’s reached out to local schools, hospitals, churches, ministerial associations and other community groups to identify 12 families in need of support and a little hope in the second year of our “SpreadCheer” project.
This Christmas, we’re hoping to #SpreadCheer by donating to 12 local families in need throughout the 12 Days of Christmas.
Please watch our Facebook page daily, where we’ll share a bit about each family’s story. And we encourage you to do what you can to help others in need in your communities.
Josh Brandt, one of our home loan originators, nominated the Moranville family of Norwalk, Iowa. Their son Caleb 11 is courageously fighting bone cancer, which the family discovered last fall due to a sports injury. Watch our Facebook page to learn more about Caleb’s story and those of our other families.
“Many local families are facing a variety of hardships, which can feel magnified this time of year,” says Chuck West, president of Midwest Family Lending. “Although we would love to do more, we hope a little support will ease the burden for these families — especially during this season.”
Midwest Family Lending’s Curvin Larson presents Nancy Mwirotsi, founder & executive director of Pursuit of Innovation (Pi515) a $1500 donation through our MFLCares program. Pi515 is MFLCares’ featured charity this month.
DES MOINES, Iowa – As many are counting down the days ‘til Christmas with chocolate, toys & even pet treats, it seems fitting our MFLCares charity for December creates opportunities for STEM (science, technology, engineering & math — hence, counting 😊) skills, work-based learning, entrepreneurship, and innovation for local, underserved youth.
Pursuit of Innovation (Pi515) challenges, inspires and teaches technology skills to students with potential. Through innovative programming, the local nonprofit empowers refugee and underserved youth to achieve success, garner influence and gain stability in their families and communities.
“We are excited to include another partner in our family of friends,” says Nancy Mwirotsi, founder & executive director of Pi515. “Thank you, Midwest Family Lending. Growing a community that shares our goals for making sure that kids have opportunities to excel is essential.”
Through MFLCares, Midwest Family Lending employees nominate and select one cause a month to support that is meaningful to them. Curvin Larson, mortgage loan originator/fulfillment coordinator with our Team Chedester mortgage team nominated Pi515 after learning about its innovative impact from local news coverage.
“I was looking for a new kind of cause for us to support through our MFLCares program this year,” Curvin says. “And I loved what I’d seen and heard from Nancy about what they’re doing to change the lives of youth in our community. Working for another organization with a similar focus in the past has made me a believer in the real world impact of organizations like Pi515.”
About Pursuit of Innovation (Pi515)
Mwirotsi, a Kenyan immigrant, has dedicated her life to advocating for underrepresented individuals including refugees, young women and people of color. She believes success comes from opportunity. While helping refugee mothers in the community obtain jobs, she realized that their children needed support too. She understood these students could be the first in their families to complete high school or attend college. And she wanted to create a pathway for their success.
In 2014, her nonprofit Pursuit of Innovation (Pi515) was born. And seven years later, Nancy and Pi515 have seen more than 100 students graduate high school and seek post-secondary education annually. She has provided these youth with confidence and skills for the future. These skills start with an afterschool STEM education. And this develops into a personal relationship with each student, allowing them to garner influence and gain stability in their families and communities.
Giving Youth the {Code} to Succeed
Pi515’s vision is to ensure that Pi515 students are exposed to coding, innovation and critical thinking. Mwirotsi and her team hope to change lives by offering learning opportunities, exposing students to real-life skills and creating an environment that encourages determination to overcome problems.
This innovative non-profit creates pathways to success in STEM-related careers for diverse youth from low-income families. It does so by partnering with industry professionals who teach coding and other STEM-related skills augmented with career-focused soft skills. Industry professionals teach high school students and empower them to mentor and share these skills with middle school students. In turn, this prepares students for a future that includes continuing education and employment in Iowa’s growing tech sector.
“Work has shifted, and more so after the pandemic,” Mwirortsi says. “Current job listings indicate where things are going; most employers now require digital skills and automation to take over some jobs. We have been at the forefront of Tech-Ed innovation. Our model prepares kids for future work and out of poverty. We have seen 100 plus low-income young people get into college and careers each year.”
Pi515 is always looking for community members who share its mission and vision to serve local students. By offering your time and talents to Pi515, you can help challenge, inspire and teach technology skills to students with potential. And your time will help empower refugee and underserved youth to achieve success, garner influence and gain stability in their families and communities.
Pi515 is hosting its second Girls’ Entrepreneurship Summit through a partnership with John Pappajohn and John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. The six-week program will support and mentor young women ages 11-22 to make their business ideas a reality. They’ll learn how to start a business, create concepts, develop budgets, and business, financial and marketing skills.
MFLCares is a program of Midwest Family Lending, a local mortgage company committed to creating customers for life and to community impact. Check out our calendar to learn more about the great causes MFLCares has supported this year.
The future of work is creating space to honor young people’s leadership. We will be driven by the desire to elevate young people to create, design and innovate to not just use future technology but build it.
Nancy Mwirotsi, founder & executive director of Pi515
Midwest Family Lending’s Jackie Ezell (center) presents Meribeth Haynes, board president and Nicole Berger, communications director, with the Urbandale Education Foundation a $1500 donation through our MFLCares program. The Urbandale Education Foundation is MFLCares’ featured charity this month.
URBANDALE, Iowa – We’re proud to have called Urbandale, Iowa “home” to our main office for 25 years. And we’re honored to support the Urbandale Education Foundation (UEF) with a $1500 donation as our featured charity this month through our MFLCares program.
“This donation means so much to our organization as it will help us fund much needed teacher grants in the Urbandale School District,” says Meribeth Haynes, board president of the Urbandale Education Foundation. “Those grants pay for things the teachers want to bring to their classroom but current budgets do not allow.”
Through MFLCares, Midwest Family Lending employees nominate and select one cause a month to support that is meaningful to them. Jackie Ezell, our mortgage loan closer who is also an Urbandale resident, nominated UEF after seeing firsthand “how much these teachers take on” when her son was a student in the district.
“I chose the Urbandale Education Foundation because it takes care of one of our most precious commodities, our Urbandale teachers,” Jackie says. “I love the fact that UEF has been able to give out over $40,000 in teacher grants. It’s about time we take care of those who care and teach our kids!”
About The Urbandale Education Foundation (UEF) & How You Can Help
The Urbandale Education Foundation (UEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to enhancing the educational experience of all students in the Urbandale Community School District by funding projects and initiatives not supported within existing school budgets. Urbandale Dollars for Scholars & Urbandale Alumni Association are part of the UEF.
Donate to make a difference in the lives of Urbandale teachers and students!
UEF has established an endowment fund for building a living financial legacy in support of activities of the Urbandale Education Foundation including student scholarships, educator grants and alumni connections. Funds are spent as determined by the UEF Board of Directors. Contributions to the UEF Endow Iowa Fund are eligible for a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit and limited to an annual distribution rate of 5%. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please click here and you will be taken to the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines website to process your donation.
Fore! Calling all golfers:
Save the date for the annual UEF Alumni Golf Tournament, which will take place June 27, 2022. And help set up local students on the path for financial success.
All proceeds from this tournament support UEF’s mission and the Urbandale Alumni Association by providing needed funding for Urbandale teachers’ classroom grants and Urbandale seniors’ college scholarships!
“As I’m sure most people know, our schools are severely underfunded, and our teachers work tirelessly to bring learning into our classrooms that engage the students and enable them to be productive members of society,” Haynes says. “This year we were able to fund 20 classroom grants totaling over $16,000. Our group also works with Dollars for Scholars to fund college scholarships for Urbandale High School Seniors.”
Learn more here, and join us in helping UEF to make a positive difference in the lives of Urbandale students, educators & community members. Go J-Hawks!
MFLCares is a program of Midwest Family Lending, a local mortgage company committed to creating customers for life and to community impact. Check out our calendar to learn more about the great causes MFLCares has supported this year.
“We know the need to support our students & educators will continue, and we appreciate donors like Midwest Family Lending who help make this possible!”
Meribeth Haynes, board president of the Urbandale Education Foundation
During this season of gratitude and always, all of us at Midwest Family Lending are beyond grateful for the opportunity to help our neighbors throughout Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado finance their homes and achieve the dream of homeownership.
Thank you to our customers, team, business partners and MFLCares charities for being part of our “family” throughout the last 25 years. It’s the people like you who make what we do what we love.
Sometimes words just can’t express our deep appreciation.
But really, “Thank you” from all of us at Midwest Family Lending…..
And thanks to everyone who was able to join us for our 25th anniversary celebration! It was so great to see so many of you.
For those of you who missed it, here’s footage from Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, including a message from our president:
We all have so much to be thankful for. One of those is to all of you who took time to vote for us as the best local mortgage company.
We’re delighted and honored to share that, thanks to you, we were again voted Best Local Mortgage Company in Urbandale Chamber of Commerce’s Best in Class Awards!
Wishing you and your family a home of your own, filled with warmth, fellowship and a feast to be remembered (even though we all know the kids will just eat the dinner rolls)! 😂
Midwest Family Lending has donated $1500 to the Martensdale Fire Association through the local mortgage company’s MFLCares program. Pictured from left to right: (Front row:) Martensdale Fire Department’s Jessica Smith, Rich Wheeldon and fire chief Scott Henson (Back row:) Wyndham Sellers, Dustin Reiland, Corbin Smith, Mike Pedersen, Steven Henson, David and Harrison Northwick
MARTENSDALE, Iowa – Martensdale Fire Association was our featured charity last month and has received a $1500 donation through our MFLCares program.
“As a volunteer fire and rescue department we rely on donations. This donation will help buy much needed supplies,” says Scott Henson, chief of Martensdale Fire Department. “Martensdale Fire Association greatly appreciates when people and businesses like Midwest Family Lending step up to support our efforts to be there for our community.”
Through MFLCares, Midwest Family Lending employees nominate and select one cause a month that is important to them. Supporting local volunteer fire and rescue departments is “near and dear” to our processor Marti Myer’s heart, as her husband has served as a local volunteer firefighter for the past 14 years. She has seen firsthand the sacrifices these first responders make to serve their communities.
“The fire department is an important community asset, particularly in rural areas like ours,” Marti says. “In addition to fighting fires, these volunteers help with lift assistance, car accidents, ambulance presence at school sport functions and much more. Having them available when someone is in need of help is very important for each and every person living within Warren County. They’re passionate about helping others and giving back to our community, and they deserve our support.”
About Martensdale Fire Association & How You Can Help
Martensdale Fire Association is a nonprofit organization founded to support the volunteer firefighters of Martensdale and the Martensdale Fire Department. The Martensdale Fire department has 15 active members.
The association has hosted a chili dinner held in early March, for 60 years as a fundraiser. And donations are always appreciated.
“I wanted to give back to those who put their lives on the line to make a difference and help their neighbors when needed most,” Marti says. “These departments are always in need of donations, and I encourage all who are able to help in any way they can.”
MFLCares is a program of Midwest Family Lending, a local mortgage company committed to creating customers for life and to community impact. Check out our calendar to learn more about the great causes MFLCares has supported this year.
“Some people run from problems. Others run to them.” Thank you, firefighters!
Flashback to 1996, The Year Midwest Family Lending Originated…
The No. 1 song was the “Macarena” (Good luck trying to get that out of your head now) — As if! 😉
The average cost of new house was $118K.
Americans were watching shows like E.R., Friends, Seinfeld, yadda yadda yadda (with commercials!).
Tickle Me Elmo was “all that and a bag of chips”. And due to the frenzy that led to supply shortages, the coveted toy couldn’t be found in stores. (Parents/Grandparents put on actual pants — not athleisure wear — and drove all around to stores that actually sold only toys then).
By playing game No. 2,131 Cal Ripkin broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive MLB game record.
Dolly the sheep became the first mammal to be successfully cloned.
(We’re still dreaming about how to clone our awesome home loan originators and mortgage office team. Check out this fun throwback video of our team in ’96)!
We’re celebrating 25 years of service, helping Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado residents finance their homes and achieve the dream of homeownership.
And because 25 years is A LOT of years – we’re having an Open House to celebrate this milestone.
Today’s the big day! We’d love for you to join!
We want this party to be a celebration of all things Midwest Family Lending, and YOU are a huge part of that! You make what we do what we love.
We also love taking any opportunity to use our platform, our voice, and our business to shine a light on those doing amazing work in our communities. So you’ll also have a chance to connect with a variety of organizations we support via our MFLCares program — organizations changing lives, making an impact and leading from the heart.
When: Swing by anytime TODAY! Thursday, Oct. 28, from 4-6:30 p.m. And we’ll be going live on Facebook with the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce at 4:15 p.m. with remarks from Chamber leaders, Urbandale Mayor Bob Andeweg and our president. Can’t make it in person? We’d love for you to drop in virtually, wave/say “Hi” too!
Where: Our home office, located at 2753 99th Street, Urbandale, Iowa
What to expect: Family-centered fun including free family photo mini sessions, snacks and the chance to connect with some of the charities we’ve supported throughout the years through our MFLCares and #SpreadCheer programs.
Bring the fam, and swing by our open house to have your free photo taken just in time for Christmas card season!
Here’s a message from our president expressing our collective thanks for being part of our “family” throughout the last 25 years:
“Like any business, there have been ups and downs throughout the years. But we are stronger than ever thanks to a combination of an incredible team and the awesome communities we serve. It’s been our pleasure to serve these communities, and I am very thankful to be surrounded by incredible people inside and outside our office walls.”
Bryce Draisey fishing with family in April of 2010. Bryce’s memory and impact lives on through the foundation in his name, Bryce’s Warriors.
Bryce’s Warriors is our featured charity this month and has received a $1500 donation through our MFLCares program.
“The Bryce’s Warriors board members continue to be amazed at the generosity and kindness of Midwest Family Lending,” says Michelle Draisey with Bryce’s Warriors Foundation and mother of Bryce. “Due to Covid-19 and other circumstances, this will be the second year we are not able to hold our annual fundraising golf tournament. MFLCares’ donation guarantees that Bryce’s Warriors can continue to do what we do. We’re blessed to pass that generosity along to families of transplant children and those of Southeast Polk High School seniors in need of help as they head to college and start their journeys as adults.”
Through MFLCares, Midwest Family Lending employees nominate and select one cause a month to support that is dear to their hearts. Though each of the charities MFLCares supports throughout the year is meaningful to our team, Bryce’s Warriors Foundation holds a special significance. Bryce was the son of one of our loan officers, Derek Draisey and nephew of branch manager Mike Draisey. Bryce’s memory and impact lives on through the foundation in his name.
“There’s just too much going on in this world that we didn’t feel right going to businesses and individuals for donations,” Derek says. “I’m grateful to work for a company that supports the memory of our son while helping others in need in our community.”
About Bryce’s Warriors
Bryce’s Warriors Foundation supports the Bryce Draisey Memorial Dollars for Scholars scholarship fund, families of children waiting for and who have had heart transplants, Children’s Miracle Network and Iowa Donor Network. Funds raised through the Foundation also provide Thanksgiving meals to children and families in the PICU at University of Iowa Hospitals, as well as food and gas cards to those families in need while a child is living at the hospital. The Foundation is also looking into additional options to expand its assistance to families of transplant children.
Bryce Draisey was a happy and presumably healthy 11-year-old boy when he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Over the next 2+ years, he endured several surgeries, including a heart transplant, rejection of his new heart, many hospital stays and many other health complications that arose during that time. Bryce endured all of this believing that each day is a new one and the trials, sadness, or anger that may have happened yesterday no longer matter today. He took his health problems seriously and complied with all of his doctors’ instructions, but he also took all of it in stride most of the time. Bryce just wanted to be a normal teenager who went to school and had fun with friends.
How You Can Help
The majority of Bryce’s Warrior’s funds are raised through its annual golf tournament, typically held each September. Though the event was not able to be held due to COVID-19 this year, you can still donate to help support the Foundation’s mission.
To donate, checks may be mailed to:
Bryce’s Warriors, Inc. PO Box 42131 Urbandale, IA 50323-3855
MFLCares is a program of Midwest Family Lending, a local mortgage company committed to creating customers for life and to community impact. Check out our calendar to learn more about the great causes MFLCares has supported this year.
“It’s people and businesses like Midwest Family Lending that have enabled us to find new areas where we can make an impact in the lives of hospitalized children and their families while remembering Bryce.”
Derek Draisey, Bryce’s Warriors Foundation and father of Bryce
Midwest Family Lending is celebrating 25 years of helping our neighbors say “Yes”. Yes to dreams. Yes to goals. Yes to possibilities.
We’re holding an
Open House at our home office in Urbandale to celebrate this
milestone. And we’d love for you to join!
When:Thursday, Oct. 28, from 4-6:30 p.m. Where: Indoors & Outdoors at Midwest Family Lending’s home office, located at 2753 99th Street in Urbandale What: Family-centered fun including free family photo mini sessions, yard games, snacks and the chance to connect with representatives of some of the charities we’ve supported throughout the years through our MFLCares and #SpreadCheer programs
We hope to see you there!
Thanks to our customers, team, business partners and MFLCares charities for being part of our “family” throughout the last 25 years. You make what we do what we love.
Midwest Family Lending’s Kyle Guldenpfennig, CRMS, CVLS, (left) presents Justin Bogers, AFSP Iowa volunteer and daughter Elisha a $1500 donation through our MFLCares program. AFSP Iowa is #MFLCares featured charity this month.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Iowa Chapter (AFSP Iowa) is our featured charity this month and has received a $1500 donation through our MFLCares program. The funds will be used to support AFSP in its fight to decrease suicide by 20 percent by 2025 through increasing awareness and education campaigns, suicide prevention research, and support events like the Out of the Darkness Walks, Ride to Fight, and International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day.
“Having organizations like Midwest Family Lending, through MFLCares, choose to partner with AFSP Iowa is incredibly important for prevention education and awareness,” says Justin Bogers, AFSP Iowa volunteer. “The cause is personal for me, as I do not wish for people to experience the pain associated with mental illness or suicide loss as I have.”
Through MFLCares, Midwest Family Lending employees nominate and select one cause a month to support that is meaningful to them. Kyle Guldenpfennig, CRMS, CVLS, aka #TallMoneyMan, licensed mortgage loan originator with Midwest Family Lending, nominated AFSP Iowa after seeing firsthand the needed support it offers families affected by suicide.
“I chose the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as this month’s charity as it holds a special place in my heart,” Kyle says. “The Out of the Darkness Community Walk is something my family has participated in the past 6 years after the suicidal loss of my mother-in-law. This walk has been a good opportunity for us to get together and remember her and many others whose life has ended much too early. Mental health is a serious issue that deserves more attention and this organization is doing just that, bringing light to those that need it the most.”
About AFSP
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide.
Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide.
“Our nationwide network of Chapter leaders and volunteers are making a difference. They help to create a culture that’s smart about mental health, and bring more awareness to their local communities about suicide prevention,” says AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia.
Suicide remains one of the top 10
leading causes of death in the United States. Through research we’ve learned
that suicide is multi-faceted, and no one ends their own life for a single
reason. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic and its ramifications are pertinent
and while the pandemic itself does not cause suicide, for some people,
pandemic-related experiences may contribute to their risk.
AFSP also welcomes opportunities to present any of our prevention and education workshops including Talk Saves Lives. Interested employers, community groups, or individuals can reach out to Joani Moller to learn more.
MFLCares is a program of Midwest Family Lending, a local mortgage company committed to creating customers for life and to community impact. Check out our calendar to learn more about the great causes MFLCares has supported this year.
“The need for these services is high and, sadly, growing in the state of Iowa. Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in Iowa – in the top five for ages 54 and under. Our state ranks 21st in suicide rates per 100,000, and total deaths to suicide reflected a total of 11,470 years of potential life lost before the age of 65. We need organizational efforts to increase mental health services – particularly in rural Iowa. Together, we can #BeThe1to #BeTheVoice and give hope to decreasing this preventable cause of death.”
Yellow school buses are back running throughout the neighborhood. You might hear the marching band out practicing for the big game. And it’s a whole lot quieter within the walls of many homes. Depending on your family, back-to-school season can mean change.
Maybe now you’re empty nesters wondering if it’s time to
downsize (or to turn Junior’s bedroom into a home gym or home theater). Or
maybe you need to tap into your home equity to create some structured home
study/work space.
Whenever things change in your home, you need a trusted advisor — not a computer. Our team of licensed home loan originators is happy to help you review your options to keep you on track to meet your overall financial goals.
It’s also property tax season in Iowa.
You may have received a statement in the mail from your county treasurer’s office that looks something like this and are wondering what you’re supposed to do….
Part of your monthly mortgage payment includes paying local & state taxes twice a year. Taxes are due in:
Iowa: You can either pay for the year in full or pay each half by its respective due date:
1st half: September 1, delinquent after September 30
If your loan recently closed, your tax payments will likely a bit different this year. Your licensed mortgage loan originator explained this at closing. But we know that was a lot of information! So contact your loan originator if you should have any questions.
Not a tax expert? No problem! We’re here to help! Contact your licensed home loan originator with any questions or whenever you have mortgage inquiries.
What is “Escrow?”
And if “escrow” is an unfamiliar term that sounds an awful lot like “escargot,” (not even close), check out this video from another of our awesome licensed home loan originators, Sara Fuller, NMLS #712200. Sara breaks it down with Mike and Holly Taylor, Realtors with REMAX Precision in one of their weekly #TerminologyThursday videos, where they cover terms frequently used in real estate and mortgage lending. And as a bonus, this one includes a cameo of Gizmo, one of her adorable dogs!
