Each month, Helping Hands features a mortgage professional or group that has volunteered to lend a hand to others in need

Kirsten Terry

As published in Scotsman Guide's Residential Edition, October 2007.

Name Vanguard Foundation, nonprofit branch of Vanguard Mortgage & Title Inc.

Project Vanguard Mortgage & Title Trailblazer Award

How Through its Vanguard Foundation, Vanguard Mortgage & Title plans to give a trailblazer award each year to a National Association of Mortgage Brokers member who upholds ethical business practices and has demonstrated a long-term commitment to volunteerism. The award includes a $10,000 grant, to be donated to a local community charity of the winner's choice.

Linda MacCoy, an Oregon mortgage broker and director of education academy Mortgage You Inc., received the first award at the NAMB convention this past June in Seattle.

MacCoy has served leadership roles in various mortgage organizations and has advocated for more education for brokers and consumers. She also does animal-related volunteer work.

Why Vanguard CEO Michael Knight says his company created the award not only to honor brokers who give back to their communities but also to bring more positive attention to the mortgage industry.

"It's time for some good news about brokers," said Joe Falk, NAMB legislative chairman, during the June ceremony.

The foundation, which formed in May to benefit children's education and at-risk youth, selected MacCoy from nominees across the country, Knight says.

"We were looking for someone who donates money or time to their community," he says, "and Linda does both. She was the perfect fit."

Impact MacCoy says she will use the grant to create the National Academy of Financial Literacy, a nonprofit education program. She plans to offer free financial literacy training to high schoolers in the Portland, Ore., area this school year. In the future, she hopes schools will duplicate the program nationwide.

"If we start with our youth and educate them with regard to financial literacy, they will become much better-informed adults than past generations," MacCoy says.

Try it www.vanguardco.com; Reach MacCoy at linda@mortgageu.org or www.mortgageu.org

Kirsten Terry is an editorial intern at Scotsman Guide. Reach her at (800) 297-6061 or kirsten@scotsmanguide.com.

To share your company's story, e-mail helpinghands@scotsmanguide.com.