Last weekend, The Home Loan Expert (THLE) team grabbed their fishing gear and met up with workers from the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 148 for the union’s 34th Annual Charity Bass Tournament at Lake of the Ozarks.
The tournament has been put on by a group of Local 148 volunteers for the past thirty-three years and has raised more than $1.8 million for children’s charities since its inception in 1989. This year, the 34th Annual Reel Help For Kids tournament raised $40,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in St. Louis.
The Home Loan Expert team members participated in the tournament to raise money for one of the company’s partner charities, RMHC, and to inform local union members of the lender’s brand-new Union Loan program. The Home Loan Expert loan officers handed out hats and free beers—and some loan officer assistants (including Nick Edwards) decided to test their fishing skills on the lake.
The Home Loan Expert launched the Union Loan earlier this month as part of an ongoing effort to help union members get affordable home loans with low rates. The Union Loan offers all union members a $500 AMEX Gift Card when they close any loan with The Home Loan Expert.
“The Union Loan is great, but the company behind is almost more important than the program itself,” said Anthony Pellegrino, a Loan Originator at The Home Loan Expert.
“Why would you go to a big bank that doesn’t care about you? We came out this weekend because we care about being involved in our communities and getting to know the people we serve.”
The event featured more than 100 boats and hundreds of attendees. Tournament participants competed for the top prize of $1,000, which was won by Terry Litteken and Randy Foster after their catch weighed in at 18 pounds, 12 ounces.
“Overall, it was a great weekend full of lots of good people, good food, and good times,” said Pellegrino. “I’m glad we could all have a great time in service of an even greater cause.”
The Home Loan Expert
