September 8-14, 2010


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE


Page B-2 Fifth Third Mortgage Company


Government Modification Conversion Rate Above 70 Percent


As percentages for perma-


nent modifications in the gov- ernment’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) have continued to increase over the past several months, Fifth Third Mortgage Company modification rates are con- tinuing to excel beyond the national average


Of the 89 percent of Fifth The MAN Network


By Tony Russell The MAN (Maintaining A


Neighborhood) Network exists to promote community trans- formation through encourag- ing men to take a leadership role in community safety, community support, and com- munity service. It is our belief that as men rise up in the com- munity, respect for authority will be restored and many of our youth who are wayward will return to a path of success and prosperity. At the heart of all of our activity is our com- mitment to making our com- munity safe for our children. This is accomplished through mobile, foot and school pa- trols, community rallies, and an extensive leadership devel- opment/mentorship program for young men.


The MAN Network is a


major initiative of Project SOAR and a collaborative effort with the Osborn community in Detroit. The MAN Network is in partnership with The Matrix Human Services, Black Family Development Inc, and The Skillman Foundation. It also works with faith-based organi- zations, schools, businesses and community leaders of the Osborn community in fulfill- ing the following objectives:


a) Community Safety Through Presence


b) Community Strength Through Respect


c) Community Support Through “Man to Man”


Success Stories On Thursday morning Jan.


28, 2010 while patrolling down Linnhurst between Strasburg and Waltham MAN members Valerie Russell and Robin


Autistic children, families


offered help from Children’s Center of Wayne County


In preparation for the new


school year, The Children’s Center has geared up its early intervention programs for families and children with autistic spectrum disorders between the ages 18 months to six years. The Children’s Center (TCC) recognizes one of the fastest growing develop- mental disability in the United States affecting our children is autism. That’s why TCC is of- fering back-to-school support to families of children with autism.


The Children’s Center’s


P.L.A.Y Project is unique. It is one of the few organizations in Detroit to provide families: monthly home and agency visits, videotape technology, coaching for the entire family and written evaluations with feedback.


This one-on-one inter-


vention uses time inten- sive resources that are child centered, individualized, re- lationship oriented and inte- grated with school and other therapies.


TCC also has an outstand-


ing program for mentally and emotionally impaired (MEI) children and adolescents. Children learn skill build- ing techniques such as basic social skills, expressing emo- tions, dealing with anxiety and change along with general social interaction.


Said George Winn, chief


operating officer of The Chil- dren’s Center: “Our team of nine Board certified child psy- chiatrists and psychologists, clinicians, art therapists and case managers offer the high- est quality treatment for chil- dren with emotional impair- ments and their families.


Parents shouldn’t despair,


help is available. Through the use of art, play, movement and music treatment to modify be- havior of daily living, our cli- ents are yielding greater suc- cess.”


The Children’s Center is lo-


cated in Midtown Detroit and has been a beacon of hope for 81 years.


Hudson saw a 13-year-old girl fighting off a man in an aban- doned garage. When the MAN patrollers stopped, the girl broke free and came running to the patrol car screaming “Help me! He’s trying to rape me!” The garage is located directly across from Fleming Academy’s field.


The MAN Network’s “Higher


Expectations” summer pro- gram mentored youth in the Osborn community including ten who had behavioral issues and problems at school. MAN Network organized pro-social activities and used motivation- al speaking to build character. The youth showed improved behavior by the end of the pro- gram.


Third Mortgage Company’s portfolio eligible for HAMP consideration, more than 70 percent of trial plans started have been converted to perma- nent modifications. According to U.S. Treasury data recently released for June, that per- centage is more than double the national average of more than 30 percent.


“Fifth Third Bank is de-


termined to keep customers in their homes,” said Steve Alonso, executive vice presi- dent of Consumer Lending, Mortgage and Business Bank- ing for Fifth Third Bank. “We are working tirelessly to con- vert eligible customers in the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program.”


The Mortgage Company


uses HAMP on its Fannie Mae-and Freddie Mac-owned mortgages, per government sponsored entities’ (GSE) guidelines. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created a program similar to HAMP for the mortgages it owns and the Bank services. Both programs


require a three-month trial modification period before being converted to permanent status.


The Bank continues to use


its “You Have Options” pro- gram for bank-owned mortgag- es instead of the government’s HAMP program. While HAMP does have benefits to the cus- tomer, Fifth Third’s “You Have Options” program is tailored, through a menu of options, to each customer’s specific financial situation – not just the customer’s mortgage pay- ment-to-income as in GSE and HUD modification programs. The program allows the Bank to offer flexible-term and rate concessions to bank-owned mortgages.


Along with the “You Have


Options” program, Fifth Third Bank developed a proactive customer outreach program designed to build customer trust and enable solutions- driven interactions between the Bank and its customers, ranging from a centralized toll-free contact point ((866) 601-6391), to outreach events, to home visits.


Many portions of the


Making Home Affordable Pro- gram have raised questions from borrowers completing the extensive paperwork nec- essary to participate in the program. Fifth Third Bank has created a Web site to help bor- rowers navigate through the


paperwork. The site, www.53. com/bettertomorrow, explains in easy-to-understand terms the program requirements.


Fifth Third Bancorp is a


diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Compa- ny has $112 billion in assets, operates 16 affiliates with 1,308 full-service Banking Centers, including 101 Bank Mart® locations open seven days a week inside select gro- cery stores and 2,366 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Mich- igan, Illinois, Florida, Tennes- see, West Virginia, Pennsyl- vania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third op- erates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third also has a 49% interest in Fifth Third Processing Solu- tions, LLC.


Fifth Third is among the


largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of June 30, 2010, had $178 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $24 billion for in- dividuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ(R) National Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.


It is also sad to imagine


over 15,000 children current- ly in foster care in Michigan, with over half of them residing in Wayne County. Youth of all ages, races and genders are in need of care, attention and guidance.


All children deserve a


loving home. Join The Chil- dren’s Center in a campaign to ensure every child has a safe home. Let’s, “Foster a Suc- cess… One Child at a time” by becoming a foster parent.


For more information on


how to get help or to become a foster parent, call (313) 831- 5535.


About The Children’s Center The Children’s Center is one


of the largest, most diverse and comprehensive front line child-serving agencies in Mich- igan, providing over 25 pro- grams addressing therapeu- tic and mental health needs of children, as well as foster care and adoptions. The Children’s Center of Wayne County has been committed to meeting the needs and challenges of some of the most troubled children in the United States for the past 80 years.


For more information,


please visit The Children’s Center website at www.thechil- drenscenter.com.


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