Thank reduced interest rates which stimulated home-buying and refinancing of existing home mortgages, Pollack says.
Back in September, Pollack decided to donate $20 for each title policy issues and each closing transaction processed through the end of 2001 to Sept. 11 victim and survivor funds. He estimated that would raise $40,000 to $50,000 in charitable contributions.
But the hot housing financing market doubled that. “Business had been very good until Sept. 11,” Pollack noted. “We had no reason to believe business would slow in the wake of the tragedy, but we had no idea how much it would pick up. It just kept going.”
The initial $50,000 was reached by mid-November.
When it became evident that the campaign would far exceed the goal, Land Title Services decided to expand the program. “While our original intent was to earmark the funds for charities on the East Coast, we realized that local charities also had increased financial needs because of the way the economic effects rippled across the country,” Pollack said. “After reaching the initial goal, we decided to donate proceeds above and beyond to local charities.”
Pollack included in customers in identifying which local charities to target for contributions.
On Dec. 31, the first $50,000 was divided between the Twin Towers Fund and The Salvation Army of New York. The remaining $50,000 was divided among 17 local charities in the Milwaukee area.
An affiliate company in Green Bay raised $12,000, with the two New York funds getting that money.
Pollack’s firm will mark its 15th anniversary this year.
February 1, 2002 Small Business Times, Milwaukee