Countrywide's Angelo Mozilo honored for commitment to underserved communitiesMortgagePress.comCountrywide,Mozilo,award
Angelo Mozilo, chairman and CEO of Countrywide Financial
Corporation, has been honored with the National Housing Conference
(NHC) 2004 Housing Person of the Year Award. Each year in
Washington, D.C., NHC honors a person or organization that has
contributed significantly to the goal of increased affordable
housing and strong, healthy communities throughout the nation.
Mozilo was chosen in recognition of his long-standing commitment to
reducing the barriers to homeownership for lower-income and
minority individuals and families.
Mozilo co-founded Countrywide in 1969 and has since grown the
company into a global diversified financial services provider.
Countrywide's House America affordable lending program, initiated
in 1992, has been responsible for more than $245 billion in
residential financing to minorities, low-income borrowers and
individuals who live in underserved communities. In 2003,
Countrywide expanded its commitment to fund a total of $600 billion
in home loans through 2010, and its comprehensive approach includes
education and outreach, and accounts for the company's position as
one of the leading lenders to African-Americans and Hispanics.
Angelo Mozilo is a former president of the Mortgage Bankers
Association and continues to serve on its Board of Directors. He is
also a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Housing
Endowment, the philanthropic arm of the National Association of
Home Builders, and serves on the Board of the Joint Center for
Housing Studies of Harvard University. Countrywide is a member of
the S&P 500, Fortune 500, Forbes 500, and employs more than
35,000 individuals at more than 550 locations across the nation and
abroad. Mozilo recently celebrated his 50th year in the mortgage
banking industry and the 35th anniversary of Countrywide Financial
Corporation.
Mozilo's most recent achievement came on April 15 in Washington,
D.C. when he was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of
Distinguished Americans as a lifetime member. The association
honors those who have overcome adversity to achieve remarkable
success and boasts 585 prominent members. Many are well-known
Americans, including entertainer Carol Burnett, former Sen. Robert
J. Dole, boxing legend George Foreman, Reverend Billy Graham,
entrepreneur H. Wayne Huizenga, actor James Earl Jones and
Secretary of State Colin Powell. Members of the Horatio Alger
Association mentor young people and sponsor more than $5 million in
need-based scholarships, which are awarded annually to high school
seniors who have proven their ability to overcome childhood
adversities and modest beginnings. To date, Countrywide Financial
Corporation has donated more than $200,000 to the work of the
association.
Formal ceremonies in Washington, D.C. were held in April to
honor the 10 new Horatio Alger Association Award winners and induct
them as lifetime members. In addition, a series of events were held
to bring the award winners together along with more than 100 high
school seniors from around the nation, who received Horatio Alger
need-based college scholarships.
