Middleman, who is the founder of Freedom Mortgage's First Flyer recruitment and training program, received The Inquirer's Leadership Award at the newspaper's recent Corporate Philanthropy Conference & Awards ceremony. The Leadership Award recognizes executives who are "champions of charity in the workplace" by empowering employees to support charitable activities. Middleman was also featured in a special editorial section in the June 23rd issue of the newspaper.
The Freedom Mortgage's First Flyer college recruitment and training program develops new leaders among the mortgage lender's expanding workforce. Over the past 18 months, First Flyers have raised more than $61,000 for military organizations through multiple charity events, including a 5K run/walk, Skating for Service and a Veterans Jeans Day fundraiser. First Flyers have also collected more than 1,500 brand new backpacks for schoolchildren that contained donated school supplies, including pencils, pens, notebooks, folders, glue, crayons, toys and more.
"While I am honored to receive this recognition, philanthropy to me is not about winning awards—it's a way of promoting positive changes in our communities," Middleman said. "Our mission at Freedom Mortgage is to foster homeownership, which means that our connection to our employees, our customers and the communities in which we serve does not end once a mortgage is complete. Whether it's providing relief when natural disasters occur, filling the shelves of food shelters, providing children of military families with back to school supplies, or financing home builds for those who have served our country, we are here to help."