Option One and H&R Block Mortgage Corp. Associates Celebrate the Holidays with Toys for Tots, Tweens and Teens

Business Wire, Dec 23, 2004

IRVINE, Calif. -- Toys aren't just for tots this holiday season at Option One and H&R Block Mortgage Corp. (HRBMC). This year the national lender and subsidiary of H&R Block put a twist on the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program by collecting for tweens and teens as well as tots.

"When we began working with the national Toys for Tots program, we found out that donors don't usually buy for kids age 11-17, but they're just as much in need of toys as younger children," said Kim Denger, director of corporate affairs at Option One. "We accepted toys for all ages, but asked our associates to focus on the older kids who are often overlooked."

The result was a plethora of toys collected by Option One and HRBMC offices and branches throughout the nation from sports equipment and handheld video games to backpacks, photo albums and eight bicycles. The bikes came unassembled, so the company's strategy group used that as an opportunity for team building. Associates worked on assembling the bikes together as part of their holiday giving.

In addition to the toy drive, the company is contributing $25,000 to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, which provides financial support for the Toys for Tots Program.

"To have had the support of Option One and H&R Block Mortgage for our 2004 Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign was very meaningful," said retired Marine Corps Maj. Bill Grein, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "Through their hard work and generous spirit we will be able to fulfill the holiday dreams of thousands of our nation's neediest children. The Toys for Tots Foundation considers itself fortunate to have a corporate sponsor and friend like them."

The toy drive is part of Lending Hands, the company's volunteer program. In addition to Toys for Tots, individual branches and departments continued their regular holiday traditions of adopting local families, hosting food drives and other associate-directed community outreach.

About Option One

Option One Mortgage Corp. makes its culture and values tangible through its Lending Hands volunteer program. Through Lending Hands, the company's associates make a positive impact in the diverse communities where they live and do business. In addition to associate-driven efforts, the company has partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement and the Volunteer Center Orange County. Since 1992, Option One has reached more than 33,000 students through Junior Achievement programs, built homes for 20 families through Habitat for Humanity and mobilized more than 2,000 volunteers, who have given more than 6,000 hours of their time and talents.

Founded in 1992, Irvine-based Option One Mortgage Corp. originates and acquires nonprime residential mortgage products through a national network of brokers and lenders. Option One also services and sub-services nonprime mortgage loans, with more than $51 billion under management at Nov. 30, 2004. Additionally, the company markets a variety of direct-to-consumer mortgage products nationwide through its wholly owned subsidiary, H&R Block Mortgage Corp.. Option One employs more than 5,000 associates. It is a subsidiary of H&R Block Inc. (www.hrblock.com), a diversified company with subsidiaries that deliver tax services and financial advice, investment and mortgage products and services, and business accounting and consulting services. For more information about Option One, visit the company's Web site at www.optiononemortgage.com.