IFC Irwin Financial Corp

FISHERS, Ind., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Irwin Mortgage Corporation won a prestigious Corporate Diversity Leadership (CDL) Award presented by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on October 25. MBA is the national organization representing the real estate finance industry. It presents its CDL Awards annually to recognize mortgage banking companies that have successfully incorporated diversity initiatives into their everyday business practices, with emphasis on innovation and effectiveness. In competition with lenders nationwide, Irwin Mortgage won the 2005 CDL Award for Best Overall Corporate Diversity Program (National). The award acknowledges Irwin Mortgage's efforts to help employees value the diversity of others, evaluate their own cultures, become conscious of the dynamics of cultural interactions, institutionalize their cultural knowledge, and use this knowledge to improve service to their customers. "Our diversity program is probably one of the most comprehensive in the mortgage industry," said Roger Lyons, Vice President for Diversity at Irwin Mortgage. "Every new employee attends a day-long seminar that defines diversity, explains its importance in terms of doing business successfully, and encourages respect and cooperation between people who represent different cultures. But this mandatory session is just one of many coordinated elements." Lyons said that Irwin Mortgage also provides web-based training in specific diversity topics, a quarterly journal publication that allows employees to share their insights on cultural issues in the workplace, periodic group discussions and surveys through which employees provide input and evaluation regarding diversity policies and initiatives, and educational modules designed to help managers incorporate diversity considerations into hiring, employee supervision and training. He added that the program receives guidance from a corporate-wide Diversity Advisory Council, with members representing a cross-section of Irwin Mortgage employees from around the United States. "We're very proud to have earned this recognition from our peers in the home financing business," said Bob Griffith, Irwin Mortgage President and CEO. "Not only because it recognizes our company's commitment to diversity, but also because it reflects the way that Irwin Mortgage employees show respect for the rich diversity found among their co-workers and customers." Headquartered in Fishers, Ind., Irwin Mortgage has offered a full range of home financing products since 1944 and places special emphasis on providing affordable loans to first-time homebuyers, minorities, women, and lower income families. Irwin Mortgage is a subsidiary of Irwin Financial Corporation (R) (NYSE:IFC). For more information about Irwin Mortgage, visit http://www.irwinmortgage.com/ . DATASOURCE: Irwin Mortgage Corporation CONTACT: Jennifer Gasiorek of Irwin Mortgage Corporation, +1-800-388-1537, Ext. 3178 Web site: http://www.irwinmortgage.com/

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