Tracy Leddy is not just another friendly face around town. Leddy is one of the many reasons residents of Hinsdale are exceptional. Not only does he live and work in this very town, but he gives back to local charities defining what community means.

As a local resident for more than 18 years and a Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Guaranteed Rate Affinity, Leddy has raised his family here and is fully invested in the Western Suburbs. Leddy has volunteered as a coach for Little League, AYSO soccer, Jodie Harrison Basketball, and is a trusted neighborhood carpool driver for Boy Scouts, swimming, and ballet. He even served on the board of Hinsdale Community Preschool.

“To be able to work in the town that my family loves and that my kids are growing up in is a dream come true,” says Leddy. “I started my family in Hinsdale, and I am now helping my clients purchase homes here to start families of their own, the way my wife and I did nearly 20 years ago.”

When Leddy joined Guaranteed Rate Affinity a year ago, he initiated Mortgages4aCause, supporting local charities with each mortgage closed. Combined with Guaranteed Rate Affinity company’s core value: We Grow for Good, Leddy’s initiative aligned with his personal mission.

“I chose to donate $500 out of my paycheck for every loan I close because I wanted to donate a meaningful amount that demonstrates my commitment to giving back,” says Leddy.

He wanted to make the connection where homes are best in communities that care.

“My inspiration for Mortgages4aCause came from a long-standing belief that when you get to a position where you can give back, you must, especially to community groups that can often be a lifeline for people in need,” he explains. “This is particularly critical right now when the need is so great during the pandemic.”

Through this initiative, he has donated $10,000.

Mortgages4aCause has donated to American Heart Association of Chicago, Bridge Communities, Economic Awareness Council, The Community House of Hinsdale, Hinsdale Humane Society, People’s Resource Center, Loaves & Fishes, and Hinsdale Middle School’s Parent Teacher Organization.

“My wife and I wanted to donate to charities that represent a wide range of services and each of these organizations share a special spot in our family’s heart,” expresses Leddy.

His goal is to select eight nonprofits at the beginning of every year that address and serve a wide range of needs.

“We purposely started with eight organizations because that’s a lucky number in the Chinese tradition that my wife grew up in,” he explains.

“We’re raising our four kids to be good citizens within the community, and we hope to be the role models they can look up to,” he says. “My mission today is to deliver the best mortgage products and rates to my clients while also looking at growing my business through the lens of philanthropy and giving back to a community that I love.”

Guaranteed Rate Affinity is located at 35 E. First Street in Hinsdale, 630-536-5357, grarate.com/tracyleddy.