Bobby Aiken

Bobby Aiken founded Lendmark Financial Services with the goal of becoming the largest consumer finance business in Georgia. From the outset, he built the company around the idea that people come first. This foundation of trust enabled Lendmark to grow far beyond Georgia, expanding from four branches to more than 515 across 22 states and providing more than $2.4B in personal and household credit and loan solutions in 2022.

Bobby has been friends with Ken Madren since childhood, and Ken’s son, Chip, has had a most profound effect on Bobby. On a weekend in 2010, the three of them were on a fishing trip together. The following Monday, Chip was diagnosed with a stage IV brain tumor and given a very slim chance of survival. Chip’s diagnosis was staggering, and after learning the state of childhood cancer research, Bobby became determined to do something about it.

Bobby and his leadership team established a long-term partnership with CURE in 2015. Since then, the annual Climb to Cure campaign, Lendmark’s cornerstone philanthropic initiative, has increased awareness and raised money through employees, partners, and community support. To date, Lendmark has raised more than $6.73 million for childhood cancer research. Ever aggressive, Bobby upped the ante by challenging the organization to raise $10 million by 2025 to mark the company’s 10^th year of partnership with CURE.