CONTACT

Taleen Ananian

818.497.8008

Groundbreaking Global Microfinance Model Aimed at Helping Women Who Live in Poverty
to Launch in Los Angeles

California Community Foundation Welcomes Grameen America Founder and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Muhammad Yunus to Kick Off Partnership

WHAT: / The official launch of Grameen America Los Angeles, which aims to provide more than $650 million in micro-loans to 91,000 women-owned businesses in L.A. Grameen America is committed to fighting poverty across the U.S. by expanding financial inclusion through micro-loans, savings, financial education and credit establishment to borrowers. The California Community Foundation, in keeping with its mission to help improve the lives of the most vulnerable in Los Angeles County, has partnered with Grameen America to launch this innovative model in Los Angeles.
The event will feature remarks from Grameen America Founder and Chair Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding theGrameen Bank and pioneering the concept ofmicrofinance.
WHY: / Los Angeles County is home to more than 300,000 women-owned businesses, and some of the largest immigrant populations in the country, enriching our community with incredible diversity and economic potential. Yet more than 17 percent of Los Angeles County residents live below the poverty level, according to the U.S. Census.
To strengthen the L.A. economy and improve the lives of its people, while also harnessing the region’s spirit of creativity and innovation, Grameen America Los Angeles will deploy its globally successful lending model with the goal of empowering Angelenos to rise from poverty, succeed in their businesses and improve their quality of life along with that of their families.
Grameen America’s first L.A. branchopenedin Boyle Heights in 2013 and has expanded to Pico Union. Since expanding to L.A., the organization has invested more than $4 million in 2,000 L.A. borrowers to build small businesses.
WHO: / ·  Grameen America Founder and Chair Muhammad Yunus
·  Grameen America President and CEO Andrea Jung
·  California Community Foundation President and CEO Antonia Hernández
·  California Community Foundation Executive Vice President and COO John Kobara
WHEN: / Sunday, November 23, 2014
10 a.m. Registration and camera set up
10:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Program
WHERE: / Skirball Cultural Center Ahmanson Ballroom
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
RSVP: / Taleen Ananian, Media Specialist, , 818.497.8008
Space is limited and advance RSVP is required by Nov. 17.
ON TWITTER: / Follow @CalFund and @GrameenAmerica and use #GrameenLA to join the conversation.

About the California Community Foundation

California Community Foundation (CCF) unites the power of philanthropy with innovative strategies to create greater equity, opportunity and prosperity in Los Angeles County. We have served as a public, charitable organization since 1915, empowering donors to pursue their own personal passions and to collaborate with us in transforming Los Angeles. CCF stewards nearly $1.4 billion in total assets and manages more than 1,600 charitable foundations, funds and legacies. For more information, visit www.calfund.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/calfund.

About Grameen America

Founded by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus, Grameen America is a nonprofit microfinance organization dedicated to helping women who live in poverty build small businesses to create better lives for their families. The organization offers microloans, training and support to transform communities and fight poverty in the United States. Since opening in January 2008, Grameen America has invested nearly $200 million in over 36,000 low-income women entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.grameenamerica.org.

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