ACCION New York, the largest microlending organization in the United States, was honored at the 2007 Support the Future Gala, hosted by City Futures, Inc. City Futures, a nonprofit organization devoted to rethinking, reframing, and improving the debate around cities, recognized ACCION New York for their accomplishments in strengthening New York's small business community through its microloan and business education programs.
"Our achievements require a number of pieces--hard working staff, an enthusiastic board, generous and committed funders and real clients wanting to engage in real business," said Janet Thompson, Chair of the Board at ACCION New York. "On behalf of our organization, I thank the Center for an Urban Future for honoring us this evening. Together, we will continue to work together to ensure opportunity continues to exist for everyone, that people who want to work can find work, that people who need help get help, and that immigrants are fairly treated. We want to ensure that people who live here and who migrate here continue to find the streets are lined with gold."
In December 2006, Muhammad Yunus' Nobel Peace Prize-winning work placed microfinance in the international spotlight as a viable poverty alleviation tool. The City Futures honor reaffirms the importance of the role of microfinance within urban centers of mature economies like the United States. Since its inception in 1991, ACCION New York has lent over $70.2 million to individuals and businesses in predominantly low-income communities throughout the New York metropolitan area.
"ACCION New York's microloan and business support services fulfill a critical need in New York City's underserved communities," said Andy Breslau, Executive Director of City Futures. "Their work seeks not only to ensure a bright future for the thousands of entrepreneurs they currently serve, but a bright future for the city as a whole. City Futures is proud to honor ACCION New York for their commitment to providing entrepreneurs with the tools needed to transform their businesses in to catalysts for positive change in New York City's communities."
The gala also honored Carlton Brown, COO of Full Spectrum Development, a leader in green building methods and an ardent supporter of affordable housing in New York City, and featured comments by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jimmy Breslin.
About ACCION New York and City Futures
ACCION New York, the largest microlending organization in the United States, contributes to the economic development of the New York metropolitan region by providing loans and advisory services to those that do not have access to traditional sources of credit. Since its inception in 1991, ACCION New York has provided over $70.2 million in small loans to entrepreneurs that do not have access to traditional sources of credit, lending a benchmark $14 million in 2006 alone. Ranging from experienced restaurateurs to home-based businesses and native New Yorkers to recent immigrants, loan recipients have transformed capital into citywide economic development, positive community change, and personal empowerment.
City Futures, Inc. is a nonprofit organization devoted to rethinking, reframing and improving the debate around cities. The organization comprises Center for an Urban Future, a think tank that fuses journalistic reporting techniques with traditional policy analysis to produce in-depth reports and workable policy solutions on the critical issues facing cities, and City Limits, New York's urban affairs news magazine.
In January 2009, ACCION New York combined operations with ACCION USA.