DOCSLIB.ORG

Congressional Record—Senate S2840

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Congressional Record—Senate S2840 S2840 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 22, 2013 years—chairing committees in support heads of state, diplomats, heads of wearing the traditional Bengali of his favorite candidates. He even put major companies and foundations, and jamdani fabric design. his name on the ballot one year for grassroots activists—all of whom have On the reverse, a ‘‘lotus open in full Governor but fell short by just 530 been inspired by the work of one great bloom, rising above the water and cra- votes in the primary. man—Prof. Muhammad Yunus. It was a dling the world in its open petals’’ As a long-time Kansas resident, Don great privilege for me to be there. evokes powerful symbolism. It was de- was well known and respected by many More than 6 years ago I introduced a signed by Wisconsin artist Richard throughout our state, but especially in resolution in the Senate to award Pro- Masters and sculpted by Jim Licaretz. Southwest Kansas. fessor Yunus the Congressional Gold The Bangla inscription in the center is Don was a strong advocate for rural Medal. I was joined in this effort by my a quote taken from Professor Yunus’ Kansas and the special way of life we friends, former Utah Senator Robert Nobel speech and reads, ‘‘Let us send enjoy in small communities across our Bennett and Representative RUSH HOLT poverty to the museum.’’ great State. Through his service on in the House. Beyond the typical pomp and cir- several committees focused on the fu- We had a lot of help outside of Con- cumstance of these ceremonies, last ture of rural Kansas, Don helped make gress in making this happen. Joanne week’s event truly made history. Pro- certain the next generation can return Carter and her team at RESULTS were fessor Yunus becomes the first Muslim to the towns and communities they instrumental. Thousands of RESULTS to win the Congressional Gold Medal. call home. grassroots volunteers across the coun- Additionally, he becomes only the sev- From his participation in Kansas pol- try contacted their Members of Con- enth person in history to receive the itics to his public service career, Don gress and asked them to support the ef- Presidential Medal of Freedom and the was always looking for ways to serve fort to recognize Professor Yunus. Two Congressional Gold Medal and the his fellow Kansans and improve their of those volunteers were Cindy Levin Nobel Peace Prize. In doing so, he joins lives. In recognition of that service, and Richard Smiley from Illinois. I am truly exceptional company. Consider Don was awarded a lifetime achieve- pleased that both could be here to see the six others with whom he now ment award by Washburn Law School their hard work pay off. shares this honor: Nelson Mandela, in 2010. I first met Muhammad Yunus more Martin Luther King, Jr., Norman His family and friends described him than two decades ago in Bangladesh. Borlaug, Elie Wiesel, Mother Teresa, as someone whose generosity, enthu- His revolutionary concept of micro- and Aung San Suu Kyi. To most of us siasm, and overall optimism towards credit and the Grameen Bank that he these individuals are giants of history; life touched the lives of so many. It has founded was helping to lift millions out to Professor Yunus they are peers in been said that Don had the character of of poverty. He loaned small amounts of the struggle to advance human dignity. Many probably thought Professor ‘‘one in a million,’’ and that he did not money traditional banks wouldn’t Yunus would be a contender for the ‘‘just participate in life, but made life bother with to individuals traditional Nobel Prize in Economics, but in happen.’’ Don had the unique ability to banks wouldn’t bother with. awarding him the Peace Prize, the connect with just about anyone, but he His innovative idea defied old beliefs. Nobel Committee recognized that last- was especially revered by his family He proved banking could be done with- out collateral and that investing in ing peace and prosperity can only come and friends who looked up to him in when the poor can escape the prison of many ways. Don lived each day to its women worked. Most of Grameen Bank’s loans go to poor women who go poverty. As I noted at last week’s cere- fullest and his commitment to his fel- mony, this simple but important lesson from beggars to entrepreneurs. low man serves as an inspiration to us from a Bangladeshi professor should all. I have seen it myself. Several years ago, in a ramshackle hut in Uganda, I not be lost here in Congress. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to In addition to those I have already met with three mothers who worked in his wife, Sharon, his son, Craig, his mentioned who contributed to this en- the local market. I asked them, daughter, Debra, and his many grand- deavor, there are many more who de- through an interpreter, how micro- children. I know they loved him dearly serve a great deal of thanks. I would credit had changed their lives. One and will undoubtedly miss him. I ask like to thank a few of them. my colleagues and all Kansans to re- woman said: ‘‘My knees have gone First of all, Professor Yunus’ assist- member the Concannon family in your soft.’’ I didn’t understand what she ant and the director of the Yunus Cen- thoughts and prayers in the days meant so I asked her to explain. She tre, Lamiya Morshed. She has worked ahead. I yield the floor. said that before she received the micro- tirelessly throughout this process— The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- credit loan that gave her a chance to helping in the medal design and devel- ator from Oregon. go to market and make a little money, opment and successfully taking on the f she used to have to crawl on her knees daunting task of planning and coordi- and beg her husband for money to feed MORNING BUSINESS nating a complex series of ceremonies, her children. But she doesn’t have to receptions, and meetings for Professor Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask crawl anymore. Her knees have gone Yunus. unanimous consent the Senate proceed soft. The dedicated and professional staff to a period of morning business, with Over the last nearly 40 years, more of the U.S. Mint deserve great praise Senators permitted to speak therein than 160 million people on five con- for their work to design and produce for up to 10 minutes each. tinents have received microloans. His the medal. Throughout the process one The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without idea changed the world. person has held this project especially objection, it is so ordered. The Congressional Gold Medal is the close to her heart. Leslie Schwager, f highest civilian honor Congress can be- program specialist for the Yunus Gold stow and the practice dates back to the Medal, worked tirelessly with my staff, CONGRATULATING PROFESSOR Continental Congress. Unlike other MUHAMMAD YUNUS Lamiya, and within the Mint to keep awards, each Congressional Gold Medal the process on track. Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, last is unique to the recipient. It is specifi- I would finally like to thank Speaker week Congress recognized one of the cally designed and sculpted according BOEHNER and his staff, as well as the planet’s leading visionaries and hu- to the wishes of the recipient. I staff of the Senate Sergeant at Arms, manitarians by awarding Prof. Muham- couldn’t be more thrilled with how this for their cooperation and leadership on mad Yunus the Congressional Gold tribute to Professor Yunus turned out. the ceremony. Medal. It is truly beautiful. At last, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, my The ceremony occurred just a few The obverse of the medal was de- friend, has received from Congress an hundred yards from here in the august signed by Indiana artist Donna Weaver honor he has deserved for so long. I Capitol Rotunda. There to pay tribute and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill. The congratulate him and his family. I to this proud son of Bangladesh, this portrait of Professor Yunus is meant to thank the country of Bangladesh for banker to the poor, this Nobel laureate ‘‘accurately reflect his optimistic and sharing this beloved national hero with were Members of Congress, former cheerful personality.’’ He is depicted the world. VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:10 Apr 23, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22AP6.022 S22APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Open Letter to G8 Leaders on a Global Fund for Education from Mary Robinson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Muhammad Yunus
    OPEN LETTER TO G8 LEADERS ON A GLOBAL FUND FOR EDUCATION FROM MARY ROBINSON, ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU AND MUHAMMAD YUNUS June 30, 2009 To the Leaders of the G8: We, the undersigned, are writing to implore the leaders of the world’s richest countries to renew their commitment to the children of the world by revitalizing the global compact on Education for All. At this year’s G8, we urge those same leaders to announce an agreement to launch a fully resourced Global Fund for Education. We are heartened by the commitment of the United States President, Barack Obama, to provide a contribution of at least $2 billion dollars to a Global Fund for Education which would help to eliminate the global education deficit by 2015. Such a bold and ambitious plan should be endorsed by other members of the G8 through a public commitment to such an initiative, which must be launched before the end of the year with full funding. A Global Fund for Education would ensure that the funding shortfall is no longer the main impediment to progress on basic education, and moreover that those investments have the greatest impact on access to and quality of education. At this time of fiscal crises, it is even more imperative that we provide the safety net of knowledge to the world’s poorest children and save them from paying with their lives for our financial mistakes. Education must be an integral part of the global response to the economic crisis. Without skills such as literacy, numeracy and problem-solving, millions of children and adults are trapped in poverty.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Summit
    DRAFT PROGRAMME WIP WOMEN IN PARLIAMENTS GLOBAL FORUM ANNUAL SUMMIT THE SPIRIT OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENTS: ADVANCING SOCIETY 27-29 November 2013 | European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium DRAFT PROGRAMME SPEAKERS* Professor Muhammad Yunus, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Viviane Reding, Kathy Calvin, Aung San Suu Kyi, Dr. Olli Rehn, Nino Burjanadze, Tom Motsoahae Thabane, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UN Ambassador of Peace Vice-President of the European President and CEO of United Chairperson of the “National Vice-President of the European Former acting President of Prime Minister of Lesotho Founder of the Grameen Bank and Primatologist Commission Nations Foundations League for Democracy Burma” Commission Georgia and Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Ana Palacio, Saadia Zahidi, Professor Jody Williams, Neelie Kroes, Hillary Clinton, Martin Schulz, Jeni Klugman, Zainab Bangura, Former Minister of Foreign Senior Director at the World Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Vice-President of the European Former United States President of the European Director of Gender and Special Representative of the Affairs of Spain, former Vice- Economic Forum Commission Secretary of State Parliament Development at the World United Nations Secretary General President and General Counsel Bank Group on Sexual Violence in Con!ict of the World Bank Pascal Lamy, Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Dalia Grybauskaité, Benigno Aquino, Dr. Margaret Chan, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Lakshmi Puri, Dubravka Šuica, Former WTO Director General Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, President of Lithuania President of the Philippines Director-General of the President of Liberia Deputy Executive Director Member of the European Founder of the Mo Ibrahim World Health Organization of UN Women Parliament Foundation Portia Simpson-Miller, Mehriban Aliyeva, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Michael D.
    [Show full text]
  • European Development Days
    2006 European Development Days 8 years of policy debates from the European Consensus to the post-2015 agenda /1 3 European Development Days 2006-2013 Eight years of policy debates from the European Consensus to the post-2015 agenda Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014 Paper version ISBN 978-92-79-38970-2 doi: 10.2841/47722 PDF ISBN 978-92-79-38969-6 doi: 10.2841/47692 © European Union, 2014 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium Printed on elemental chlorine-free bleached paper (ECF) European Development Days 2006-2013 Eight years of policy debates from the European Consensus to the post-2015 agenda Forward by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. This book has been published by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid in August 2014. European Commission FOREWORD by JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO President of the European Commission I have always passionately believed in a Europe that I fought hard to preserve our high aid levels in our is open; a Europe that is committed to the values of multi-annual budget 2014-2020. In addition, my freedom, development and global solidarity. These Commission has stepped up special measures for the values have been central to the European project poorest, like the EUR 1 billion Food Facility or our ever since its inception and continue to inspire our strong support for the United Nation's Sustainable Union today.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Beings Survive Human Beings Another Century? - Professor Muhammad Yunus 4
    Issue 12 March, Would 1. Cover story : Would human beings survive human beings another century? - Professor Muhammad Yunus 4. Social Business Day 2017 : Sessions Live survive another Telecast on Facebook for the fi rst time 6. 8th Global Social Business Summit (GSBS) century? 2017 : ‘New Wave of Hope!’ 8. Highlights : (August 2017- January 2018) Professor Muhammad Yunus Yunus Launches Social Business Initiatives to Link Sports to Address Social Problems COVER STORY “A World of Three Zeroes”, - Professor Yunus Book Tour in the United Kingdom e must redesign our unsustainable sudden reversal took everybody by surprise economic system and create a when Brexit happened. It was a rude shock to Offi cial Launch of Les Canaux, the Social W new civilization based on empathy, sharing see one nation decide to break away from the Business House in Paris and caring. journey of all nations getting closer to each One Young World summit 2017, Bogota, Colombia other. This tendency is not limited to one area 12. Nuclear weapons have been around for Interview : Giving Capitalism a Social of the world; it is spreading. We see the same Conscience: - David Bornstein many years but this has become an issue of enormous concern because of the kind isolationism emerging out of other elections. 15. Highlights : of political sound bites that the world has It comes in the form of building physical and World Leaders deliberate on the Second been hearing in recent times. Some national legal walls to isolate a country from the rest Anniversary of Paris Climate agreement leaders have been taunting each other about of the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Three Questions to Fulfill Our Duty to the Next Generation 8Th Nobel Peace Laureate Summit December 13-15, 2007
    Three Questions to Fulfill Our Duty to the Next Generation 8th Nobel Peace Laureate Summit December 13-15, 2007 Today, the world is interconnected as never before. Decisions made today will have permanent consequences. Humanity’s global footprint must be guided by appropriate thinking, policy, and actions. No longer can we afford to think locally and act globally. Three significant issues require new levels of international cooperation based on the rule of law and universal norms. No state, or even a powerful group of states, can succeed alone. Because these issues impact us all, we must all be concerned. We must effectively address crushing poverty and adequately organize ourselves to protect the global commons, such as the oceans, the climate, and the rainforest – living systems on which civilization depends. Because the promotion of global cooperation is distorted by the possession of nuclear weapons by some, and our security increasingly risked by their spread, we must ensure the elimination of nuclear weapons before they eliminate us. If we are to fulfill our responsibility to leave a sustainable future to the next generation, we must make sure our political leaders have answers to these critical questions: 1. What are your plans to address crushing poverty? 2. What are your plans to protect the environment? 3. What are your plans to eliminate nuclear weapons? We, as Nobel Peace Laureates and Laureate Organizations have a duty to demand answers to these questions and we commit to continue to press political candidates and all world leaders for responses. We encourage citizens, especially youth who will be most affected by the answer to these questions, to energetically pursue them also.
    [Show full text]
  • Xii World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates
    CHICAGO 23-25 April 2012 XII WORLD SUMMIT OF NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES «Speak up, speak out about your rights and freedoms» The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates: “A meeting of hope in the World” We invite all students and PhD students having fluent English and interested in international relations, globalization, geopolitics and international law to take part in XII World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. XII WORLD SUMMIT OF NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES is being organized by Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace laureates in cooperation with the City of Chicago (USA) and the magazine Time. The Summit will be held at the suggestion of the Gorbachev Foundation, Chicago City Hall, R. Kennedy Foundation and University of Illinois. Chaired by Mikhail Gorbachev and Walter Veltroni, the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates is among the most prestigious international appointments in the fields of peace, non-violence, social urgencies, ethnic, religious and cultural conflicts. The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates takes place every year since 1999. The last editions of the Summit were attended by 25 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, 272 international media (including BBC, CNN, NBC, Al Jazeera), 700 delegates, 150 organisations and associations. Among the participants: Mikhail Gorbachev - H.H. The Dalai Lama - Muhammad Yunus - Oscar Arias Sanchez - Lech Walesa – Shimon Peres - Jose Ramos-Horta - David Trimble - John Hume - Kim Dae Yung – Joseph Rotblat, Jody Williams - Betty Williams - Mairead Corrigan Maguire - Philipe Ximenes Belo - Adolfo Perez Esquivel - Rigoberta Menchù Tum - Frederik Willem De Klerk - Unicef - Pugwash Conferences - I.P.P.N.W. - I.P.B.
    [Show full text]
  • Bateman Ids Wp
    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272241825 The Rise and Fall of Muhammad Yunus and the Microcredit Model Article in SSRN Electronic Journal · January 2014 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2385190 CITATIONS READS 16 2,924 1 author: Milford Bateman Juraj Dobrila University of Pula 93 PUBLICATIONS 641 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: 'Seduced and betrayed: exposing the contemporary microfinance phenomenon' View project The rise and fall of global microcredit: development, debt and disillusion View project All content following this page was uploaded by Milford Bateman on 27 March 2018. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. #001 JANUARY 2014 THE RISE AND FALL OF MUHAMMAD YUNUS AND THE MICROCREDIT MODEL Milford Bateman Freelance consultant on local economic development and Visiting Professor of Economics at Juraj Dobrila at Pula University, Croatia. Bateman - IDS Working Paper #001 - January 2014 “Microfinance is an idea whose time has come.” Kofi Annan - Former United Nations Secretary-General “The key to ending extreme poverty is to enable the poorest of the poor to get their foot on the ladder of development . the poorest of the poor are stuck beneath it. They lack the minimum amount of capital necessary to get a foothold, and therefore need a boost up to the first rung.” Jeffrey Sachs - American economist and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University “Give a man a fish, [and] he’ll eat for a day. Give a woman microcredit, [and] she, her husband, her children, and her extended family will eat for a lifetime.” Bono - Lead singer for the Irish band U2 and humanitarian advocate “This is not charity.
    [Show full text]
  • Seventh Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture
    7th Nelson Mandela Annual lecture Johannesburg, 11 July 2009 By Muhammad Yunus I stand in awe, standing in front of the most wonderful person on Earth today. I feel so honoured and privileged to say happy birthday personally to him today. You have inspired us; you don’t know who we, where we grew up, but you have touched our lives. As young people, we looked up to you: you stood tall and made us stand tall; you rejected prejudices and you inspired us to reject prejudices; you rejected hatred and you inspired us to reject hatred. You inspired us to love people, embrace peace; you inspired us to be brave, bold. You inspired us to be defiant. You inspired the whole world. Today, in your 91 st birthday year, it is such an experience to be in your presence on this stage. I feel privileged to be living on this planet while you are with us. Today, this is more than anybody can expect. You lifted people from their insignificance. You gave people honour and dignity, irrespective of their race, colour or religion. You became the symbol of the human spirit. You became the symbol of how best a human being can be. You will remain an inspiration for all time. You had your own struggles; the world watched, we watched on from a distance. We had our own struggles – little ones – but you inspired us, nonetheless. Bangladesh was devastated by massive poverty when it became an independent country. It was devastated by war and bloodshed. On top of it there was massive poverty – and then came the famine in 1974.
    [Show full text]
  • Maximizing Results
    ST/ESA/326 Department of Economic and Social Affairs DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FOR THE MDGs: MAXIMIZING RESULTS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION REPORT asdf United Nations New York, 2010 Department of Economic and Social Affairs The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, gener- ates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities. Note The present report is an independent publication commissioned by UN DESA drawing from the work of the Development Cooperation Forum and additional research and positions of independent authors. Opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concern- ing the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Grameen Bank and Its Sister Organizations
    Global Journal of Management and Business Research: B Economics and Commerce Volume 14 Issue 2 Version 1.0 Year 2014 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-4588 & Print ISSN: 0975-5853 Grameen Bank and its Sister Organizations- Grameen Chek and Grameen Krishi (Agricultural) Foundation Not Only Providing Credit: They Guide the Landless Families in Bangladesh for their Development By Dr. Kazi Abdur Rouf Noble International University, Canada Abstract- This paper talks about Grameen Bank (GB) micro financing program features, strategies, policies and its two other sister organizations Grameen Chek (GC), involves in manufacturing handloom garments and Grameen Krishi (Agricultural) Foundation (GKF), engages in agricultural activities and irrigation management in Bangladesh. All are social business organizations in Bangladesh. GKF runs its farms ‘no loss basis’. Grameen Bank and Grameen Chek run their programs without receiving external funding; rather these two organizations have operated their programs from their own generated funds. Moreover, Grammen Bank and Grameen Chek are free from external consultants` pressure rather they are developing their programs, policies and implementation strategies by using their in-house staff skills and experience. Keywords: external consultants; external funding; grameen bank; grameen chek; grameeen krishi foundation; internal funding; empowerment; implementation strategies, poverty eradication. GJMBR-B Classification: JEL
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress
    Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress Updated April 8, 2021 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45101 Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress Summary Senators and Representatives are frequently asked to support or sponsor proposals recognizing historic events and outstanding achievements by individuals or institutions. Among the various forms of recognition that Congress bestows, the Congressional Gold Medal is often considered the most distinguished. Through this venerable tradition—the occasional commissioning of individually struck gold medals in its name—Congress has expressed public gratitude on behalf of the nation for distinguished contributions for more than two centuries. Since 1776, this award, which initially was bestowed on military leaders, has also been given to such diverse individuals as Sir Winston Churchill and Bob Hope, George Washington and Robert Frost, Joe Louis and Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Congressional gold medal legislation generally has a specific format. Once a gold medal is authorized, it follows a specified process for design, minting, and presentation. This process includes consultation and recommendations by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Commission (CCAC) and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), pursuant to any statutory instructions, before the Secretary of the Treasury makes the final decision on a gold medal’s design. Once the medal has been struck, a ceremony will often be scheduled to formally award the medal to the recipient. In recent years, the number of gold medals awarded has increased, and some have expressed interest in examining the gold medal authorization and awarding process. Should Congress want to make such changes, several individual and institutional options might be available.
    [Show full text]
  • Putting Microfinance to the Test 18-Month Impacts of the Grameen America Program
    Putting Microfinance to the Test 18-Month Impacts of the Grameen America Program September 2020 M. Victoria Quiroz Becerra Kelsey Schaberg Daron Holman Richard Hendra Dissemination of MDRC publications is supported by the following organizations and individuals that help finance MDRC’s public policy outreach and expanding efforts to communicate the results and implications of our work to policymakers, practitioners, and others: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Arnold Ventures, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Ford Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, Daniel and Corinne Goldman, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., The JPB Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and Sandler Foundation. In addition, earnings from the MDRC Endowment help sustain our dissemination efforts. Contributors to the MDRC Endowment include Alcoa Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Anheuser- Busch Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ford Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Lizabeth and Frank Newman Charitable Foundation, The New York Times Company Foundation, Jan Nicholson, Paul H. O’Neill Charitable Foundation, John S. Reed, Sandler Foundation, and The Stupski Family Fund, as well as other individual contributors. The findings and conclusions in this report do not necessarily represent the official positions or policies of the funders. For information about MDRC and copies of our publications, see our website: www.mdrc.org. Copyright © 2020 by MDRC®. All rights reserved. Putting Microfinance to the Test 18-Month Impacts of the Grameen America Program M. Victoria Quiroz Becerra Kelsey Schaberg Daron Holman Richard Hendra September 2020 OVERVIEW his report summarizes 18-month findings from the evaluation of the Grameen America pro- gram, a microfinance institution that provides loans to low-income women in the United States who are seeking to start or expand a small business.
    [Show full text]