ACCION'S 50th Anniversary Gala

NEW YORK-OCTOBER 20: ACCION'S 50th Anniversary Gala on Thursday October 20, 2011 at Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 East 42nd Street, New York City, NY. The Gala event celebrates ACCION's 50 Years of Helping Millions Help Themselves and launched its vision of full financial inclusion for all. The highlight of the evening was the participation of microfinance clients from Africa and the United States who shared their stories of building a brighter future for their families with ACCION's help. Gala Co-Chairs: Amy Butte & John Heimann Honoree: Vikram Pandit Emcee: Tina Brown, Editor in Chief, Newsweek Daily Beast Board Chair: Diana Taylor Honorary Committee Chair: Ajay Banga, President & CEO Mastercard Worldwide About: Since our beginning – 50 years ago in 1961 – ACCION has worked to empower the poor with the knowledge and tools to improve their lives. Starting in 1973, ACCION has focused its efforts on offering the poor the same financial tools and knowledge that the rest of the world enjoys – a practice known as microfinance. As a pioneer in microfinance we are happy to report that microfinance now reaches an estimated 150 million people worldwide. This is a remarkable accomplishment, and ACCION is proud to have played a role in that progress over the last five decades. As a catalyst for change, our work to promote commercial and innovative microfinance solutions has served to empower millions of the world's entrepreneurial poor with basic financial tools and choices. And over time, we have helped build 62 microfinance institutions in 31 countries on four continents – enabling the seamstress, the grain seller, the wagon puller to access the financial services they need to grow their tiny businesses and create brighter futures for their families. PHOTO CREDIT: Copyright ©Manhattan Society.com 2011 by Joe Corrigan | tel: Private | e-mail: bookings@manhattansociety.com