Microfinance Horizon

20 November 2010 [Examiner]

Fitting in name, CAPITALE was the hot locale on Thursday night for microfinance organization FINCA’s 25th Anniversary Event honoring Academy Award nominee Natalie Portman and Philanthropist/Activist Soledad Hurst.  Portman and Hurst, members of FINCA’s board, were recognized for their continuous and visible public advocacy efforts on behalf of the foundation’s core mission.

Serving a much needed humanitarian purpose, FINCA provides financial services to the world’s lowest-income entrepreneurs with the goal of creating employment, raising family incomes, and reducing poverty worldwide. Operating Village Banking programs in 21 countries throughout Africa, Eurasia, the Middle East and Latina America, FINCA serves more than 725,000 people, primarily women, through a loan portfolio exceeding $340 million.  In offering small loans and other products to those turned down by traditional banks, FINCA believes that even the poor have a right to financial services.

As FINCA Ambassador of Hope, Portman looked ravishing last night in John Galliano for Dior and Ivanka Trump jewels.  Joined by a glamorous group of friends from the worlds of Hollywood, fashion and society, Portman graciously accepted her honor.  Jake Gyllenhaal, Benjamin Millepied, Jared Kushner, Jason Wu, Margarita Levieva, Jill Flint and Peter Facinelli were just some of the notable who came out in support.

Portman, now garnering tremendous Oscar buzz for her role in the new film ‘Black Swan’, is a star revered not only for her significant beauty and talent but for her deep intellect and social consciousness.  Spreading hope, she has successfully used the power of her celebrity to raise international awareness of FINCA and the plight of the people throughout the world that it serves.