Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah; Academy Award Nominee Natalie Portman; Other Notables to Launch Village Banking Campaign Anti-Poverty Initiative with Major Announcements

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, Academy Award-nominated actress Natalie Portman, renowned international development expert Dr. Francis Fukuyama, insurance giant AIG, and other supporters of global microfinance organization FINCA International will launch the Village Banking Call to Action Campaign with major announcements regarding Middle East expansion; the role of social networking; and pioneering partnerships that have brought critical services to the developing world’s poor.

Unveiled at last year’s Clinton Global Initiative, the campaign seeks to harness social momentum and mobilize the people and resources needed to alleviate poverty on a global scale through the expansion of the village banking method pioneered by FINCA in 1985, which has now been emulated the world over. FINCA gives opportunity to millions living in conflict and post-conflict zones like Afghanistan and Haiti by providing capable, resourceful people, who are starving for capital, the resources they need to help their small businesses take root.

 

When:	Wednesday, May 2, 12:30-1:30 p.m. (lunch will be served)
	Camera pre-set 11:15 a.m.
	Final access 12 Noon
Where:	The Kimmel Center, New York University 60 Washington Square South, New York City
Who:	Village Banking Campaign Co-Chairs:
	- Her Majesty Rania Al-Abdullah, Queen of Jordan, FINCA International Board Member
	- Natalie Portman, FINCA Ambassador of Hope
	Village Banking Campaign Steering Committee Members:
	- Ned Cloonan, Vice President, AIG
	- Lisa Caputo, President, Women & Company
	- Francis Fukuyama, Ph.D., Director of International Development Programs, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, The Johns Hopkins University
	Other Supporters:
	- Soledad Hurst, FINCA International Board Member
	- Rupert Scofield, Executive Director, FINCA International
	- John Hatch, Founder, FINCA International
	- John Needham, Chief Executive Officer, The Clinton Global Initiative
	- College student representatives from the New York-area