MEDIA ADVISORY - International forum on ending poverty through
micro-entrepreneurship at Toronto's Allstream Centre (Oct 1 & 2)
TORONTO, Sept. 8 /CNW/ - The 2010 Toronto Microfinance Conference & Gala will bring together financial and microfinance practitioners, NGOs, students and all those interested in ending poverty for a comprehensive overview and conversation, including how to get involved. Building on inaugural 2009 Conference success, a fundraising Gala has been added to help further the work of participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in over 60 countries, including Canada and the United States.
Both events are at the new, very green, Allstream Centre. Earlybird ticket deadline is midnight September 15.
Gala - the micro ball - October 1. Reception 6:30 PM. Dinner 7:30 PM. Highlights: keynotes, silent & live auctions, entertainment & dancing.
Conference - the micro way - October 2. Registration, 7:30 AM, Program, 9 AM.-5 PM. Highlights: keynote, three series of concurrent breakouts and Future of Microfinance plenary panel.
"Microfinance is at the tipping point," says Conference American Co-Chair, Bob Annibale, Global Director of Citi Microfinance and Community Development. "This worldwide phenomenon is providing access to financial services, such as credit and savings, to underserved communities and micro-enterprises. The microfinance sector has expanded to include a wide range of institutions, from NGOs to specialized microfinance banks, presenting new opportunities to clients and growth related challenges for the sector."
"Women are at the forefront of success with a loan default rate that is virtually nil," Gala Canadian Co-Chair and Rotary Action Group for Microfinance Secretary, Gord Crann, remarks. "Through microfinance and technology families are providing homes and education for their children. And the world is on track to cut extreme poverty - the number of people earning under $1 a day - in half by 2015. That's the UN Millennium Development Goal."
Over twenty organizations will Co-Host including Rotary International District 7070, Rotarian Action Group for Microcredit, CGAP, World Vision, CARE Canada, PLAN Canada and MFIs like Grameen Foundation, Opportunity International, MEDA, VisionFund International and Foundation for Women.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.microfinanceconference.ca . Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. Watch the micro walk countdown on YouTube.
For further information: For further information:
Wendy Bodnoff
Co-Chair, Media and Public Relations
905.334.3660, [email protected]
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