SANTA BARBARA-VENTURA COUNTIES — Non-profit Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is participating in #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, 2020 to raise critical funding needed for Quick Response loans and training to help local businesses adapt and recover in the midst of the pandemic. To date, WEV has provided nearly $400,000 in emergency funding while also advocating on a national level for additional funds to support local businesses. For information about donating, visit www.wevonline.org.
#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5 – in addition to the regularly scheduled December 1, 2020 #GivingTuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, as well as support for communities and nonprofits around the world.
“My company donated to WEV during this time because I believe we have a perfect storm, the need is more overwhelming right now than under normal circumstances and it is equally matched with so many unheard voices fed-up and motivated to change their situations and society,” said WEV client Amanda Martin-Behrendtsen, Founder and President of Renewal Revolution. “The donation is an intended catalyst and hopeful step toward economic stability within our community.”
WEV CEO Kathy Odell says, “The only way we will solve this global crisis is by supporting our local small business community. We want small business owners to know they can contact WEV and we will be here to help them find crucial emergency funding as well as providing the business support they need to maneuver during this crisis. #GivingTuesdayNow is a wonderful opportunity to join a national day of giving to raise local funds that will maintain important business support programs.”
WEV has been assisted in their efforts to provide quick response loans by lead investors Pacific Western Bank, Santa Barbara Better Together Fund, a field of interest fund at the Santa Barbara Foundation, and Ventura County Community Foundation. Other major sponsors include: Bank of America, City National Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, Pacific Premier Bank, Pacific Western Bank, Union Bank, Ventura County Credit Union, Wells Fargo Foundation, Williams-Corbett Foundation and the Zegar Family Fund.
“As a global community, we can mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding the opportunity to support one another. We each have the power to make an impact with acts of generosity, no matter how small, and to ensure the sustainability of organizations and services that are crucial to the care and support of our communities,” said Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday.
Those interested in joining Women’s Economic Venture’s #GivingTuesdayNow efforts can visit www.wevonline.org
About Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), www.wevonline.org: Women’s Economic Ventures is a non-profit dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. WEV provides training, consulting and loans to help entrepreneurs start, grow and thrive in business. WEV serves Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. While WEV targets its services toward women, it helps men as well. Services are provided in both English and Spanish.
Since 1991, WEV has provided business training and consulting to more than 14,000 women and men throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. WEV has made over $5 million in business loans, and helped more than 4,500 local businesses start or expand. WEV-supported businesses generate more than $300 million in annual sales revenue and have created nearly 9,000 jobs. WEV is a U.S. Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Center, and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
About GivingTuesday, www.givingtuesday.org: GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past eight years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give. GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity and equity around the globe.
#GivingTuesdayNow is organized by GivingTuesday, in partnership with its global network of leaders, partners, communities and generous individuals. GivingTuesday is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.