WithThanksgiving approaching, the Grameen America team is celebrating this year’s phenomenal success! With approximately 8,000 borrowers and $30 MM in disbursements, I want to take a moment to thank all of those who laid the seeds for our fruitful year.

Grameen America borrowers are empowered through teamwork. We are grateful for the strength and dedication of our Grameen family and the work that they have done to inspire change and enable dreams.

As we till the soil for next year, we hope you are re-inspired to fight poverty and joblessness with entrepreneurship and hope!

- Stephen A. Vogel, CEO Grameen America

September 28, 2011

On Monday, we celebrated Grameen America's sixth branch opening.

We were elated to have Professor Yunus join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony in the Bronx. As he told the audience of borrowers and supporters, "today is not just opening a branch, it's opening a future."

You can catalyze the success of our new Bronx branch by helping us raise $7,500, enough for five loans. With your support, we can help make a brighter future for a new borrower today, a future where, as Professor Yunus says, “all impossibles are possible.”

Many thanks to CitiBank for supporting the event and helping our borrowers build savings.
Click HERE to donate and be sure to note “Bronx” in the comments.

Check out more photos on our FACEBOOK page.

In case you missed any of the press coverage, take a look below:

Non-profit Gives Microloans to Low-Income Americans
Morning Joe, MSNBC
September 26, 2011

The Big Save
The Economist
September 24, 2011

International Microlender Opens New New York Branch
ABC News
September 26, 2011

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Grameen America would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported us in the past year as we continue to pursue our mission of helping to create a world without poverty.

With your help, Grameen America has achieved a great deal over the past year. We have expanded to Manhattan and Brooklyn, and grown to over 4,500 active borrowers. $11 million of loans have been disbursed and we have maintained our incredibly high repayment rate. Our borrowers have deposited over $600,000 into savings accounts at local partner banks and they are continuing to build and improve credit scores, where many of them had no prior credit rating.

Most of all, we would also like to extend our gratitude to all of our borrowers who have been a very important part of this journey. It is their hard work, determination and dedication to their businesses that continues to make the Grameen America model a success.

We want to wish a cheerful and happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families. We hope you continue to be a valuable part of the Grameen America family.