East Night 2009 – Quite a Celebration!
Hundreds of people joined in PeopleFund's annual
East Night Celebration held this
year at the Mexican
American Cultural Center. The evening had a cosmopolitan flair as attendees mingled on hors' doeuvres inside both the art-draped entryway and the stone-lined multi-purpose room.
Board Chairman Jack McDonald gave opening remarks recapping PeopleFund's 15 years of creating opportunity for those who dare to dream of starting a business or purchasing a home and, most importantly, of achieving financial security and independence in their life.
Likening PeopleFund to the Oscar winning robot Wall-E, Executive Director Margo Weisz eloquently described how PeopleFund finds seeds in places where others have stopped looking – and helps them grow. She went on to say that in growing these seeds in the past 15 years, PeopleFund and its clients have:
• Turned 320 loans totaling $20 million into a variety of enterprises that further childcare, manufacture food, provide needed services for children and the elderly and develop green technologies,
• Created more than 2,000 jobs, 100 affordable homes and 1,000 childcare spots.
The highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony honoring three in the community who made a significant impact and helped to advance PeopleFund's mission. Honorees were:
- Community Superstar: Janet Harman who was recognized for her early support of PeopleFund’s new social investment loan program, PeopleInvest. Harman is the founder and president of KDK-Harman Foundation which supports educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged children.
- Community Impact: Frameworks Community Development Corporation, a non-profit community foundation that assists low-income families obtain affordable housing, as well as prevent foreclosures received recognition for their work in the community. To date, Frameworks CDC has assisted 800 individuals through their Homebuyer Counseling program, 400 families with their Foreclosure Prevention program and 300 individuals in their Financial Literacy course. Frameworks CDC became a PeopleFund client in 2007. Joyce McDonald, executive director of CDC, accepted the award.
- Outstanding Entrepreneurs: Tom and Sandra Cisneros are owners of Armor Affiliates, a statewide subcontractor who provides construction, renovation, sealant and fire prevention applications. Established in 1995, Armor Affiliates became a PeopleFund client in 2006. Although they had an excellent industry reputation, various business problems were preventing them from obtaining the bank financing necessary to fund the next stage of their company’s growth. With the help of PeopleFund financing and technical assistance, Armor Affiliates has doubled their sales and more importantly experienced a 7x improvement in profitability. The Cisneros’s now give back to the community by aiding other small contractors through their mentoring and advocacy work.
Many thanks to all who made the night possible and special thanks to our Sponsors:
Wells Fargo • Compass Bank • Ernst & Young • Frost Bank • Haynes-Eaglin-Waters • MFI Foundation • Perficient • Prosperity Bank • Andrews & Kurth • Braun & Butler Construction • Doug and Julie Hartman • HEB • El Milagro Tortilla Inc. • Eddie Rodriguez • James Stoker • Margaret Keys • Margo Weisz and Gregory Brooks • Rockroom Wine Company • Sally Brinker • Skinner Transportation (Steve Skinner) • Stubb's Legendary Kitchen, Inc
• Susan Coulter • The Personnel Store
• Weiss Architecture, Inc. • ALEON Properties • CGE Inc.
• Data Vise
• Door Number 3 • Dr. Gregory J. Vincent • E.S. Gomez Builders • Focus Strategies Investment Banking • Greater Texas Federal Credit Union • Helping the Aging, Needy and Disabled • Lawrence Group • Marc Yagjian • Suzanne & Marc Winkelman • Texas Certified Development Co. Inc. • White Glove Technologies • Winstead PC • Day and Night Waters
• Ecology Action
• El Arroyo • El Lago • Greenling • Live Oak Brewing
• Russell's Bakery & Coffee Bar
• Tool & Instrument Makers
• Whole Foods
Denotes PeopleFund client
