CFED Celebrates 30 Years of Expanding Economic Opportunity
Future of Economic Opportunity Award Presented to Three Innovative Organizations

On October 29, 2009, the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a Gala at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC with 450 friends, partners and allies in attendance. It was a night not only to celebrate three decades of expanding economic and social justice in this country and around the world, but also to look forward at the next 30 years and the future of economic opportunity. The evening was hosted by Gloria Steinem and included remarks by CFED President, Andrea Levere and CFED Founder Bob Friedman, a performance by the Ifetayo Cutlural Arts Program of Brooklyn, NY, and the reading of “The Threshold of Oportunity”a poem by Bob Friedman, read by the Friedman Family.

CFED celebrated its 30th Anniversary by honoring several organizations with the Future of Economic Opportunity Award for outstanding work in the areas of financial security, entrepreneurship and affordable housing. These organizations have demonstrated pioneering and innovative accomplishments by integrating community practice, public policy and private markets to achieve results at significant scale.

Karama Neal accepted the Financial Security award on behalf of Southern Good Faith Fund, which works to increase the incomes and assets of low-income and low-skilled residents of the Delta in Arkansas and Mississippi. It currently operates one of the largest Individual Development Account (IDA) programs in the country and has established the Aspiring Scholars Matching Grant program to provide a match for low-income savers in the state’s college savings plan.

Tracey Fisher accepted the Entrepreneurship award for First Nations Oweesta Corporation. Oweesta provides training, technical assistance, investments, research and advocacy for the development of Native community development financial institutions across the country, expanding the field of Native CDFIs from four to 48 in the past decade. It currently delivers IDA and entrepreneurship training and technical assistance to Native programs nationally.

Julie Eades accepted the Affordable Housing award for the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. The Community Loan Fund connects people and families with the loans, training and advice that allow them to buy and keep homes, have secure jobs and gain long-term economic stability. For 25 years it has pioneered a manufactured housing strategy that both preserves existing affordable housing and creates a bridge for working families to become homeowners. It was also one of the first organizations in the country to offer conventional mortgage loans for owners of manufactured housing.

CFED would like to thank all of our sponsors, partners and friends for their support over the past three decades – and for your continued support as we turn to the future of economic opportunity and our mission of helping every American save and invest.

The Evening in Photographs
Click here for a gallery of pictures from the 30^th Anniversary Gala.

30th Anniversary Video
View the special anniversary video highlighting CFED's three decades of expanding economic opportunity.

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