Highlights from 2007:

The Fifth Annual Business of Hope Luncheon

Last year, a sellout crowd of more than 1,200 people was honored to welcome María Antonia Galvez as our special guest speaker. María Antonia traveled from San Marcos, Guatemala, along with her 10-month-old daughter, Judith, to share her story with us. María Antonia secured a $50 loan from our partner FONDESOL in 1997 and purchased seeds and fertilizer to sell flowers and tomatoes in her local village. Several loan cycles later, she has expanded her farming business, built a new home for her family, sent her four older children to school, and provided necessary medical care for her infant daughter. María Antonia thanked all of her “new family in the United States” who have helped change her tears to smiles in their support of her and her business.

Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J., president of Seattle University and the event’s local keynote speaker, provided attendees with an inspirational message of hope, acknowledging that in educating today’s college students, Seattle University is also honored to be in the “business of hope.”

Thanks to our Corporate Partners, Table Captains and generous guests, last year’s Business of Hope Luncheon was the most successful in our history, raising over $612,000 for our programs.

We invite you to help change the lives of people living in poverty by joining us this year at our Sixth Annual Business of Hope Luncheon on October 28, 2008.