Here’s a cool video from October 2010 where Matt Damon discusses microfinance with David Letterman.  They talk about Water.org and how microfinance can alleviate poverty:

Salma Hayek Pinault Serving as Honorary Chair at November 1st Event
The Weberg Foundation and Whole Food Market’s Whole Planet Foundation Honored

Pro Mujer, an international development organization that provides women in Latin America with the means to build livelihoods for themselves and futures for their families through an integrated approach of microfinance, business  training and healthcare, today announced the celebration of empowering Latin American women at its annual “Giving Women Credit” benefit. Mexican actress, director, producer and humanitarian, Salma Hayek Pinault will serve as Honorary Chair of the event which will be held on Monday, November 1st, 2010 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York.

“Giving Women Credit” is Pro Mujer’s largest fundraiser of the year with proceeds going to help women in Latin America gain access to microfinance, business and empowerment training and healthcare.

At this year’s event, Pro Mujer will recognize The Weberg Foundation for its commitment to supporting important social causes through its philanthropic initiatives. In addition, Pro Mujer will honor Whole Food Market’s Whole Planet Foundation for their commitment to empower the poor living in developing communities in Latin America that supply Whole Foods Market stores with products.

Rosario Pérez, Chief Executive Officer for Pro Mujer, said, “As Pro Mujer celebrates its 20th anniversary providing women in Latin America with a sustainable way to lift themselves out of poverty, we are delighted to honor The Weberg Foundation and Whole Food Market’s Whole Planet Foundation; organizations committed to poverty alleviation in developing communities around the world. We are also delighted to have Salma Hayek Pinault, a Pro Mujer supporter and a devoted humanitarian, serve as our Honorary Chair. We are thrilled to have such steadfast partners as we continue to reach underserved women in Latin America.”

Salma Hayek Pinault added, “I am honored to serve as the Honorary Chair for Pro Mujer’s annual ‘Giving Women Credit’ benefit as they celebrate this wonderful milestone. As a woman and a mother, I believe all women should have access to the tools they need to succeed and give their families a brighter future. For the past 20 years, Pro Mujer has dedicated itself to empowering women to transform their lives and those of their children and families; a mission which is dear to my heart.

Gail Bradley, a representative for the The Weberg Foundation added, “Pro Mujer’s approach to empowering poor women in Latin America through financial, social and healthcare services is both innovative and sustainable. We are proud of the impact Pro Mujer has on the lives of women and their families and look forward to supporting them in their continued success.”

Lee Valkenaar, Co-Chairman of the Whole Planet Foundation, said, “Whole Planet Foundation is honored to be recognized by such a wonderful organization such as Pro Mujer, which operates in four of the countries around the world where Whole Foods Market sources product. We look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with Pro Mujer and working together to break the cycle of poverty.”

Those interested in purchasing tickets to attend Pro Mujer’s “Giving Women Credit” benefit should call Susan Martin of Thomas Martin Events at (212) 972-2268 or click here.

About Pro Mujer
Pro Mujer is a women’s development and microfinance organization that provides poor women in Latin America with an integrated package of financial services, healthcare, and training to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Pro Mujer delivers these services through communal banks, or peer groups, of 20-30 women who support each other and guarantee each other’s loans. With small loans, healthcare, and training, along with group support, women are empowered to become agents of change in their families and communities.

Established in 1990, Pro Mujer has a presence in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. In the last 20 years, Pro Mujer has disbursed more than US$885 million in small loans, and provided healthcare and training to more than 1 million women and their 5 million children and family members. Pro Mujer is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. For more information, please visit, www.promujer.org

It was recently announced that Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Laureate who founded the Grameen Bank, will be guest starring on the TV show The Simpsons.  This special episode will air on October 3rd and will focus on microfinance and the Grameen Bank’s work. Yeardly Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson, has been a big supporter of microfinance and flew to Dhaka for a week long visit to study the work of the Grameen Bank.  The Simpsons is the longest running TV show and has drawn quite the crowd of followers over the years.  By introducing the concept of microfinance on the show, it has potential to reach a whole new audience.  I’m definitely curious to see how much the show talks about microfinance and whether it takes a serious stance or a humorous one, for which the shown is know for.

Although I don’t really follow or care much for celebrity gossip, it’s always good to see a celebrity in the news supporting microfinance.  I came across this picture on the daily start where Hugh Jackman poses with Muhammad Yunus at the opening of the manhattan branch.  Here’s what the Daily Star had to say about Jackman:

“Jackman is a strong supporter of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and a longtime advocate of microcredit. The actor has made a commitment to promote Yunus’s work on social business.
Professor Yunus invited Jackman to visit Bangladesh. Jackman assured him that he’d come to Bangladesh as soon as his schedule permits.
Jackman wrote a letter to Professor Yunus that he was inspired and moved by Yunus’s book ‘Banker to The Poor.’ The actor said in a recent article (The Oprah Magazine) ‘He (Yunus) is fighting at the frontline of poverty, and you couldn’t find a happier guy.’”

Celebrities always support non-profits as we’ve seen over the years, but very few of them are supporting microfinance.  I’m hoping that the trend continues and microfinance will get some more exposure in pop culture.

Professor Yunus (left) with Hugh Jackman. *picture from the Daily Star*

Here’s a short video where Alex Counts from Grameen and Yeardley Smith (actress known for the voice of Lisa Simpson) visit Fonkoze in Haiti:

The Green Children are a pop duo from Europe that joined together with Muhammad Yunus in 2006 to help raise money for microfinance.  Recently they joined with the Whole Planet Foundation in a new fundraising campaign for more microfinance projects in India. On August 1, they released their newest song “Hear Me Now” which is available on iTunes.  This is one of the first times that microfinance initiatives have been available on iTunes, which I think is a great milestone. So everyone spread the word because 50% of the proceeds go to fund a new microfinance project!

Source: Mother Nature Network – The Green Children fight poverty on iTunes

With the Simpsons having almost as many years as I’ve had in my life, the show has been there by my side growing up.  So when I saw the Yeardley Smith, the voice of Lisa Simpson, was with Alex Counts from the Grameen Foundation working with MFIs in Haiti, I was immediatley a big fan.  They do a great job of documenting the journey on the Grameen Foundation Blog: Creating A World Without Poverty.