[CircleUp] "Opportunity NOW. It's a New Era" - Opportunity Finance Network to hold 24th Annual Conference

Tue Sep 2 17:37:58 EDT 2008

Native CDFIs, start up organizations, tribes and Native communities
interested in Native CDFIs, as well as other Native community
development practitioners - this conference includes the 5th Annual
Native CDFI Convening, Training Track, Native CDFI Award Ceremony, etc.
Plan to be there.

(Native and local items highlighted below.)

Please forward...

Contact: Jeanine Plant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Pro-Media Communications
Friday, August 29, 2008

212.245.0510

jplant at pro-mediacommunications.com

"Opportunity NOW. It's a New Era" - Opportunity Finance Network to hold
24th Annual Conference; Jim Collins, author of Good to Great to Speak at
Conference

WHAT:                   On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, Opportunity
Finance Network- the leading network of private financial intermediaries
delivering opportunities for low-wealth people and communities in the
U.S. - will kick off their 24th conference for opportunity finance and
CDFI professionals. The theme of the 2008 Opportunity Finance Network
Conference is "Opportunity NOW. It's a new era."  

"The 2008 Opportunity Finance Network Conference is designed to help our
industry take stock of where we are and to prepare for the challenges
and opportunities that are directly in front of us," said CEO &
President of Opportunity Finance Network Mark Pinsky. "We are in the
midst of a remarkable transformation in our nation, our world, and our
industry. Our work and the role that the Opportunity Finance industry
plays has never been more important for policy, for the economy, for
financial markets, and - most important - for the people and places we
serve." 

WHEN:                   Tuesday, December 9, 2008 through Friday,
December 12, 2008

WHERE:                 Hyatt Regency in Albuquerque, New Mexico

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS:

*         Good to Great author Jim Collins is the key note speaker and
will conduct a special three-hour interactive opening plenary session on
Wednesday, December 10th. Collins was drawn to opportunity finance
because of the industry's impressive accomplishments and potential, and
plans to share his ideas on enduring great organizations -- how they
grow, how they attain superior performance, and how good organizations
can become great organizations.

*         This year, Native CDFIs will be recognized and celebrated for
their role in expanding the availability of opportunity finance to
Native communities throughout the country. 

*         OFN's latest publication - The NEXT American Opportunity: Good
Policies for a Great America - written by opportunity finance
practitioners - provides newly elected officials and Capitol Hill policy
makers with practical policy solutions that leverage the proven results
of CDFIs for even greater impact right NOW.

*         On Wednesday, December 10th, the six awardees of the second
annual $8.75 million Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance will
be announced. The Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance are
shining a bright light on the great successes of our industry and taking
awardees to the next level of impact and accomplishment. 

*	OFN will present two special awards, the Congressional Champion
Award to Senator Jack Reed for his pioneering contributions to
affordable housing and economic development for underserved communities
and individuals, and the Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award to a
recipient to be announced at the Conference. 

OFN expects up to 700 conference attendees, including: CDFI and
Opportunity Finance institution staff, executives and board members;
Native community development professionals and tribal leaders;
investment managers; foundation program staff; bankers; CDFI
consultants; policy advisors and policy makers; and community and
economic development specialists. For more information about Opportunity
NOW - OFN Conference 2008, visit:  www.opportunityfinance.net/conference
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\lina\Local%20Settings\Temporary%2
0Internet%20Files\OLK9\www.opportunityfinance.net\conference> 

Registration: For a complete listing of sessions, presenters, and
Conference events, and to register for the conference (beginning
September 22nd), go to: www.opportunityfinance.net/conference. The
conference registration fee is $575 for Opportunity Finance Network
members and $725 for nonmembers. You can save $25 if you register before
November 3rd. 

Press opportunities: The conference is open to a limited number of
journalists who register in advance. Interested parties should contact
Jeanine Plant at 212-245-0510 or jplant at pro-mediacommunications.com to
arrange your press pass.

About Opportunity Finance Network: OFN is the leading network of private
financial intermediaries that delivers both sound financial returns and
real opportunities for low-wealth people and communities in the U.S. OFN
Members originated more than $12.5 billion in financing in
non-conforming urban, rural, and native communities through 2006. This
generated or maintained 175,710 jobs; 39,583 businesses; 533,394 housing
units; and 5,858 community facility projects. More information is
available at: www.opportunityfinance.net
<http://www.opportunityfinance.net/> . 

Conference sponsors include: Bank of America as the Platinum Sponsor;
Capital One, Citibank, The Home Depot Foundation, and Wachovia as Gold
Sponsors; HSBC, JP Morgan Chase, and Merrill Lynch as Silver Sponsors;
Prudential, WAMU, and Wells Fargo as Bronze Sponsors. Community sponsors
are: Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and The Bank of New York
Mellon. Community Leaders are: Enterprise Community Loan Fund and PNC
Bank. The National co-host and Native Convening co-host is First Nations
Oweesta Corporation. The local co-hosts include: ACCION New Mexico,
Homewise, Inc., The Loan Fund, and New Mexico Community Capital.

###

Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy

Vice President and COO

Oweesta Corporation

910 Fifth Street, Suite 101

Rapid City, SD  57701

(605) 342-3770 ph

(605) 342-3771 fx

stewart at oweesta.org

www.oweesta.org

www.nfec.info

www.ournativecircle.org

SAVE THE DATE - 5th Annual NATIVE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CONVENING

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - DECEMBER 9-12, 2008 (Taking place as part of the
Opportunity Finance Network's Annual Conference)

The Native Financial Institution Convening serves as a catalyst for
learning and sharing - join your peers for the day-long pre-conference
Gathering, the Native training track, and the Native award ceremony that
honors the work of two innovative and visionary Native CDFIs.

This event is for Native institutions, practitioners, leaders, tribal
programs, tribal housing authorities, their partners and others
committed to asset building and creating wealth in Native communities!

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