UCLA Anderson School of Management:
WHAT: Award-winning actress Natalie Portman will speak to
students about the power of microfinance as a tool to
help the world's poorest entrepreneurs, and inspire
them to support the campaign against global poverty.
Portman will discuss and show video diaries of her
recent visits to Mexico and Uganda, where she saw
first-hand how FINCA International's Village Banking
method of microfinance transforms families and
communities. The event is co-hosted by the UCLA
Anderson MBA club Net Impact and the Center for
International Business Education and Research (CIBER).
WHO: UCLA Anderson Finance Professor Bhagwan Chowdhry will
moderate a discussion with Portman and students about
microfinance, and the importance of young people
getting involved with social action.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007 from 6pm-7pm
WHERE: UCLA's Anderson School of Management, Korn Convocation
Hall. Parking is available in Lot 4.
BACKGROUND: Since graduating from Harvard in 2003, Portman has
served as Ambassador of Hope for FINCA International,
one of the world's largest microfinance organizations,
and pioneer of the Village Banking method of bringing
small business loans to the poor through community-run
financial associations. Portman is also co-chairperson
with Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan for
FINCA's Village Banking "Call to Action" Campaign, an
initiative to mobilize the people and resources needed
to bring financial services to one million of the
world's lowest-income families. In addition to her UCLA
appearance, Natalie will visit students at other
colleges and universities across the nation in October.
For more information about FINCA International and The
Village Banking Campaign, visit www.villagebanking.org;
visit myspace.com/villagebanking; or search for details
on Facebook.
MEDIA: Please RSVP to attend: Diana Greenwood at
(310) 206-7707, diana.greenwood@anderson.ucla.edu.NOTE: Natalie Portman will not be doing media interviews at the event.
