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Dear WEV Stakeholder, Since 1991, WEV and the women we serve have worked side by side to survive and to succeed. Today, WEV is recognized as one of the most effective women’s business centers in the nation. Nearly 3,000 women have completed our self-employment training program. WEV’s mission to help women become economically self-sufficient through entrepreneurship has been realized in the start-up or expansion of 1,000 women-owned businesses in our community. When Women’s Economic Ventures began helping women start their own businesses in 1991, most of our clients had no prior experience owning a small business; in the midst of a recession, many viewed self-employment as the last resort in a depressed job market. Today, WEV clients see self-employment as an end goal, not a stopgap strategy to earn money between jobs. Most work a full-time job while they start their business on the side. Straddling both worlds, their first major hurdle is the transition to full self-employment. The next hurdle is growth. The time has come for WEV and our clients to think bigger. For our clients, thinking big means making more money, creating more jobs and building assets that create financial security for the future. For WEV, thinking bigger means expanding our impact by: 1) helping client businesses grow and 2) extending our reach beyond our local community. WEV’s goal is to become the organization most known as the catalyst for creating economic equity for women. Our new mission is to create a more just and equitable world through the economic empowerment of women across the globe. Building on work we have already done with women’s organizations in California, Hungary and Jordan, we are developing new opportunities for women to learn and do business together. We intend to blend the social mission of a non-profit and the best practices of a Fortune 100 company into a business model that can be replicated anywhere in the world. How will we make our big bold vision a reality? With your help. At WEV, we know what a community of women can achieve because we see it every day: We see it in the way our clients inspire and support each other, we see it in the passion and commitment of our board and staff members, we see it in the way you, our donors, continue to support our work. Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Today I ask you to look into the future with us, to envision a world where women have the economic power to make their voices and their values heard. I ask you to support that vision with a generous contribution. With your help, today’s women business owners will become tomorrow’s business and community leaders. Sincerely, Marsha Bailey Founder/CEO
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