Microfinance for Low-Income Entrepreneurs in U.S.

Dear Supporters of LEND,

Spring 2016 has just begun, and LEND has welcomed its new presidents and executive board. LEND is pleased to transition a new Chairman of the Board from Northwestern University and hopes for a fruitful and exciting new relationship. We are hoping to continue expanding our reach on the campus by opening a university chapter of our organization at Northwestern, and not only spread awareness of microfinance to Northwestern students, but also garner interest in the organization's activities among the college students throughout 2016.

This spring, LEND has also been working hard to establish an stronger presence in the Evanston community. With new support from a bank in Wilmette, LEND hopes to continue reaching out to new clients and preparing them for traditional loans through larger financial institutions. Already this quarter, we are evaluating opportunities to involve the bank's staff in our activities and engage them with Northwestern students at a Spring banquet focused on social impact in the workplace.

Finally, LEND has been working towards providing a loan for a local business in Evanston that has survived for 6 years on its own, and seeks to expand its services through LEND's help. Through improved relationships with Evanston aldermen, LEND hopes to reach out to other communities in Evanston that might not have heard of LEND's services by planning block walks throughout the different wards. LEND's members will be trooping through Evanston's streets in small groups, telling businesses about the newest event LEND has planned: a Social Media marketing training session!

We greatly appreciate your support and enthusiasm for LEND. We hope to continue our efforts to help empower and support small businesses in the Evanston community.

Sincerely,

Luke Bertolet & Sarah Xie