Ingenuity Fund Challenge asks supporters to use creativity for a chance to meet people benefitting from microfinance and technology programs

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Grameen Foundation today announced an unprecedented opportunity for one of its supporters and a guest to travel abroad to see first-hand how the Foundation's microfinance and technology services are helping some of the world's poorest people. It is launching the Ingenuity Fund Challenge which asks supporters to create their own campaigns to inspire others to support the work of Grameen Foundation.

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From November 2009 through February 2010, Challenge participants will develop compelling, creative personal fundraising pages on Grameen Foundation's website, and raise awareness of and funds for Grameen Foundation's work through personal networks, social media and other offline activities. The participant judged to have the most creative, ingenious web page and outreach effort will win the grand prize of an overseas field visit.

"This is the first time we've opened our doors to supporters in this way, and it's an exciting opportunity that I know will change the life of the recipient forever," said Grameen Foundation President and CEO Alex Counts. "We know our supporters want to play a role in ending global poverty. With the Challenge, we're hoping to offer an once-in-a-lifetime experience to a determined anti-poverty advocate. We believe the contest not only represents a new way of spreading the word about Grameen Foundation, but it truly embodies the spirit of Muhammad Yunus' actions that sparked the microfinance movement -- that one person can make a difference. We hope this spirit shines through in some exciting, compelling efforts to raise awareness."

Grameen Foundation will announce the Challenge winner in mid-February. The winner and one guest will visit one of the Foundation's microfinance or technology for development programs in action at a local organization. Their experience will be documented through blogging, photos and videos that will be featured on Grameen Foundation's Web site following the trip, giving a new voice to the global community that believes poverty is unnecessary.

Funds raised through the Ingenuity Fund Challenge will go to a number of Grameen Foundation programs, which include the delivery of microloans to women living on less than $1 a day, allowing them to build businesses and escape extreme poverty; implementing microfinance software that is used around the world to facilitate these loans; and supporting many of Grameen Foundation's local allies and institutions in underserved communities, spanning 36 countries.

To learn more about the Ingenuity Fund and to join the Challenge, please visit www.grameeenfoundation.org/ingenuity.

You can also join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StopPovertyNow or follow us on Twitter @GrameenFdn.

Grameen Foundation, a global nonprofit organization, helps the world's poorest people access financial services and technology solutions by providing financing, technology support and management strategies to the local organizations that serve them. It also spearheads technology initiatives that create new microbusiness opportunities for the poor, provide telecommunications access for the world's rural poor, and improve their access to health and agriculture information and other services. Founded in 1997, Grameen Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., Seattle, Washington, Ghana and the Philippines. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, is a founding member of its board of directors, and now serves as director emeritus. For more information, please visit www.grameenfoundation.org.

    CONTACT:
    Liselle Yorke, 202-628-3560, ext 128
    lyorke@grameenfoundation.org
    Maureen Golga, 202-585-2097
    mgolga@webershandwick.com

SOURCE Grameen Foundation