CCUSA partners with SunTrust Foundation to help client microbusinesses

Social Enterprise and Workforce Development

August 24, 2017

Alexandria, Va. – Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the SunTrust Foundation to expand client access to entrepreneurship training and savings programs throughout the southeastern United States. The partnership includes a donation of $110,000 and is in response to the need for targeted asset development activities specifically related to financial empowerment, including how to start or grow a small business or self-employment opportunity.

Sister Donna Markham OP, PhD, president and CEO of CCUSA, welcomed the announcement: “The Catholic Charities ministry, through its microbusiness training, has led not only to the creation of many small businesses across our country but also to a greater diversity of owners, including women, Hispanics, and African-Americans. It’s good that these positive changes will continue through our partnership with SunTrust Foundation.”

The generosity of the SunTrust Foundation will help 21 Catholic Charities agencies within the CCUSA network offer this training to their clients.

“Catholic Charities has helped enhance the lives of millions of individuals through the various services they provide,” said David Fuller, president of the SunTrust Foundation. “We are honored to partner with them to provide entrepreneurship training and savings programs to help even more individuals reach financial well-being.”

The initial training will be for agencies seeking to support saving strategies among consumers via savings circles, a program that can provide small dollar loans for participants and be an alternative to pay day lending. There will also be an in-depth track for those interested in launching a “Microbusiness Development” or a self-employment program for clients.

Modeled after a successful Catholic Charities program, this program has helped clients create more than 400 businesses promoting independence and economic opportunity through job creation, credit building, financial education and income generation.

For those agencies interested in piloting a program after completing the training, CCUSA will provide additional support, curriculum, and technical assistance.

The Catholic Charities agencies participating in the training are:
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc., Diocese of St. Augustine
Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Orlando
Catholic Charities, Inc. Palm Beach, FL
Catholic Charities of NW Florida
Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc.
Catholic Charities, Miami
Catholic Social Services, Savannah
Catholic Charities Atlanta
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
Catholic Charities of Diocese of Raleigh
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charleston, Inc.
Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, Inc.
Catholic Charities, West Tennessee, Memphis
Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Nashville
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Inc.
Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Richmond
Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
Catholic Charities West Virginia, Inc.