This weekend marks the end of the three-week Celebration of Hope for Her event at Willow Creek Church in Barrington, Ill. Opportunity was one of over 40 ministries and organizations–and the only microfinance organization–represented, with booths set up in the megachurch’s lobby after Sunday services. The booths inform worshippers about different global initiatives all related to the empowerment of women–such as income-generating projects, clean water programs, and health and well-being–and encourage them to take action and join in solidarity with women and girls in poverty.

“We’re very excited to be part of Willow Creek’s Celebration of Hope for these three weekends raising awareness and funds,” said John Kamperschroer, a VP in our Resource Development department. Nicole Mohovich, our major events manager, said, ”It was great to see that people were aware and interested in microfinance. We gave out our Opportunity gift cards and they were really excited to get involved and to take action.”

Women make up 70% of the one billion people living on less than $2 per day, explained the Celebration of Hope website. So they’ve chosen to focus on the disproportionate impact of global poverty on women and girls. ”There are so many opportunities–there’s the heart to make a tangible change, and then the heart to help people create a sustainable way of life by what they are receiving,” Susan DeLay, Willow Creek’s managing editor, told The Christian Post. As the article explained, “Willow Creek has a ‘heart for global issues’ and has used that interest to combat global poverty through dozens of Celebration of Hope events over the past seven years.”

Over the course of three weeks, an estimated 60,000 people are expected to attend the 2012 event. If you haven’t yet joined the campaign, head to Barrington this Sunday and check out the website to get involved.