Preceding President Barack Obama’s comments, a short film highlighted Opportunity International’s commitment to providing financial tools to the world’s poorest citizens

New York, Sept. 22, 2011 – Opportunity International announced today that its film highlighting how access to financial services is helping the world’s poorest citizens educate their children was featured on stage at the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting in New York City.

The progress report video, produced in partnership with Students of the World, highlighted Opportunity International and its CGI commitment to expanding educational opportunities in Africa. The screening of the film preceded the afternoon plenary session where President Barack Obama shared his remarks on the global economy.

“CGI brings together the world’s most socially conscious corporations, foundations, organizations and individuals to develop tangible solutions for solving the most dire challenges we face as a global community, including poverty, hunger, education and job creation,” said Bill Morgenstern, CEO, Opportunity International. “We are honored to participate in CGI again this year and to share the story of how providing the world’s poorest citizens with access to financial tools is part of the solution for solving these global challenges.”

In 2009, Opportunity International made a commitment to continue its $10 million “Banking on Education” initiative, which enables poor entrepreneurs who start small neighborhood schools to receive the financing and support they need to improve their schools. Additionally, the program provides parents with access to tuition savings accounts and school fee loans to fund their child’s education.

In July 2011, Students of the World filmmakers traveled to Ghana to see first-hand the progress that has been made with Opportunity’s “Banking on Education” program. The film presented at CGI highlights how, by connecting proprietors of private schools in underserved neighborhoods with access to financial tools, Opportunity International is able to increase learning opportunities for children and help strengthen communities around the globe.

About Students of the World

Students of the World (SOW) connects the creative capacity of college students with organizations around the world, using new media to capture the work they do and the lives they change. For more information, visit www.studentsoftheworld.org.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have already improved the lives of 200 million people in 150 countries. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship; and MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make their own Commitment to Action. CGI will hold its Fifth Annual Meeting September 22-25, 2009, in New York City. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.

About Opportunity International

Opportunity International provides access to savings, small business loans, insurance and training to over five million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in over 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbors and build a safety net for the future. For more information, visit http://www.opportunity.org or join the conversation at http://facebook.com/opportunityintl and http://twitter.com/opportunityintl.

Jennifer Anaya
iD8 Marketing/Opportunity International
714-335-5344
[email protected]

Christina Koliopoulos
VP of Communications 
+1312-242-4164
[email protected]