Press Releases

2013

03/20/2013
Opportunity International & MicroEnsure Launch EduSave to Provide Education Safety Net to 1,000,000 children in Malawi by 2014 
03/07/2013
Opportunity International Engages Temenos to Gauge Social Impact of Microfinance on Fighting Poverty 
02/27/2013
The Global Poverty Project Announces Registration and Nonprofit Partners for the Live Below the Line Campaign 
02/14/2013
Opportunity International joins forces with Carly Fiorina’s One Woman Initiative 
01/15/2013
Opportunity International Courts New Strategic Investors for MicroEnsure 

2012

11/08/2012
Opportunity International Opens Microfinance Bank to Serve Colombians Living in Poverty 
11/07/2012
Opportunity International and Habitat for Humanity Partner to Improve African Lives through Better Housing 
09/20/2012
Microfinance Leaders Launch Global Appeal For Responsible Industry Practices 
07/16/2012
Vicki Escarra Named CEO of Opportunity International 
05/16/2012
Opportunity International to Expand Access to Financial Services in Tanzania 
01/24/2012
Opportunity International Gains Funding to Expand Technology and Training Programs, Provide Financial Tools to the World’s Poorest Citizens 
01/18/2012
Road Map for the Microfinance Industry: Focusing on Responsible and Client-Centered Microfinance 

2011

12/15/2011
Opportunity International Encourages Shoppers to Gift Well and Do Good with “Spread the Joy” Gift Card 
11/29/2011
Opportunity International to Host a Celebration Commemorating 40 Years of Fighting Global Poverty through Microfinance 
11/09/2011
Twin Cities Gala Celebrates 40 Years of Opportunity International, Expected to Raise $2 Million for Impoverished Families in Developing Countries 
11/01/2011
Opportunity International Joins Industry Leaders in Alleviating Global Poverty 
10/27/2011
Opportunity International’s Women’s Opportunity Network Recognizes the MasterCard Foundation with its Annual Leadership Award 
09/28/2011
Opportunity International Brings Together Technologists, Business Leaders, Celebrities and Philanthropists to Explore Innovative Ways to End Poverty 
09/22/2011
Opportunity International Featured at the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting 
07/08/2011
Opportunity International Announces Tanzania Correspondent Contest Winners 
07/06/2011
Opportunity International Announces a John Deere Foundation Grant for its “Banking on Africa” Initiative 
05/19/2011
Opportunity International Celebrates Its Grand Opening in the Democratic Republic of Congo 
05/11/2011
Opportunity International Expands its Community Bank Network into the Democratic Republic of Congo with Support from Tenke Fungurume Mining 
05/03/2011
UNCDF Supports the Expansion of Opportunity International’s Network of Community Banks into the Democratic Republic of Congo 
04/15/2011
Opportunity International Kicks Off Tanzania Correspondent Contest 
04/14/2011
Opportunity International Encourages Shoppers to Bank on Mothers This Mother’s Day 
03/08/2011
An Open Letter in Support of Dr. Muhammad Yunus 
03/08/2011
Opportunity International Launches “Banking on Women” Campaign 
02/17/2011
Businesses Successfully Meet Caterpillar Foundation’s Corporate Giving Challenge for Opportunity International 
02/16/2011
Entrepreneurs and Young Professionals Skydive to Raise Funds 

2010

12/01/2010
Opportunity International Receives Grant from The UPS Foundation 
11/18/2010
Opportunity International Encourages Citizen Diplomacy and Economic Empowerment 
11/15/2010
Opportunity International and Caterpillar Foundation Launch $1 Million Corporate Challenge to Help Alleviate Global Poverty through Savings-Based Microfinance Programs 
10/07/2010
Opportunity International Fights Hunger in Rural Africa 
09/30/2010
Opportunity International Creates Community Banking in Rural Africa 
09/22/2010
Opportunity International Completes Sale of Microfinance Operations in Albania, Poland and Russia 
09/22/2010
Opportunity International to Host Experts on Hunger, Poverty and Emerging Women Entrepreneurs at Washington, D.C. Microfinance Conference 
06/04/2010
Opportunity International’s MicroEnsure Named Runner-up for Prestigious Sustainable Banking Award 
05/19/2010
Opportunity International Expands Deployment of Cutting-Edge Microfinance Banking Technologies 
03/10/2010
Bill Morgenstern Named CEO of Opportunity International 
02/23/2010
Gates and MasterCard Foundations Partner with Opportunity International to Provide Financial Access to 1.4 Million of the Rural Poor in Africa 

2009

11/10/2009
Opportunity International Honors Pioneering Work in Expanding Access for Women 
09/23/2009
Opportunity International’s CGI Commitment Provides Tuition Savings Accounts and School Fee Loans for Children Living in Poverty 
09/03/2009
Congressional Delegation Visits Opportunity International Microfinance Bank in Kigali, Rwanda 
06/16/2009
Liesel Pritzker Donates $4 Million to Opportunity International To Help Expand Microfinance Services in Africa 
06/11/2009
Opportunity International’s MicroEnsure Receives Prestigious Sustainable Banking Award from the Financial Times 
06/09/2009
Share Dad’s Financial Tips This Father’s Day And Learn About the Life-Changing Power of Microfinance 
05/19/2009
Opportunity International Joins Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative 
04/23/2009
One Hen: How One Small Loan Makes a Big Difference 
04/07/2009
Opportunity International Announces Retirement of CEO Chris Crane 
02/24/2009
Omidyar Network Grants $4.5 Million to Opportunity International To Scale Technology-based Microfinance Services in Africa 

2008

12/01/2008
OptINnow.org – Give the Holiday Gift that “Multiplies” to 10 Times Its Value for the Working Poor 
11/13/2008
John Deere Foundation and Opportunity International Join to Fight Hunger 
10/26/2008
Opportunity International Launches OptINnow™ 
10/14/2008
Opportunity International Receives 4 Star Rating 
09/24/2008
First Female President of Liberia Receives International Women’s Leadership Award 
02/06/2008
Opportunity International’s Micro Insurance Agency to Develop and Provide Life, Health and Crop Insurance for 21 Million Poor People 

2007

11/06/2007
Compassion International to Provide $5 Million to Expand Partnership With Opportunity International in Africa 
11/01/2007
UPS Foundation Awards Centennial Grant to Opportunity International to Provide Microfinance Loans to New Clients in 15 Countries 
10/04/2007
Opportunity International Honors One Millionth Client During Opening of Rwanda’s First Bank for the Poor 
08/07/2007
World Relief, World Relief Canada and HOPE International partner with Opportunity International to open microfinance bank for Rwanda’s poor 
07/31/2007
Opportunity International launches Microschools™ – new frontier in breaking the chain of poverty 
06/21/2007
Microfinance Leader Opportunity International Reports Record Growth 
06/13/2007
President Bush and First Lady Pay Extended Visit to Opportunity Albania 
04/24/2007
Presbyterian Foundation Names Opportunity International As Validated Mission to Help the World’s Poor 
03/20/2007
Opportunity International Receives Two Grants from USAID Totaling $1,351,000 
02/06/2007
Opportunity International’s Micro Insurance Agency to Develop and Provide Life, Health and Crop Insurance for 21 Million Poor People 

2006

11/20/2006
Caterpillar Inc. Donates $1.2 Million To Opportunity International 
10/13/2006
Opportunity International Congratulates Muhammad Yunus And Grameen Bank on the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Award 
10/12/2006
Compassion Joins Forces to Combat Poverty in Uganda 
10/11/2006
Levi Strauss Foundation Awards $75,000 Grant to Opportunity International 
09/20/2006
Opportunity International Announces Plan To Mobilize $500 Million By 2010 To Benefit 50 Million Poor People 
06/23/2006
Opportunity International Receives $1 Million In-kind Gift from Lenovo 
05/08/2006
Opportunity International Receives $200,000 from the Disney Family and Shamrock Holdings Executives 
03/20/2006
Opportunity International Finances 500,000 Microbusinesses in 2005 in the Philippines