Dear Friend,

My guess is, you're probably not in a position to fix the global economy. Few people are.

But you can do a lot to help the local economy. By helping women right here in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties start or expand their small businesses.

I don't have to tell you that small businesses are the heartbeat of our local economy. Especially in tough times like these. They provide jobs, they keep families afloat financially, and they enrich all our lives by providing the products and services we need and want.

I'm talking about places like Shells Petals in Ventura, run by Michelle Hirrel. As a single mom, Michelle needed the financial support to provide for her children - and the flexibility to spend quality time with them. Working for someone else, paycheck-to-paycheck just wasn't making her happy anymore. Working for herself seemed like the perfect solution so, in 2004, Michelle signed the lease on her first retail flower shop, but was overwhelmed by all of the unexpected financial start-up costs and charges.

In 2005, she attended Women's Economic Ventures' (WEV's) proven 14-week self-employment training program, and received an expansion loan from WEV in 2006. WEV gave her the confidence and practical knowledge she needed to deal with vendors, build professional networks, and make her vision a reality. Michelle says her greatest reward from being a business owner is making her daughters proud; but the rewards don't stop there. Since opening her store, Michelle's profits have increased by nearly 75%, and she is well on her way to achieving the financial independence she always wanted - for herself and her family.

At WEV we specialize in helping women like Michelle achieve their business goals. And - because people like you have risen up as a community to provide generous contributions - WEV has helped create more than 2,000 jobs and assisted more than 1,000 businesses in the area since 1991.

These businesses include many of the restaurants, art studios, cleaning services, specialty shops, marketing firms and health care companies you pass by when you drive along local streets. They're run by women, and men, who live in our neighborhoods, yours and mine.

One of WEV's youngest entrepreneurs, Johanna Melamed graduated from the WEV self-employment training program in 2008. She had opened her clothing consignment store The Closet in Isla Vista while still attending UCSB classes in 2004-she was just 19. After four years in business, she had reached a plateau and felt she needed more knowledge and support in order to keep it growing. WEV gave her the practical tools she needed to write a winning business plan and follow through on it. Today Johanna has increased her sales, staff, and successfully opened her second store in Westlake Village. Johanna has been able to take her interest in fashion and turn it into a viable source of income and a job she loves!

Margie Muñoz's Blue Barrell, Inc. is well-established now, but 6 years ago it looked like a dream out of reach. Back then she dealt with very little income and the constant drain of commuting to Los Angeles from her home in Ventura and it was wearing on her energy for her apparel design consulting. WEV opened doors for her by empowering her to achieve a salary from her business, and then double that income, hire and expand throughout Ventura County, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Ojai and Santa Barbara.

Margie was able to realize her dream to arrange her own work schedule, live in Ventura and provide a service to three different counties, thanks to her own hard work and perseverance-and WEV support.

WEV provides local women with hard-to-get business loans, hands-on training, and a one-of-a-kind local business support network thanks to generous contributions from people like you who understand that, in helping others succeed, we help ourselves and our community thrive and grow.

You know, women have been starting new businesses at twice the rate of men for more than a decade. That's where the opportunities are, even during a recession. For most women, self-employment offers greater potential and flexibility than mainstream wage employment. And women who set up small businesses earn money, improve the lives of their families, and boost the local economy.

Since 1991, more than 4,000 people have taken WEV's self-employment training ... we've served over 10,000 clients in all our programs ... and we've made more than $2 million in loans to small, local businesses.

But, as impressive as these numbers are, they're just numbers. What's most important right now -- when the economy is sputtering, credit is tight and unemployment is through the roof -- is that we give each other a helping hand.

Please send a tax-deductible donation to Women's Economic Ventures today so we can help even more of our friends and neighbors succeed.

Sincerely,

Marsha Bailey

CEO and Founder

P.S. Women entrepreneurs make a huge contribution to our local economy with their small businesses. They've got the ambition, the drive and the know-how to succeed. But, sometimes, they need a helping hand from a neighbor. I know they can count on you to give it.