HBE staff found itself for the second time working with the wonderful US Treasury Event staff in Secretary Henry Paulson’s office. We were asked to help find a speaker for the annual Consolidated Federal Campaign Kick-off (CFC). The obvious choice for us was Alex Counts President and CEO of Grameen Foundation (www.grameenfoundation.org) who has written a new book Small Loans Big Dreams (Wiley, 2008) outlining his work in tandem with the Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus.
Unfortunately our hero, Secretary Paulson was called away to the White House to meet with the President on the current US and global financial crisis. His replacement the pleasant and dapper Pete McCarthy noted that the Secretary was out “saving the galaxy” and would not be present. We all understood and are grateful for the Secretary’s public service. HBE staff could not help but notice the irony of it all as we sat in the Cash Room of Main Treasury hearing Alex Counts relay tales of loans of sometimes only $70 made to deserving entrepreneurs all over the globe that he and Grameen are also doing their part to save the galaxy. We as individuals may not have $85 billion at our disposal to lend, but if we all pitch in and do our part even in the smallest way, we too can make a difference in saving our fragile galaxy right here.
Look for more blogs about our events with Alex Counts and Grameen. HBE has “adopted” him and the Foundation as our way to give back this year and we are doing our best to plan and produce as many events for him as we can. If you or your organization would like to hear this amazing story, please contact us at perry@hooksbookevents.com.
