A Project of
the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls,
the Women's Museum of California,
SDSU Women's Studies Department, and UCSD Women's Center.
Deborah Lindholm
2006
Empowerer
Deborah Lindholm, the Founder/CEO of the Foundation for Women (FFW), explained: "I met a woman who borrowed $4 - she had never seen $4 in her life. She bought a comb, a pair of scissors and a mirror and she put her husband in business as a barber. Now she has a home and her children are in school - all because of $4." Founded on service, the FFW worked to eliminate global poverty by creating and funding microcredit programs globally and locally. Programs have been funded in India, Zambia, South Africa and Niger. As a registered NGO, FFW began operating the Foundation for Women Liberia Microcredit Program in 2006. Domestically, the pioneering FFW San Diego Microcredit Program reached out to women and families living below the U.S. poverty line, giving them business capital, support and encouragement.
Deborah used her decades of experience in education, business and counseling to help people achieve their dreams and goals. A number of prestigious awards recognized her outstanding work in the non-profit sector. Deborah supported Women Moving Millions and the Women's Funding Network, which shared her passion for funding women and girls. A long-time member of Rotary, Deborah served in several board capacities; a founding member of the global Rotarian Action Group for Microcredit, she served on the board, as well as the Women's Leadership Board at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Deborah also convened "Seats at the Table for Liberia," a collaborative effort of several key entities working together to uplift that country from the grassroots.
Deborah was a frequent speaker nationally and internationally regarding microcredit and the empowerment of women and girls. Her passion and her personal commitment to funding these important issues has motivated thousands to become involved in the social change agenda of the Foundation for Women. Over time, the Foundation has helped to support more than one million impoverished women and touched perhaps 25 million women around the globe.