Mabuhay!

Mabuhay Alliance began five years ago with virtually no resources and support but had big dreams and aspirations.

We started as a small Filipino American, San Diego-based organization. Today, because of the extraordinary support, not just from the Filipino American community nationwide, but with increasing support from other Asian American ethnic groups, corporations and the government, we are poised for a new era. We are increasingly recognized as a statewide and national Pan-Asian American representative for 15 million Asian Americans.

We are presently one of the strongest and most effective Asian American nonprofits addressing the foreclosure crisis and helping keep homeowners in their homes. We are also one of the strongest and most effective Asian American nonprofits relating to small- and micro-business lending, technical assistance and capacity building. And we are the most respected Asian American group advocating for consumers before the California Public Utilities Commission.

And now, as a result of recent San Diego meetings with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and D.C. meetings with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, the Chair of FDIC, the Chairman of Federal Trade Commission, the OTS, the OCC, the SEC and the leadership from the antitrust and civil rights divisions of the Department of Justice, we will have a significant presence in Washington, D.C. This includes the opening of our office by the spring of 2010. We are also opening an office in the Bay Area (Daly City) next month and have been requested to open offices in Chicago and the New York/New Jersey area.

Although we began as a Filipino American-based organization, we now reflect a national partnership, spirit and our multiethnic perspective. Our board, for example, includes leaders from the African American and Latino communities.

These achievements are not just the result of the hard work and skills of Mabuhay Alliance’s staff and board of directors. They are due to the strong commitment and assistance of the Pan-Asian American community as well as the assistance and support from government leaders and corporate partners.

Fifteen million Asian Americans, and we are growing rapidly, have much to be proud and much, much more to achieve.

To date, these are the accomplishments:

• Assisted 220 entrepreneurs through our Micro-Business Technical Assistance Program which began on November 2006 and 65 entrepreneurs through the Management Development for Entrepreneurs program;
• Lent $65,500 to seven entrepreneurs through our Alternative Micro-Lending Program in less than a year;
• Educated over 500 students, their parents and teachers through our Financial Literacy Course;
• Filed over 700 income tax preparations through our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program; and
• Helped over 4,500 homeowners through our Housing Counseling Program.

Faith Bautista
CEO & President, Mabuhay Alliance