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Accion Chicago Launches Honor Your Heritage Campaign

Is there a small business owner in your family? Perhaps your Mom ran a tailor shop or your Dad owned the corner grocery store. Maybe Uncle Henry was the local mechanic or Aunt Maria taught ballet and tap dance. Does your sister have a salon or your brother run a restaurant?

In late July, Accion in Chicago launched its first Honor Your Heritage campaign. Inspired by the many individuals who juggle running a business with their family lives, Accion has provided an opportunity for you to honor an important entrepreneur in your life for their hard work.

Donate any amount in your honoree’s name to Accion. Your tax-deductible donation of any amount will help another small business owner realize their dream, creating jobs and stabilizing neighborhoods.

We at Accion are reminded every day of how support from individuals like you can help entrepreneurs succeed. Several Accion staff members have personal connections to small businesses. They understand through both their families and their daily work all that goes into making a small business thrive.

“The entrepreneur gene runs in my family,” says Jonathan Brereton, CEO of Accion in Chicago. “My uncle, my brothers and even some cousins all have their own businesses. Growing up I saw firsthand how everyone gets involved in a family business and how hard everyone works.”

Other Accion staff members are connected to entrepreneurs in their families in the following ways:

 -    Idaima Robles’ father has a truck repair business in South Chicago.

 -    Mary Fran Riley’s father ran an HVAC business besides having a fulltime job.

 -    Trina Ntamere’s uncle has a retail store offering imported African artifacts.

 -    Robin Lee Greiner’s great-grandmother started a dry goods store in a small town in California.

 -    Hussain Bhanpuri’s father has a hardware store.

Brereton says, “I’m so proud of my family’s continued success and am honoring them with a donation. They will appreciate that in doing so the money is going to help local small business owners. I urge you to join me in honoring the entrepreneur in your family.”

Join the community members who have already donated, and visit Accion’s website to donate today . Be sure to provide include your honoree’s name and address in the blank space under “Dedication” so we can notify them of your donation.