Capital Plus Financial to Underwrite Amigos de las Americas’ Social Impact Accelerator Program

The Mission-Driven Company to Fund Accelerator For Students Looking to Impact Their Communities Through Service Projects

DALLAS, TX – Capital Plus Financial (“CPF”), an innovative Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Certified B Corporation, committed $169,500 over a four-year span to Amigos de las Américas’ (AMIGOS) Social Impact Accelerator Program: Powered by Capital Plus Financial, a 16-week virtual, bilingual program for high school-aged alumni to take community-based projects from the idea phase through implementation in their home communities.

Aligning with the company’s commitment to creating a positive impact for the community, CPF made the decision to support the action-focused Fall 2021 pilot program that will serve 13 students from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and the United States. Underwritten by CPF, the program is free to AMIGOS alumni.

“This program will help the next generation of socially conscious leaders identify and address challenges in their communities,” said CPF CEO Thiru Vignarajah. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support AMIGOS and look forward to seeing the imagination and ingenuity of these students brought to life.”

The program is rooted in design thinking, a multi-step human-centered approach that helps to empathize with communities and create solutions for the challenges they face. Through participating in interactive workshops and small group discussions, students are encouraged to dive deeply into the process of project design, engaging diverse stakeholders, testing ideas, and ultimately implementing a service project.

“The Social Impact Accelerator: Powered by Capital Plus Financial offers outstanding alumni the opportunity to take their AMIGOS experience to the next level and create a positive impact in their own communities,” said AMIGOS CEO Sara Nathan. “By underwriting this program, CPF enables students to make a difference regardless of financial barriers. We are so proud to partner with a company that shares our commitment to empowering the next generation of lifelong leaders serving their communities.”

To kick-start their community service project, each student will receive $250 in seed funding. At the end of the program in January 2022, students will participate in a Youth Leadership Summit to practice public speaking and share their project results and learnings.

In fall 2022, AMIGOS seeks to expand the program to 45 seats and aims to have more than 80 students enrolling in the accelerator in the coming years.

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About Capital Plus Financial:
Capital Plus Financial (CPF) is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Certified B-Corp that believes minority-owned small businesses and people of color are entitled to equal opportunities in the banking system and is committed to breaking down barriers in communities that have been disenfranchised, underserved, underbanked and underfunded. It’s the operating subsidiary of Crossroads Systems, Inc. (OTCQX: CRSS), a holding company focused on investing in businesses that promote economic vitality and community development.

 

About Amigos de las Américas:
Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1965. AMIGOS provides safe and authentic volunteer and immersion programs in Latin America and the United States for young people ages 13 to 22. Initially founded to address a polio epidemic in Honduras, AMIGOS is a leader in youth leadership and volunteer service programming. During the past 56 years, nearly 30,000 students have participated with AMIGOS in 17 countries throughout the Americas. Across the world, young people play a tremendous role in bringing about community change. Our programs challenge students to realize their full potential through transformational experiences in leadership, service, and cultural exchange.

 

For information, contact:
Alexandra Griesmer
dovetail solutions™
(303) 204-6785
[email protected]

April Hearne
Amigos de las Américas
(713) 986-2962
[email protected]

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