NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Women’s Enterprise Action Loan Fund (WEALF) www.wealf.org, member, Annabelle Santos, will receive the 2018 Outstanding Women Owned Business Enterprise Award from the National Minority Business Council on March 27. Annabelle Santos is founder of SPADET, a successful developer and manufacturer of pure food grade olive oil based beauty care products, www.spadet.com. The award will be presented on Wednesday, March 27, 2019.
“WEALF is proud of what Annabelle has been able to achieve since our relationship began in 2015, when she received a no interest loan and began the one-to-one mentoring relationship from our board of advisors,” commented WEALF founder Vicki Weiner. “Annabelle has distinguished herself in her creativity, tenacity and ability to take advantage of opportunities, enabling her business to grow quickly.” Most recently, Annabelle has joined the WEALF Board of Advisors and is helping other women achieve their goals.
Annabelle’s ability to sustain long-term relationships like the one with Claire P. Scanlon, former Vice President of Supplier Diversity for BNY Mellon and NMBC member, who recommended Annabelle for the award, has made her an ideal mentee. “Annabelle is one of the stars from the Corporate Alliance Program, a venture between NYC Small Business Services and 12 Corporations,” said Ms. Scanlon. “I am a big fan of her products and it is very personally rewarding to see our efforts succeed.”
“I am lucky to have the strong women in my life. They lift my spirits, support my ideas and bring joy to my achievements,” said Ms. Santos. “I was a woman with a cause – to help my daughter battle her eczema. I didn't know that such a big problem could be solved with innovation and hard work until I did it. My goal is to help others do the same through Spadét's newest products, DIY Skincare You Design. I hope to empower others and provide them with all the tools they need to succeed, just as my mentors did for me,” she said.
WEALF’s innovative approach of mentoring and financial support has helped many of its entrepreneurs achieve success. Read their stories on the success story page of the website: https://www.wealf.org/success-stories. Meet all the entrepreneurs of WEALF on the entrepreneur page: https://www.wealf.org/entrepreneurprofile, and meet the mentors at: https://www.wealf.org/mentors1.
Since inception in 2012, WEALF has addressed the needs of women who are unable to obtain financing from traditional sources, making over $400,000 in loans to women-owned businesses in the New York Metro area. WEALF offers its women entrepreneurs an interest-free loan along with one-on-one mentoring to assist them in becoming financially self-sufficient. The organization matches each participant with a mentor, an experienced businesswoman from its Board of Advisors, who provides advice and assistance. From financial seminars to networking events, WEALF offers women an opportunity to learn crucial information and skills needed to run a successful business.
The organization has provided over 50 loans, offering first round interest-free loans from $5,000 to $10,000 to qualified applicants and low interest second and third loans. The organization has 501(c)(3) status through the Business Center for New Americans, which also administers WEALF’s loans. To qualify for loan, applicants must live in the New York Metro area; have a woman owned business that has begun operations. The organization is now accepting new applications to join the program www.wealf.org/apply/.
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