Delray Beach, Fla. - Oct. 22, 2007 - Washington Mutual has contributed $15,000 to the Florida Women’s Business Center. It is the second bank in recent weeks to donate to the program, which helps socially and economically disadvantaged women in 24 counties throughout the southern half of Florida start or grow their own business. 

The contribution is in keeping with WaMu’s commitment in 2002 of $375 billion to low- to moderate-income communities over a ten-year period. WaMu's charitable giving program is a broad, community-based program focused on multiple needs and issues, with specific emphasis on affordable housing and community development and education.  The FWBC, based in Delray Beach, provides training, counseling, resources, referrals, support, and advocacy to those seeking to create, sustain, or grow micro businesses.

In addition to the funding, WaMu also will offer a series of classes known as WaMoola for L.I.F.E. (Adult Banking and Financial Education) to FWBC clients, by having WaMu employees volunteer their time to help adults learn and master valuable skills in money management.  To make it easier for employees to make a difference in their own communities, WaMu provides twelve hours of paid time off each quarter for service to nonprofit groups and causes.

The FWBC is the result of a $750,000 grant in 2004 from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office (SBA) of Women's Business Ownership. WaMu’s donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar as part of the SBA grant. The SBA funding is only accessible after the FWBC raises funds independently through donations. It relies on the generosity of the community to help meet its matching fund goals.  For more information or to make a donation, please call 1- 866-353-3790.

The FWBC is a program of The Center for Technology, Enterprise and Development, Inc. (TED Center). The TED Center was incorporated in October 1992 as a nonprofit charitable and educational Community Development Corporation (CDC) organization.  The TED Center is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs gain the knowledge and technical skills necessary to begin and grow their businesses. The center offers minority, youth, women-owned, and small and disadvantaged businesses the right mixes of resources at each stage of the development cycle.  To learn more visit www.TEDcenter.org.