Carlos
Macedonia
Loan Amount: $5,000
Challenge: With his first loan from Opportunity Fund, Carlos successfully moved his jewelry repair and cleaning business from his home to the Oakland Swap Meet. When he needed additional financing to continue to grow, he turned to Opportunity Fund for a second loan.
Result: A $5,000 loan from Opportunity Fund has allowed Carlos to expand inventory, grow his buisiness, and improve his credit.  
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Abdullah
Saving for Citizenship
Challenge: Six years after being granted entry into the United States as a refugee, Abdullah decided that he wanted to try to become a citizen but was unsure of how he could pay the expensive fees to apply.
Result: Abdullah learned to maintain a budget and managed to set aside $57 per month in his IDA Savings account. Within six months he was able to use his savings and the matching IDA funds to submit his application for citizenship! 
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Lupita
Day Dreams Therapy
Loan Amount: $5,000
Challenge: Lupe first began to practice massage therapy as a way to relieve her son's pain after he was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis. Now the owner of her own clinic, Lupe faced a serious setback when her massage table and computer were robbed.
Result: A $5,000 loan from Opportunity Fund helped Lupe replace the missing items. Now she is expanding her office and hiring more therapists!
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Julie
Bu Tong Acupuncture
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: Julie studied acupuncture and other alternative healing practices, and began operating her services out of her home. In 2009 she was ready to expand, but needed financing.  
Result: With a $10,000 loan Opportunity Fund helped Julie to get her clinic up and running at its new Mission District location.
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Sandra
Saving for her education
Challenge: While raising her family and attending accounting classes, Sandra realized that she could help individuals and businesses in the Latino community by providing tax preparation services.
Result: Sandra saved $75 each month in her IDA savings account, and has been able to put that money to help pay for her continuing education and to grow her accounting business.
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Jagir
Exact Automotive
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: Jagir needed to invest in a body shop and new equipment to expand his business, but knew he could not qualify for a bank loan.
Result: Aware of his strong reputation in the community, Opportunity Fund gave a $10,000 loan to invest in his business.
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June
June Bug's Gym
Loan Amount: $2,000
Challenge: A year after June opened her gym, business had tripled and she needed a larger space. A friend who worked at Wells Fargo referred June to Opportunity Fund for a small business loan.  
Result: With a $2,000 loan June purchased the new gym equipment she needed to fill her new space, as well as a computer to help her track her records.
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Agnes
Saving for her business
Challenge: Agnes is running her a successful business at the Ashby Flea Market in Berkeley, but wants to open a storefront so she can sell her goods every day of the week!
Result: Agnes saved $2,000 in her IDA Savings account, and is relieved to say she is out of credit card debt and well on her way towards achieving her goal.
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Organic Mechanics
Loan Amount: $8,000
Challenge: Sean and James want their business to be as environmentally sustainable as possible, and replacing old, inefficient tools was an important step. They needed financing, but in a smaller amount than banks traditionally provide.
Result: An $8,000 loan, Organic Mechanic's 2nd from Opportunity Fund, allowed Sean and James to stay true to their mission, and continue to grow their business!
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Vika
Island You a Hand
Loan Amount: $7,500
Challenge: Vika founded Island You a Hand, a business providing in-home health care, using her savings. To expand the sevices she could offer, hower, she needed to go through a costly certification process.
Result: With a $10,000 loan from Opportunity Fund, Vika was able earn her certification and recruit qualified nurses for more complicated cases. She now has 15 staff members on-call, and is proud of the high quality service she can provide her clients.
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Joe
Saving for his education
Challenge: Joe, a native of the Bay Area, was struggling to pay his education expenses. He was worried he might have to drop down to part-time enrollment in college in San Jose, where he was studying to earn his degree in graphic design.
Result: Joe is learning to manage his finances while studying full-time. He is proud of the discipline he's learned, and is excited to see what the future holds following graduation.
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Jeremy
Emergency BBQ
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: Jeremy had a successful catering business, but when he sought a loan from a traditional bank he was declined because he did not have the
assets to use as collateral. 
Result: With a $10,000 loan and business advising from Opportunity Fund, Jeremy
was able to obtain the necessary permits and open a storefront for his business.
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Zonia
Shining Star Daycare
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: A loan and business advice in 2007 helped Zonia build a daycare which now employees 3 full-time assistants and cares for 23 children. A second loan will help her make improvements to her facilities.
Result: With a $10,000 loan from Opportunity Fund, Zonia was given the financing she needed to stay in business. She is regarded as an invaluable resource in her community, and there is a waitlist for her daycare!
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Jelica
Saving for a home
Challenge: Arriving as a refugee from Bosnia, Jelica and her two daughters had $10, six pieces of luggage, and a dream to buy a home here in the United States.
Result: Jelica joined the IDA program to save for a home, took classes on money management, and three years later was able to buy a condominium in Santa Clara County.
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Diana and Laura
The Watershed Nursery
Loan Amount: $10,000 Challenge: Diana and Laura were supplying environmental restoration projects around the Bay Area with native plants from their nursery, but had run out of space in their original location.
Result: A $10,000 loan allowed The Watershed Nursery to move from their original site in the Berkeley hills to a more visible and accessible location in Richmond, CA.
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Serena
Serene Fitness
Loan Amount: $5,000
Challenge: Serena was able to establish her personal fitness business with a loan from Opportunity Fund in 2007, but needed additional financing to expand her services.
Result: A $5,000 loan allowed Serena to earn new instructional certifications, which in turn helped Serene Fitness weather the economic downturn. 
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Wendy
Saving for her and her son's education
Challenge: Wendy is pursuing a Masters in Accounting degree while her son also attends school. Without her IDA account, it would have taken her twice as long to reach her savings goal. 
Result: Through the IDA Savings Program Wendy honed her money management and budgeting skills, and now continues to save for her family's future.
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Tonya and Ted
Plumbwerx Plumbing
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: Tonya overcame a serious illness, and her and husband Ted founded their own plumbing business to support the family. It was highly successful, but they needed capital to grow.
Result: With a $10,000 loan, Plumbwerx moved into a larger showroom, hired new plumbers, and are now serving more customers than ever before!
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Yamile
Eagle's Nest Daycare
Loan Amount: $5,000
Challenge: Yamile worked in advertising, but sought more satisfaction from her job. She turned to her passion for teaching and children, and decided to open her own daycare business.
Result: A loan from Opportunity Fund helped Yamile convert her home’s downstairs into an infant-friendly area so that she might realize her dream.
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Duc
Saving for education
Challenge: Duc knew he could succeed in college if he worked hard, but he was overwhelmed by the financial stress of finding part time work to help pay tuition.
Result: IDA Savings money management classes helped Duc know how to make sound financial decisions and make paying for college possible.
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Jeremy
Emergency BBQ
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: Jeremy had a successful catering business, but when he sought a loan from a traditional bank he was declined because he did not have the
assets to use as collateral. 
Result: With a $10,000 loan and business advising from Opportunity Fund, Jeremy
was able to obtain the necessary permits and open a storefront for his business.
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Jane and Bob
Evolution Suspension
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: When they moved to America from England, Jane and Bob were shocked to find out that they couldn't get a loan to start their dream bike shop because they had no credit history in the American system.
Result: Jane and Bob used the loan for a second work room, two work benches, and a third employee. They now have a renewed sense of hope and momentum.
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Victoria
Saving for her business
Challenge: After the birth of her daughter, Victoria began dreaming of being her own boss so that she could control her work schedule and spend as much time as possible with her family. Result: Victoria used her IDA Savings to purchase a van to meet the growing demand of her cleaning business. She now has the flexibility of working and having time to take care of her daughter.
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Anna
Vision Dance and Pilates
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: After 9/11, Anna quit her job as a flight attendant to pursue her dream of owning her own dance studio. In 2007, her studio was open but she was in need of some financial help.
Result: With a $10,000 loan and business advising from Opportunity Fund, Anna was able to implement a whole new marketing strategy and revitalize her studio. In the future, Anna hopes to open a second studio or expand into a larger space.
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Gloria
Parkside Postal
Loan Amount: $1,500
Challenge: Gloria wanted to remodel her business, but her credit score had taken a hit when she took out many lines of credit to start her business.
Result: Today, Gloria is looking to hire an assistant to manage the store while she works a few days a week as a firefighter in Oakland. She has her EMT license, and wants to get more involved in community work.
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Rosario
Saving for her business
Challenge:  Rosario had been a massage therapist for years and wants to open her own business, but needs a little savings to get here there.
Result: IDA Savings has helped her manage her finances to save the cash she needs and the matching grant will help turn her business idea into a reality.
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Jagir
Exact Automotive
Loan Amount: $10,000
Challenge: Jagir needed to invest in a body shop and new equipment to expand his business, but knew he could not qualify for a bank loan.
Result: Aware of his strong reputation in the community, Opportunity Fund gave a $10,000 loan to invest in his business.
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Sunny
5ft2in
Loan Amount: $2,000
Challenge: Sunny had small business classes and a business plan under her belt, but she didn't know how to get the capital she needed to launch her business.
Result: With guidance from Opportunity Fund, Sunny started saving money and cleaning up her finances. And, with a small business loan, she was finally able to launch her company.
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Alma
Saving for a home
Challenge: Alma and her family wanted to live in their own home, but it at times seemed like an insurmountable challenge.
Result: When Alma found Opportunity Fund, it was like a dream come true. She saved enough to help by a home for her family in San Jose and continues to save for her sons' education.
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Cari
Executor Consulting
Loan Amount: $1,200
Challenge: To get her business off the ground and begin providing effective, professional services to her clients, Cari needed to purchase some expensive equipment.
Result: With a $1,200 loan, Cari grew her estate coaching from a service out of her home to a professional business and now dreams of a national franchise.
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