Part of Veterans Small Business Week
SACRAMENTO – Women Veterans Giving (WVG) announced today the first recipient of their annual women veteran small business award. Beth Beeson, owner and creative director of La Jolie Fête, an event planning service based in Long Beach, was awarded $2,500 during the annual Women Veterans Alliance Unconference in City of Industry. WVG’s Melissa A. Washington Small Business Award (MWSBA) award is part of Veterans Small Business Week, which is recognized November 5-9 this year. Beeson served in the United States Marine Corps and is a small business owner.
“Supporting women veterans as they transition from military service to civilian life and providing a network for them is at the core of what we do, said Jackie Kirkwood, President of WVG. “WVG raises money to send women veterans to networking and educational conferences and is now awarding a veteran business owner each year.”
This year is the first year the MWSBA was given with over 50 applications received. WVG, a not for profit partner of Women Veterans Alliance, also holds the only women veteran owned business directory worldwide.
“This award means way more to me that I can put into words,” said Beeson. “This year has been a transition for my family, which has struggled with eviction, food shortages and overdraft bank accounts while we waited for military financial aid. While waiting for assistance, I took a leap of faith and started my own company. With this small business award, military financial aid and the help of life coaches and mentors, my family is finally above water. We are no longer living paycheck to paycheck. We are paying down our debt and finding our footing again together as a family.”
There are approximately 2 million women veterans in the United States representing 9.4 percent of the total veteran population with year over year increases in women veteran business ownership. Melissa Washington, President and Founder of the Women Veterans Alliance, is a founding member of WVG and the creator of their women veterans small business award.
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About Women Veterans Giving
WVG is committed to narrowing the gap between civilian and military relations, empowering women of all leadership positions, assisting in the reintegration to civilian life, finding fulfillment in the professional world, encouraging a sense of belonging, encouraging entrepreneurs and small business owners, and building a supportive educated community. WVG raises funds to provide women veterans scholarships for the Unconference and small business funding as well as other professional development opportunities.http://www.womenveteransgiving.org/
About Women Veterans Alliance
WVA was founded in 2015, by Melissa A. Washington, a Navy Veteran who saw a need to bring women veterans together to equip, empower and encourage each other. WVA connects over 2 million Women Veterans (and supporters) globally to create a community to Equip Empower & Encourage each other with knowledge, resources, mentorship and career opportunities for women that have served our country to discover & fulfill their greatest potential. https://www.womenveteransalliance.com/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2018
Contact: Sarah Pollo
916-410-7506