Gary Katcher, Founder and Executive Chairman of Libertas Funding, LLC, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based company, believes that women’s economic empowerment is an important ingredient in growing Connecticut’s economy. With a strong commitment to support women-owned businesses, Libertas Funding, LLC was a sponsor of the 2023 Women’s Business Development Council’s (WBDC) annual gala in October of 2023. Gary Katcher, along with several Libertas Funding employees, attended the fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Connecticut. The Women Rising Gala celebrates two groups of award recipients. The first is the Impact Award Honorees, who are individuals who have personally exemplified WBDC’s mission and goals by promoting economic equality and prosperity for women. The second group, the Woman Rising Award recipients, are clients of the WBDC who have benefitted from WBDC services and who are now operating successful businesses throughout the state. The annual gala is WBDC’s largest fundraising event of the year and is attended by over 650 corporate executives, entrepreneurs, WBDC stakeholders and legislators from across Connecticut.
Started in 1997, by its founder and CEO, Fran Pastore, the WBDC has developed programs that have helped over 17,000 clients launch, sustain, and grow over 12,750 businesses. These businesses have created in excess of 27,500 jobs in Connecticut. To date, these women-owned businesses have accessed more than $63 million in capital. The WBDC’s mission has always been “to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut.”
Gary Katcher is extremely proud to support the WBDC, stating that “for the past 27 years, Fran Pastore has successfully led the execution of this mission with excellence, dedication, and remarkable perseverance, in turn creating successes for so many women-owned small businesses in our state.”
The WBDC’s staff is committed to providing educational programs that give business owners the support they need, and coupled with the grants that give them the access to capital, women entrepreneurs have the tools to succeed. “It is amazing to see so many women entrepreneurs take their business vision and passion and make it a reality. It is truly a part of the American dream,” remarked Gary Katcher.
Thanks to the Women’s Business Development Council, women-owned business will continue to flourish across the state of Connecticut.