WHEREAS, for two decades, Five Talents USA, a faith-based international development organization located in Falls Church, has worked to restore dignity to people in need and build stronger, sustainable communities throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1998, Five Talents was established to help churches respond strategically to global poverty by enabling people to develop their own businesses, creating jobs and new opportunities in their communities; and

WHEREAS, Five Talents organized its first programs in 2000 in the Philippines with a focus on savings and loan groups and microenterprise training; in 20 years, the initiative has flourished and regional partners now offer services such as business skills and entrepreneurial training, small group savings and financial services, and spiritual mentorship to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, Five Talents quickly expanded to Africa, Asia, and South America; it currently operates development programs in Bolivia, Indonesia, Myanmar, South Sudan, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda; and

WHEREAS, since its inception, Five Talents has empowered more than 77,000 individuals in 19 countries to start more than 30,000 new businesses, with many Five Talents entrepreneurs ultimately transforming their communities by increasing access to food, clean water, education, and health care; and

WHEREAS, in addition to creating jobs, Five Talents has worked with savings and loan associations and community banks to provide more than $500,000 in loans, affecting more than 380,000 beneficiaries; and

WHEREAS, thousands of church communities of all denominations have hosted and supported Five Talents programs, and the organization has fulfilled its mission with the generous support of countless volunteers, partners, and donors; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Five Talents USA hereby be commended on the occasion of its 20th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Five Talents USA as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's noble mission and its positive impact on developing communities throughout the world.