Former President Clinton Receives Earl G. Graves Sr. Award

By BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE
(Original publication: June 23, 2006)

BLACK ENTERPRISE founder and publisher Earl G. Graves Sr. and CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. presented former President Bill Clinton with the African American Chamber of Westchester and Rockland Counties Earl G. Graves Sr. Award for his long-standing commitment to minority entrepreneurship at the chamber’s Deliverance Ball on June 20 in Rye, New York.

“As a business owner who has celebrated minority business achievement for over 36 years I am honored to bestow this award to President Clinton,” Graves said. “His steadfast support of minority businesses has had a lasting impact on our community especially the development of small and disadvantaged businesses.”

[Earl G. Graves Sr., (right) Chairman and Publisher of BLACK ENTERPRISE Magazine, presents former President Bill Clinton with the Earl G. Graves Sr. award at the 7th Annual Deliverance Ball hosted by African American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester & Rockland Counties, NY (AACCWR). President Clinton was recognized for his long-standing commitment to minority entrepreneurship. Looking on are Earl "Butch" Graves Jr., (left) President & CEO, BLACK ENTERPRISE Magazine; Robin Douglas, President, CEO and Founder, AACCWR; and Veronica Graves, the elder Graves' granddaughter. Photo: Lonnie L. Major, BLACK ENTERPRISE Magazine]

In addition to receiving the award, President Clinton delivered the keynote address during which he spoke about some of the projects that The William J. Clinton Foundation Urban Enterprise Initiative has aided including a state-of-the-art, African American bowling center in Harlem. (See “Open Lane” in the June issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine).

During the Clinton administration, the Small Business Adminstration loan application process was streamlined and the approval process was shortened. Enforcement of the Community Reinvestment Act, which requires banks to loan money to people who live in their service areas was strengthened.

After leaving office and moving to Harlem Clinton worked with business leaders, the local chamber of commerce and other organizations to set up the UEI, which provides management consulting services to small businesses.

“It has been an amazing success,” Clinton said. “I am trying to franchise this whenever I can find a funder to take the model and do what we have done in as many cities as possible.We know that over half the jobs created in America are created by small businesses. We know that there are still disparities by race unemployment income wealth accumulation and business ownership. I don’t think there’s any fancy way to do this.”

The founder of Kinko's has donated money to the business school at the University of Southern California to fund a similar organization there, Clinton said.

“Clinton’s history of support of minority businesses and his ongoing initiatives with The William J. Clinton Foundation Urban Enterprise Initiative demonstrates his commitment to minority business development and growth.” said Robin Douglas, president and Founder of the AACCWR.

[Former President Bill Clinton (center) poses with (L - R): Mrs. Barbara Graves; Earl G. Graves Sr., Chairman and Publisher, BLACK ENTERPRISE Magazine; Veronica Graves, the elder Graves' granddaughter; Robin Douglas, President, CEO and Founder, AACCWR; and Earl "Butch" Graves Jr., President & CEO, BLACK ENTERPRISE at the 7th Annual Deliverance Ball hosted by African American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester & Rockland Counties, NY (AACCWR). Photo: Lonnie L. Major, BLACK ENTERPRISE Magazine]