H&R Block's Block Advisors announces Grant Winners

A total of 5 small businesses winners that are owned by women has been announced by H&R Block’s Block Advisors. Those 5 winners are the participants of ‘Fund Her Future’ grant program.

They received a combined total of $100,000 in grants in addition to one year of Block Advisors services. The services include bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and business formation.

H&R Block’s Chief Strategy and Small Business Officer, Jamil Khan stated, “While we have surpassed our goal to help 500,000 small business owners by 2025, we specifically launched this grant to empower women small business owners who are often underrepresented. The response was overwhelming, with thousands of applications from talented women founders who represent the diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences of women entrepreneurs across the nation.”

Allégorie which is founded by Heather Jiang in the year 2019, is the grand prize grant winner. The organisation provides substitutes of leather via plant-based fashion accessories intending to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and food waste.

She said, “Knowing that our customers keep coming back over the years and love our products is what gets me out of bed. Fund Her Future will help us unlock our scalability potential and increase Allégorie’s awareness so we can reach more customers and expand our sustainability impact.”

As the winner, she shall receive a grant of $50,000 along with a small business services’ suite from Block Advisors.

With each receiving a grant of $12,500, the 4 honorable mentions shall also get a year of small business services from Block Advisors. Those 4 names are Erica Cole of No Limbits; Ashley Ugarte of Hijita; Addie Gundry of Pluie; and Ameka Coleman of Strands of Faith.