10 Asian-owned small businesses receive Back2Business grants at event hosted by Fiserv and Mets
BROOKFIELD, Wis., May 24, 2021 – Ten Asian-owned small businesses received a helping hand from Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions, on May 24 at an event at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. During the event, which was hosted in recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, each small business received a $10,000 grant to support their ongoing operations and continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grants were awarded as part of the Fiserv Back2Business program, a $50 million commitment to support small, minority-owned business that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and social unrest. The Mets joined Fiserv as a champion of the Back2Business program, which supports minority-owned businesses through financial grants, business expertise, leading technology solutions, strategic partnerships, and community engagement. The event expanded on ongoing inclusion and community outreach efforts by both Fiserv and the Mets.
“Minority-owned businesses continue to be disproportionately impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many Asian-owned businesses encountering prejudice in addition to economic impact,” said Mia Shernoff, senior vice president at Fiserv. ”Today’s grant recipients are pillars in their local communities, and as New York reopens we are proud to play a role in helping them get back to business.”
“We are proud that our home in Flushing is also home to more Asian and Pacific Islander New Yorkers than any neighborhood in the City,” said Sandy Alderson, president of the Mets. “These grants will bring awareness and assist minority-owned businesses to get back to business. We also continue to raise our voices against any form of anti-Asian violence.”
In addition to the grants, each small business was presented with a Clover® Flex handheld point-of-sale device from Fiserv, with built-in capabilities to accept payments, conduct business, and track sales. Businesses also received a customized New York Mets jersey and tickets to an upcoming Mets game at Citi Field.
“The past year has been tough for small businesses in Queens, as we were the epicenter of the epicenter of the pandemic,” said Thomas J. Grech, president and CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce. “As the most diverse county in America, minority-owned businesses add to the unique character of our neighborhoods, are essential to our local economy and will play a pivotal role in our borough’s recovery. The Fiserv Back2Business program will help small business owners get back to doing what they do best – employing New Yorkers and serving their communities. We are incredibly thankful to Fiserv for their generous support of these businesses, and to the entire Mets organization, including the Cohen family, for all they’ve done to help Queens’ small business community.”
The small businesses receiving grants included:
· 3N Convenience – Binita Shah’s convenience store serves customers in the Bronx
· 886 – Eric Sze and Andy Chuang fuse their Taiwanese heritage with New York City to create an ingenious, exciting restaurant experience
· Big D’s Grub Truck – Dennis Kum offers food influenced by Chinese and Ghana roots; in 2020 his truck served first responders, hospital workers and others in need
· Coffee Project New York – Owners Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh not only serve coffee, they teach others how to make it professionally
· Contra – Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske’s restaurant showcases New York state’s best produce, with a focus on natural wine
· Erawan Thai Cuisine – Paul Lim’s restaurant has been part of the Queens community since 1999
· Heart of Dinner – Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai fight food insecurity and isolation among Asian American seniors in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens
· Maxi’s Noodle – Maxi Lau’s restaurant serves dumplings and Hong Kong-style foods
· Pho Che – David Lee oversees this local Vietnamese restaurant that’s a favorite for delivery
· Wowfulls – David Chan brings Instagram-worthy 1950’s-style egg waffles, a popular Hong Kong dessert, to New York City
About Fiserv
Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) aspires to move money and information in a way that moves the world. As a global leader in payments and financial technology, the company helps clients achieve best-in-class results through a commitment to innovation and excellence in areas including account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and the Clover® cloud-based point-of-sale solution. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500® Index and the FORTUNE® 500, and is among FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies®. Visit fiserv.com and follow on social media for more information and the latest company news.