HispanicBusiness

Personal finance guru and TV personality Suze Orman is coming to El Paso in April to speak at the annual YWCA luncheon.

"She loves Texas, and has never been to El Paso and she's excited about that, and she loves the YWCA," said Sandra Braham, YWCA chief executive officer. "She spoke many years to a YWCA in Seattle and just fell in love with the work the YWCA does."

Orman will be the guest speaker for the 20th annual YWCA El Paso del Norte Region's 2013 Women's Luncheon April 25 at the El Paso convention center.

The luncheon is the YWCA's main fundraiser.

Last year, nearly 2,300 people attended the event, which featured Elizabeth Smart and raised $425,000 to support the YWCA's El Paso programs including transitional housing for homeless women and their children, consumer credit counseling and after-school and day-care services.

Braham is excited about booking Orman, who has been featured in Time magazine's Most Influential People, has her own financial advice TV show on CNBC and has authored several best sellers.

"It wouldn't have been possible without herself making it possible," said Braham. "This is our 20th anniversary and we were looking for a big personality that speaks to our mission and speaks to our work and that is highly regarded. Suze Orman is that high professional, renown-in-the-world personality."

Orman, who has published nine New York Times best-sellers, is well known for hosting the "Suze Orman Show" for the past 12 years on CNBC. She was recently inducted into The Academy of Television Hall of Fame.

Trying to help everyday people get a handle on their finances and life, she is known for saying: "People first, then money, then things."

Braham believes that Orman was impressed with the YWCA's work to empower women financially. Orman received a video highlighting the YWCA's Consumer Credit Counseling which offers Homebuyer Education seminars and works with creditors to reduce clients' credit card debt.

Orman should be an inspiring and relatable speaker, organizers said.

"She came from humble beginnings and speaks to many people who are successful in El Paso who have come from humble beginnings. You can name any group of families that are well to do and they probably started here with little to nothing and built businesses here," Braham said.

"Another thing is this whole idea of where we are with the economy. It's a huge opportunity to hear from a person who has been listed in the Forbes top women in the world list and Time magazine named her one of the top 100 female leaders in the United States," Braham added.

Gloria Viramontes, co-owner of Westend Hair Company and Day Spa, has been to every YWCA luncheon and is always impressed by the speakers including the local women who give their testimony of how the Y helped them succeed.

"I've never walked out without feeling positive. You walk away with great feelings of giving these women a hand up and empowering them. And in turn, it empowers yourself and shows that you are not alone in the world as women of all backgrounds have issues and at the end of the day the same feelings and experiences," she said.

Maria Cortes Gonzalez may be reached at mcortes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6150.

Make plans

-- What: YWCA El Paso del Norte Region's 2013 Women's Luncheon.

-- When: 11:30 a.m. April 25.

-- Where: El Paso convention center.

-- Cost: Minimum $100 donation.

-- Reservations: 533-2311.