Don Franco, CEO of FAMDO,  speaks candidly about the company, his background, "The FAMDO Way" book, and more

Q - Why did you start FAMDO?

A - While purchasing goods and services for my family of six, I wanted to support a company that could empower the African-American community on a national scale and that would give back money and key information to our local communities.  I also thought this company should be designed to build up our young people, and give African Americans a great overall experience when we made purchases from it.  However, I could not fine such a company.  So, I started FAMDO.

Q - Tell us about your background.

A - I was raised in Linden, New Jersey, by a single mother. My mom and dad divorced when I was a year old and I didn't know my dad while growing up. We were on and off welfare and I remember tough times due to our serious lack of money. I slept in the same room with my mom and older sister until I was twelve. Thankfully, I had my own bed. Many times it was the emotional pain that hurt the most. I would always ask myself questions like, “Why does that family have a dad and I don't? Why do they have money and we don't? Why do they have a car and my mom doesn't?”

However, my mom's guidance led me to get a solid education even through some trying times that included: teenage pregnancy, and being sent away to a boarding school in Virginia named Oak Hill Academy at the age of 14.

After the tough times, I was fortunate enough to receive a four-year basketball scholarship from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where I graduated with a business degree.  I then started a business career spending 17 years in various sales, marketing and training positions mainly within the pharmaceutical industry.

Now I find myself on the other side of the fence with a successful family life. My wife and I have been married for 24 years and we have four children. My background and passion for community empowerment weighs heavily on me, and I feel I can use my personal experiences and business skills to make a difference.

...And by the way, my dad and I now have a solid relationship.

Q - It appears as if there is a coming together of young and 'older' heads from the hip-hop generation with FAMDO's target market. Do you agree?

A - I do. In fact this 'hook up' is the foundation of FAMDO. When you look at the post-civil rights generation, you find that it has been commonly termed the hip-hop generation. Some say that the hip-hop generation consists of folks born from 1965 to 1984. Others say those born after 1968. FAMDO defines it as those born after 1960. We say this because the young people who started the movement in the early to mid-1970s were teenagers at the time, and that means they would have been born right around 1960, if not before. FAMDO also cites 1960 as the beginning of the hip-hop generation because we will need their support and experiences to fulfill our mission.

Q - What are your thoughts about the hip-hop generation and the things we can use to empower the African-American community?

A - It's obvious that hip-hop culture has come a long way since it started in the South Bronx. Today, you can hardly make it through the day without seeing the affect of hip hop on today's mainstream culture. I sense that there is change occurring within hip hop and it appears to be heading back to its roots of community empowerment. For example, I'm hearing about the culture playing a positive role in gang truces.  Also, more and more folks are looking at new ways for the culture to positively influence our youth.  

I believe FAMDO has an opportunity to take the culture to another level in the form of empowering more people from our communities, and not just within the entertainment field.  Many of the culture's pioneers have been talking about creating more hip-hop entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, engineers, Wall Street money managers, educators, etc. so that we can have stronger communities and families. After all, how many of our young people are going to be rappers, entertainers, or even ballplayers? I know there are many issues confronting our communities but I see so much potential in our youth.  We have to help them define a personal vision and I believe the things we have started doing--and will do in the future--provides vision and leadership.

And in regards to what we can use to empower our communities, I will say this: The African-American community has many things in place for empowerment. These things include technology, solid role models, an annual purchasing power of $1 trillion and key community influencers such as hair stylists, barbers and shop owners.

Q - Can you tell us about the company's book, "The FAMDO Way:  A Commentary and Solution to the African-American Crisis?"

A - The book contains FAMDO's proactive plan, centered around our communities' finances, that African Americans can rally around to see change occur within our commmunities.  I think we have gone way too long without a national plan and the book lays out an agenda that's filled with examples of empowerment.  The book also looks at my background, with its struggles and successes, as well as comments greatly on issues affecting our communities, such as education and media.  Finally, the book ends with a vision our communities should strive to attain.             

Q - You mentioned the local influencers; hair stylists, barbers, and owners of salons and barber shops as a key part of FAMDO's strategy. Could you tell us a little more on why FAMDO decided to contract with them?

A - FAMDO has defined beauticians, barbers and owners as BBOs. BBOs bring so many positives to the table. They are business people, surrogate parents in their communities and, as I have stated before, key influencers. This BBO network is very powerful, and as they promote FAMDO's overall agenda, our communities will experience positive change.

Q - Finally, how can people with a sincere interest in empowering African-American communities support FAMDO?  

A -  If possible, visitors to our website should buy at least one thing from the FAMDO.COM store, and sign up for the FAMDO e-newsletter.  And, if that's not possible, we would ask that everyone either get involved with the oneTEN PROJECT or purchase a copy of "The FAMDO Way" book from their local bookstore.  After all, if FAMDO is not profitable during any given year, we will not be able to give back to local communities and get them empowered.  Lastly, it would be great if visitors could send the FAMDO.COM site to all of their friends.

To read about Don in the media, click on the following link:

http://famdo.com/appearances/index.php?id=16

To join Don at a Harlem book signing, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiVME_I67K8&feature=related

To join our Facebook Fan Page, click on the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/FAMDO/164257576530?ref=mf