Typically I’m here as a Mommy Blogger. It’s a title that makes some cringe, but I embrace it. I have kids, I’m raising them, it’s the most important job I’ll ever have, therefore I’m a Mommy Blogger. Today I’m here to talk about my mom.
I woke up to this email
Can I introduce to you my mother? Can you imagine a better gift? My kids will have the opportunity to grow many businesses through Kiva‘s microlending.
My kids are going to pick an entrepreneur in a third world country who will use our money to jump start a business that may sustain one or many.
From Kiva.org
We Let You Loan to the Working Poor
Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.
The people you see on Kiva’s site are real individuals in need of funding – not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs’ profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.
Today, I’m going to sit around and delight in being her daughter.
Today, I’m going to thank my mother for teaching me to love giving. I’ll thank her for honoring my children and for being a part of their lives. Today I’ll feel blessed and whole and privelaged.
And pragmatically, it’s the perfect last minute gift.
Kiva.org…. from my mom.
[This post was written by Jessica Gottlieb.]
I love Kiva!!!! I’ve been giving loans for more than a year now. It’s so fun to go on the web site and personally select the person or group that you are giving the loan too. Plus you are notified every other month or so on the repayments and progress the person is making.
A Kiva donation is a WONDERFUL gift and it truly represents the spirit of the holidays.
Kudos Jess! Microlending is so important in 3rd world countries. I first learned about it when that show the Real Housewives of NYC. Shocker I know! But one of the husbands on that show, Count De Lessepes (spelling totally wrong) is heavily involved in microlending. When I heard the term microlending used on the show I had no idea what it was. So I googled it, and read about it for hours, amazed at the success stories I found.
What a mom! No wonder you are so awesome. This made me smile.
PS-Besides being so cool and thoughtful, I cracked up that you mom was emailing you at 630am.
Thank you so much for this idea. I’ve been wondering what to do for my children’s grandparents and this will be perfect!
Jessica, I have to tell you this! I went over to Kiva and scrolled through the entrepreneurs asking for loans. I chose a 38 year old woman with 7 kids who needed a loan because her husband was ill. I was the third to donate, and she required 300 more dollars to fullfill her needs. I took a screen capture of the home page where a pic of my dad and his wife appeared as the “newest lender” which I plan to show them Christmas morning. When I checked back only hours later, the money had all been raised for this woman! This is the best Christmas gift ever. And to think she’ll probably pay it back and then my dad can choose his own entrepreneur to lend the same money to. A gift that could keep giving for a long time… Thank you for this amazing idea, Jessica! Please thank your mom too!