A big giant thank you to all of our customers for helping us give back

A few months ago during the Summer I announced that we would be setting aside $1 from every sale to go towards a KIVA loan for a mom entrepreneur in a developing country.  

One of my goals in opening the boutique was to support moms in business by helping to promote and sell their amazing mom-invented products.  I also wanted to make sure that I was *giving back* at each step of the way while growing the business and a KIVA loan to a fellow mother and entrepreneur felt like the perfect match this year!

This month, after reviewing our sales for the year, we were able to provide KIVA loans to 2 mom entrepreneurs!  So, customers and friends, here are the women (and their businesses) that you helped us contribute to this year:

Along with 34 other lenders, Ana's loan request in Ecuador has been 100% funded!

This loan will be used for the purpose of: 

to purchase perfumes, lotions, jewelry and clothing for her retail business.

Along with 7 other lenders, Esther's loan request in Uganda has been 100% funded!

This loan will be used for the purpose of: To buy more raw materials for making sponges for her business.

So I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your business and support this past year.  I feel blessed to have met so many amazing moms & dads through the boutique...whether they were the inventors behind each product or the hundreds of moms that visit the site daily to shop mom-invented products.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!  I can't wait to see what is in store for 2012!

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Giving back through Kiva loans to support mom entrepreneurs

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!  I want to officially announce something that I am so excited about in tonight's post.  We have decided, as a family, to set aside $1 from every sale at The Busy Mom Boutique to use towards supporting mom-entrepreneurs in developing countries through a Kiva loan.  The mission for us has always been to support moms in business by promoting and selling their mom-invented products.  Now we have decided that the profit that we make through this site can also help moms in less fortunate, developing countries, to make their dreams a reality and play a role in the battle against poverty. 

It's funny because every time I think about this or talk about it, I smile.  I feel this overwhelming sense that this is exactly what I need to be doing.  Have you ever felt that way about a decision?  I know that our loans will start small since the business is still at the beginning stages, but I know in my heart that we'll still be making a difference in the lives of many women...and because of that, I'm pretty content in this decision. 


My goal is to post about each loan that we make here on the blog so that our customers and followers can read about each of the women that YOU are supporting with us.  So stay tuned for all of that!


If you haven't heard of Kiva or microfinance then keep reading below.  I have put some basic information that can also be found on the Kiva website if you're interested in learning more.  Here you go:

 

What is Kiva?  A non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

 

What is Microfinance?  A general term to describe financial services to low-income individuals or to those who do not have access to typical banking services.  Microfinance is also the idea that low-income individuals are capable of lifting themselves out of poverty if given access to financial services. While some studies indicate that microfinance can play a role in the battle against poverty, it is also recognized that is not always the appropriate method, and that it should never be seen as the only tool for ending poverty.

 

Thank you all so much for your support!  I hope you have a blessed week ahead.  I'd also LOVE to hear from you in the comments...I'll be totally looking for some adult conversation this week since my husband is away for business and I'm home with all little people under the age of 3 all week.  :-)

 

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