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Tory Burch Foundation

Its Spring! With newly bursting blooms, spring break and spring fashion well, it makes me think of endless opportunities. Spring is just that, it’s about beginnings.

Tory Burch’s story is one of new beginnings as well. Yes, she is a mother of three, an entrepreneur, the CEO and CCO of her famous fashion line but she is also the founder of the Tory Burch Foundation, a non-profit that she launched in 2009.

When creating her business plan she incorporated a plan to give back and to empower other women entrepreneurs through micro finance loans. Her own experiences as a working parent, created a belief that one of the most powerful ways to create change is to economically empower women.

Women are the majority of poor citizens in the United States, with 13 million women living in what the Census Bureau calls “deep poverty”. Single mothers are at the highest risk of poverty and are the most likely to be self-employed entrepreneurs.

 (click link to see CBS news feature on Tory & her non-profit)?id=6160701n&tag=api

The Tory Burch Foundation’s partnered with, ACCION USA, to provide the loans and financial services small business people need to succeed. ACCION USA is a microlender in the United States, that provides loans from $500 to $50,000 to more than 11,000 small businesses nationwide. ACCION USA serves low-to-moderate income clients; 40% are women.

The next time you see the infamous T label, realize that it’s so much more than a shoe or a belt, it is providing thousands of new beginnings to women all over the country. Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

Kiva

The other day I came home to find a picture of a woman on my husband’s computer screen.  No, it’s not what your thinking but I must admit I was curious.

I asked my husband who this person was and he proudly claimed that he had just given this woman, Ana a loan.  To understand how shocking this is you have to know my husband. He is a generous soul but likes to give to things that affect him and our family (kid’s school, local hospital and community-oriented giving).

This woman was a widow with two children from Costa Rica who needed money to buy chickens.  She would then sell the eggs to support her family. Through an organization called Kiva, which provides microfinance, he was able to help this woman with a loan, not a donation.

Kiva believes in a world where all people- even in the most remote areas of the globe- hold the power to create an opportunity for themselves and others. The smile of pride on my husband’s face told me he believes this as well. The power of one is indeed powerful.

Copyright © 2011 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.