Saturday, December 29, 2007

Oprah, Clinton, Kendall, and Kiva

I'm trying to think of someone who's done more good in the world than Oprah Winfrey. I'm not an avid viewer, but she'll occasionally have a show that speaks to me. Sometimes, it's Mehmet Oz, the transplant surgeon, author, and champion of mind/body/spirit medicine. Others, it's a program about people thriving in the face of physical, mental, or emotional challenges.

Oprah's program with Bill Clinton on "Giving" was terrific. Regardless of what a person may think of his presidency, Bill Clinton is doing great things with his Clinton Global Initiative (He and Jimmy Carter are probably our greatest ex-presidents). In addition to Clinton, the program featured Kendall Ciesemier, who, when she was 13, saw Oprah's Christmas program on AIDS orphans, donated $360 of her own money to "adopt" one of these children, and founded Kids Caring for Kids. Even while enduring two liver transplants herself, Kendall had raised $100,000 for African children with HIV.

Oprah had arranged for President Clinton to speak at Kendall's school, and he surprised her by bringing her on stage, then taking her to Oprah's program to talk about her fundraising. On the program, Kendall announced that she had set a new goal of raising $1 million.

Following a commercial, Clinton mentioned that he'd approached during the break by a friend (who remains anonymous) who told him that he would donate $500,000 to Kendall's charity.

The program also featured Kiva, a nonprofit which "...lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back."

This is not a tax-deductible donation (unless you contribute to Kiva's own operating expenses); but, rather, a mechanism by which you can loan as little as $25 to a small business woman or man; helping them to "fish" for themselves, rather than "giving them a fish."

Check out the kiva site for yourself and let people know about Kendall, Kiva, and the Clinton Global Initiative.

To give is to receive.

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