How We Help Non Profits
In addition to investing 100% of profits every year into our nonprofit partners, we also help our non-profit partners by:
- Donating products at charity events
- Including information on our partners in every package we send to customers
- Using social media to increase awareness of our non-profit partners and their missions
- Educating the public about microfinance and poverty issues
We currently support three institutions:
Chiapas International is a non-profit organization that provides funds to help break the cycle of poverty in Latin America. These loans provide seed capital to women to start self-sustaining businesses in their local communities. Chiapas International has helped more than 47,000 women and their families take the first step out of poverty.
Chiapas International, formerly known as The Chiapas Project, was founded in 2003 by Dallas real estate developer Lucy Billingsley, and is led by corporate and civic leaders. The organization has raised over $4 million since its inception.
Chiapas International has a goal of raising $2 million by 2012 to start new businesses in Latin America. In addition to providing loan capital, a deeper focus has been placed on literacy, health services, and life essentials for clients within existing microfinance institutions.
The mission of Esperanza International is to free children and their families from poverty through initiatives that generate income, education and health, restoring self-worth and dignity to those who have lost hope.
Esperanza International is the story of what can happen when people believe in an idea and act to make it come true. In 1985, David Valle, then catching for the Seattle Mariners, decided to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Like many North American players before him, Dave didn't know exactly what to expect while living and playing outside of the United States.
The reality of the Dominican Republic was not long in coming. After his first game there, David and his wife Vicky walked out of the ball park and were immediately surrounded by eight or nine young children. At first David thought that this was normal. Back in the States ball players frequently are met by kids gathering autographs for their collection. But David quickly realized these boys and girls didn't want his signature. Instead, they were hungry and hoping that David and Vicky would give them food.
The young boys and girls were from the poverty stricken communities near the ball park where thousands of families live in makeshift shacks. They are among the poorest families in the Dominican Republic. Soaring unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition and inadequate healthcare are just some of the barriers keeping the children and their families trapped in an ongoing cycle of poverty.
As parents and as people who take special interest in kids, David and Vicky were deeply troubled by the condition of the boys and girls. That night they spent many hours talking about the children and made a commitment to themselves that as soon as they were able they would return to the Dominican Republic to do whatever they could do to make a difference.
In 1995, Dave and Vicky founded Esperanza International as the response to their commitment.
The PLAN Fund is a Dallas-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase economic stability and self-sufficiency of Dallas County's low and moderate income communities by developing small business entrepreneurs through hands on business training, business development services and micro-credit.
The PLAN Fund provides training and loans to individuals who might have a restricted access to traditional financial institutions.
With restricted access to capital and incomes that might only meet family's most basic needs these individuals are challenged to save to invest in their own self-sufficiency. In addition, they frequently lack start-up financing, business education and experience, and robust business network.
The PLAN Fund provides clients with unique leadership development and networking opportunities indispensable to the success of their micro-businesses.
During the past four years, the PLAN Fund has proven that an initial micro-loan of $500-$1,500 combined with business training and its support enable people to take the first step towards achieving their financial self-sufficiency.
