New Year Means New Ideas

When a New Year starts most people make "New Year's Resolutions". Instead of a New Year's resolution, we here at MMD Events have talked about an idea that we want everyone to know about today. This idea starts now and we need everyone's help to make this a success.

A few years ago, right after getting married, Matt and Amanda found an article in an entrepreneurship magazine talking about an organization called Kiva. Many of you probably saw Kiva chosen as one of Oprah's Favorite Things this year, but Kiva was on Matt and Amanda's favorite things list about 7 years ago! Kiva is an organization that empowers individuals to lend to any entrepreneurs across the globe. Matt and Amanda have personally been involved with Kiva for 5 years now and want MMD Events to get involved as well. We understand how to have ideas for a businesses and wanting the businesses to be successful and profitable. We believe in lending through Kiva to help others live out their dreams and be successful. Kiva promotes dignity, accountability, and transparency throughout their company.

So how does Kiva operate? First, Kiva partners with a microfinance institution also known as field partners. Basically the field partners in other countries know the local area, know the clients, and do all the leg work required to get the Kiva loans to the entrepreneurs who are hoping for a loan. The field partners then disburse loans and post a loan request on Kivas website with the entrepreneur's stories, pictures, and loan details. Once that step is completed, lenders (like us) browse the loan request and select which loans they would like to fund. This can start at $25 and can be as much as the entire loan amount. After we give the money to Kiva, the field partners accept the money and use the funds to replenish the loan that they have already made to the entrepreneur. The entrepreneurs must repay their loans to the field partners and then the field partners transfer the fundS to Kiva and credit the appropriate lenders with their loan repayments.

Once again, we believe in this lending because it helps entrepreneurs carry out their dream of starting their own company without putting their family in debt. We also believe in giving locally, not just globally. Every year we are involved with the Gasparilla International Film Festival in which we donate $20,000 which helps Tampa's thriving economy. We are hoping to match that donation this year through Kiva as well.

Check out Kiva's website and stay tuned for more details and we will explain how we need everyone's help to make this a huge success!

Have a Happy New Year!!