Grameen Foundation : Resource Center : Print Newsletter : Spring 2007 : Terry and Anne Guerrant: Change Makers
Terry and Anne Guerrant: Advocates, Supporters, and Change Makers
Grameen Foundation (GF) friends Terry and Anne Guerrant are on a mission to put two million dollars into the hands of the poorest through microfinance.
To do this they started The Guerrant Foundation to support Grameen Foundation and Opportunity International, two organizations dedicated to fighting poverty. The Guerrant Foundation aims to raise $1 million and Terry and Anne plan to donate an additional $1 million. The Guerrant Foundation has already helped mobilize more than $73,000 to Grameen Foundation and one of GF’s Mexican partners, Grameen de la Frontera.
The key to the Guerrants’ success has been letting people know that they can play a role in spreading the impact of this business solution to poverty. “When I host an event, I tell my audience that 113 million people around the world use microfinance to lift themselves out of poverty. They are excited to learn about the opportunity that microfinance offers to them to help,” says Anne. “We have had articles published in the Phoenix Business Journal and the Arizona Republic, which helped raise over $40,000. Local journalists are drawn to the story.”
Terry and Anne first learned about microfinance on a trip to India. They saw first-hand the impact that microfinance had on a group of women. When the borrowers took turns sharing their story, they proudly explained how their lives changed from dire poverty to ones with less struggle and newfound hope. “The confidence and optimism that these women exuded was proof of the transformative power that microfinance has. Neesha, a widow, had been supporting her children on less than $1 a day. She was able to get a small loan to buy a mat weaving machine and raw materials and begin a mat weaving business. Now she has enough money to feed and clothe her children, and pay their school fees. The upward spiral out of poverty has begun.”
Grameen Foundation : Resource Center : Print Newsletter : Spring 2007 : Terry and Anne Guerrant: Change Makers
Grameen Foundation uses microfinance and innovative technology to fight global poverty and bring opportunities to the world's poorest people. With tiny loans and financial services, we help the poor, mostly women, start businesses and escape poverty. Our global network of 55 microfinance institution (MFI) partners including our Growth Guarantee partners has touched more than 34 million people in 24 countries. In addition, we introduced and now sustain technology initiatives (Mifos and Village Phone) in Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, bringing our total country outreach to 28.
+1-202-628-3560 www.grameenfoundation.org
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