Sheri Sharman's Passion for Charitable Contributions

A little about Kiva: Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, 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.

I, Sheri Sharman, loan because I believe that the greatest gift you can give is to help someone be able to support themselves and their family. THIS IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM!!!! I am so glad that I found this site on Thanksgiving Day 2007.

Thank you Oprah again for helping to spread the word...and to the Founders of Kiva for their passion to create such a powerful "Giving & Receiving Tool" for the world...May God Bless You.

Please check out my Kiva Lender Page to learn more about this wonderful Loan Program!

Sincerely,
Sheri Sharman

The children of the Andes Mountains live a beautiful, simple agrarian lifestyle. While they are not suffering from disease, starvation, or plight (they are some of the healthiest children in the world because of where they live), they do suffer from a lack of educational resources.

It costs $120 for each child to go to school: a small sum to us, but a month's worth of wages to a Vilcabamban family. With no support from the government, it is up to each family to outfit each child with:

* Four uniforms (two worn daily)
* Shoes
* Books
* Pencils, rulers
* Other class supplies

The school system is also in need since it can only afford books for the teachers and not the students. This means the teachers usually read assignments to the children out of their "master" book. The children, then, must write everything down in their own notebooks. Needless to say, this process wastes time and hundreds of notebooks in the course of the school year.

This is just one example of how the Andes Children's Foundation plans to improve the educational system in Vilcabamba.

Another way is to not only ensure there are enough supplies for the children, but also provide a broader experience to include trade and technological learning opportunities as well. We will help in teaching the children vital skills as well as train the teachers and provide support where the school system just cannot meet the students' needs.

Learn more...

My business gives me the financial means to generously support causes that help women, children and our environment.

Organizations that I have gratefully supported include:

* Salvation Army
* Special Olympics
* Andes Children's Foundation
* St. Josephs Lakota Indian School
* St. Labre Indian School
* Amvets National Service Foundation
* American Red Cross
* Veteran's Association, San Diego Chapter
* Earth Island Institute
* Defenders of Wildlife
* Meals On Wheels
* San Diego Rescue Mission
* Girl Scouts of America
* Operation Smile
* Looks Like Me
* Leukemia Foundation
* Carlsbad City Library
* Dennis Weaver's Ecolonomics
* Ted Danson's American Oceans Campaign
* W.I.N.G.S. - Women In Need Growing Strong
* Soldier's Angels
* Sioux Nation Relief Fund
* Southwest Indian Council
* Council of Indian Nations
* American Indian Relief
* Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
* Autism Society of America Foundation (ASAF)

As you can see, giving back is a passion of mine. And I am so very grateful to be able to do so!

I truly believe WE CAN all make a difference!

Loving Life!
Sheri Sharman