Gotta love a great story around the holidays. Heck, gotta love great stories any time during the year. Especially when it is this story.
Here's to the Syracuse University men's basketball program and a really cool organization called Friends of Jaclyn for making a difference. '' (I know Syracuse University is not exactly NYC, but the school likes to say that it is NYC's college team. And well, this story and organization are good anywhere.)
Friends of Jaclyn matches up children with pediatric brains tumors with a college or high school sports team. The match is all about 'love, support, and friendship'.
Check out this story about Nicholas Trivelpiece and the Orange men's hoops team.
http://blog.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/2009/12/nicholas_on_the_rebound.html
Here is the website for Friends of Jaclyn if you would like to learn more.
http://www.friendsofjaclyn.org/
Thanks Friends of Jaclyn and Syracuse University for making a difference. And thank you to Nicholas for being an inspiration to us all.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A Run To Remember
The ING NYC Marathon draws thousands of runners every year. These runners participate to challenge themselves, in memory and support of loved ones, to benefit charities, or simply for the thrill of the race. Every single one of them is an inspiration to us all.
I want to highlight a group of very special runners who, last night, allocated the $290,000 dollars they raised. That's right, $290,000!
The Alzheimer's Association of NYC Junior Committee, led by Erin Eininger, and over fifty members, raised over a quarter of a million dollars in support of their cause. Oh yeah, they also finished the 26.2 mile race and months of training!
That is young adults in NYC making a difference. So thank you to Erin and the Alzheimer's Association of NYC Junior Committee.
To learn more about their cause and organization, visit www.alznycjc.org
I want to highlight a group of very special runners who, last night, allocated the $290,000 dollars they raised. That's right, $290,000!
The Alzheimer's Association of NYC Junior Committee, led by Erin Eininger, and over fifty members, raised over a quarter of a million dollars in support of their cause. Oh yeah, they also finished the 26.2 mile race and months of training!
That is young adults in NYC making a difference. So thank you to Erin and the Alzheimer's Association of NYC Junior Committee.
To learn more about their cause and organization, visit www.alznycjc.org
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Great 'Green' Way
The Great White Way is going 'green'. The Broadway Green Alliance is an industry wide initiative to educate, motivate and inspire the theatre community and its patrons to adopt environmentally friendly practices in theatre production and every day life.
Find out more at www.broadwaygreen.com.
Find out more at www.broadwaygreen.com.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
'Teach a man to fish' in NYC?
The Doe Fund
Have you ever wondered who those people are walking around the streets in the all blue jumpsuits with the "Ready, Willing, and Able" slogan?
These people are members of the Doe Fund, an organization in NYC which strives to give homeless and previously incarcerated individuals opportunities to become self sufficient.
I am a huge admirer of the strategy and goal of the Doe Fund because I believe it is a proactive attempt at improving the well being of the individuals involved and bettering the community that these individuals call home.
We all know the story of Michael Vick getting a second chance; I think it is even more important that we recognize the individuals of the Doe Fund who are working for their second chance.
The Doe Fund's strategy gets individuals out of the path of violence, repeat offenses, and dependancy by teaching life skills and professional skills.
You can find more information about this organization at http://www.doe.org/ .
"Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for life."
Have you ever wondered who those people are walking around the streets in the all blue jumpsuits with the "Ready, Willing, and Able" slogan?
These people are members of the Doe Fund, an organization in NYC which strives to give homeless and previously incarcerated individuals opportunities to become self sufficient.
I am a huge admirer of the strategy and goal of the Doe Fund because I believe it is a proactive attempt at improving the well being of the individuals involved and bettering the community that these individuals call home.
We all know the story of Michael Vick getting a second chance; I think it is even more important that we recognize the individuals of the Doe Fund who are working for their second chance.
The Doe Fund's strategy gets individuals out of the path of violence, repeat offenses, and dependancy by teaching life skills and professional skills.
You can find more information about this organization at http://www.doe.org/ .
"Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for life."
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Big Brothers Big Sister BIG NIGHT OUT
Monday, December 7, 2009
Solid kick off reading on Social Enterprise...
'How to Change the World; Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas' by David Bornstein is a great starting point in the world of social entrepreneurship.
www.amazon.com/How-Change-World-Social-Entrepreneurs/dp/0195138058
www.amazon.com/How-Change-World-Social-Entrepreneurs/dp/0195138058
CNNs 12 Days of Good Deeds
Keep an eye on the below project on CNN. Always good to see the news talk about something worthwhile...
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=365776
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=365776
Support the Mentoring Partnership of NY
Help us win Facebook's Chase Community Giving Challenge
National Mentoring Partnership and The Mentoring Partnership of New York (MPNY) are asking for your vote for the Chase Community Giving Challenge on Facebook.
Paste this link:
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/
and type in "National Mentoring Partnership" as your charity to vote for!
Join us in helping Mentor and MPNY become one of the top 100 charities to win $25,000! Thousands of young people need and want another adult role model in their lives and winning this challenge will help make that possible!
Please forward this to your Facebook friends, family and coworkers and post that you voted on your Wall.
National Mentoring Partnership and The Mentoring Partnership of New York (MPNY) are asking for your vote for the Chase Community Giving Challenge on Facebook.
Paste this link:
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/
and type in "National Mentoring Partnership" as your charity to vote for!
Join us in helping Mentor and MPNY become one of the top 100 charities to win $25,000! Thousands of young people need and want another adult role model in their lives and winning this challenge will help make that possible!
Please forward this to your Facebook friends, family and coworkers and post that you voted on your Wall.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Notes from ‘Private Equity in Microfinance’ on Tuesday November 17, 2009
Sponsored by Morgan Stanley and the Microfinance Club of New York
Panel Members:
Gregory F. Casagrande – South Pacific Business Development Microfinance Network
Howard J. Finkelstein, Esq. – Board of Directors – Microfinance Club of NY
Didier Lamarche – Adam Smith Capital Partners
John Schroeder – Frontier Investments Fund - Accion
Luca Torre – Treetops Capital
Bryan T. Wagner – Morgan Stanley
Investibility of microfinance
- institutions have improved ratings / grades as a result of improved infrastructure, management
- increases in growth / capital
MFI investment vehicles
- increases in numbers, increases in competition
- increases in demand for equity vs. fixed income
o better pay outs (2/20 vs. 2% in traditional bond funds)
- increases in risk appetite
Recent developments / movements to establish common metrics across microfinance have led to improved analytics, and subsequently increased investibility.
- companies beginning to rate MFIs
Thoughts on the Return Profile of an MFI / PE Investment
Ideal Expectations
- Growth MFIs : 20-40% returns
- Mature MFIs : 12% returns
Required due diligence when Investing in MFI
- Strong management team essential
- Existence / efficiency of underlying operations
- Potential country risks
- Ask about 3-5 year plan
- Key Metrics : ROA approx 4%, D:E approx 4:1, ROE approx 20%
- Understanding of exit strategy (IPOs unlikely)
Country risk
- Regulations
- Enforceability of contracts
- Currency stability
- Civic stability
Type of Investors for MFIs (Target market)
How critical are social returns?
- totally financial investors
- socially responsible investors
- totally social investors
Concluding Remarks
- Most panel members bullish on industry; ‘potentially ‘tenfold’
- Different, new investors coming into field
- Necessary to keep microfinance at heart of model
- Need US institutional investors to come in to the investing space; US institutions need to accept larger tickets
- Need to improve accounting, structure, technology to attract more investors
o Examples of technology include correspondent banking, payment systems on mobile phones
Question & Answer
- Additional securitization of microfinance loans – DB just did deal
- Potential ‘bankable’ population of world’s poor – approx 500M families
- Underutilized microfinance markets: China / Vietnam have room for development, however issue is government regulation / control
- Importance of loan guarantees to potential investors – local currency financing, get investors over hurdles
Sponsored by Morgan Stanley and the Microfinance Club of New York
Panel Members:
Gregory F. Casagrande – South Pacific Business Development Microfinance Network
Howard J. Finkelstein, Esq. – Board of Directors – Microfinance Club of NY
Didier Lamarche – Adam Smith Capital Partners
John Schroeder – Frontier Investments Fund - Accion
Luca Torre – Treetops Capital
Bryan T. Wagner – Morgan Stanley
Investibility of microfinance
- institutions have improved ratings / grades as a result of improved infrastructure, management
- increases in growth / capital
MFI investment vehicles
- increases in numbers, increases in competition
- increases in demand for equity vs. fixed income
o better pay outs (2/20 vs. 2% in traditional bond funds)
- increases in risk appetite
Recent developments / movements to establish common metrics across microfinance have led to improved analytics, and subsequently increased investibility.
- companies beginning to rate MFIs
Thoughts on the Return Profile of an MFI / PE Investment
Ideal Expectations
- Growth MFIs : 20-40% returns
- Mature MFIs : 12% returns
Required due diligence when Investing in MFI
- Strong management team essential
- Existence / efficiency of underlying operations
- Potential country risks
- Ask about 3-5 year plan
- Key Metrics : ROA approx 4%, D:E approx 4:1, ROE approx 20%
- Understanding of exit strategy (IPOs unlikely)
Country risk
- Regulations
- Enforceability of contracts
- Currency stability
- Civic stability
Type of Investors for MFIs (Target market)
How critical are social returns?
- totally financial investors
- socially responsible investors
- totally social investors
Concluding Remarks
- Most panel members bullish on industry; ‘potentially ‘tenfold’
- Different, new investors coming into field
- Necessary to keep microfinance at heart of model
- Need US institutional investors to come in to the investing space; US institutions need to accept larger tickets
- Need to improve accounting, structure, technology to attract more investors
o Examples of technology include correspondent banking, payment systems on mobile phones
Question & Answer
- Additional securitization of microfinance loans – DB just did deal
- Potential ‘bankable’ population of world’s poor – approx 500M families
- Underutilized microfinance markets: China / Vietnam have room for development, however issue is government regulation / control
- Importance of loan guarantees to potential investors – local currency financing, get investors over hurdles
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