ISSUED: 17 April 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Shepherd University Department of Sociology and Geography, Department of Political Science, Department of Psychology, and Student Affairs are sponsoring a fundraiser for Kiva, an international nonprofit that raises money online to loan to people in communities around the world. The Kiva Campaign, a campuswide fundraiser, will take place Thursday, April 20, from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The theme will be “Give Change for the World” and tables will be located around campus, including at White Hall, Scarborough Library, and Knutti Hall. The public is invited to support this effort.
The money raised will be loaned through Kiva to help pay for a variety of needs. The Kiva website says crowdfund loans go to borrowers in more than 80 countries who are often financially excluded and can’t access other fair and affordable sources of credit. In the U.S., Kiva crowdfunds loans for borrowers who are either financially excluded or creating social impact in their communities. Kiva borrowers work in many industries and may be farmers, artisans, students, shopkeepers, builders, or restaurant owners.
“Shepherd’s campus will donate to underprivileged and marginalized populations, providing them an opportunity to attend vocational training programs, a university or other higher education institution,” said Dr. Chiquita Howard-Bostic, chair of the Department of Sociology and Geography. “Our Kiva campaign will also provide support to social entrepreneurship abroad, which will help grow businesses, create meaningful employment, and generate an innovative social impact around the world.”
For more information, contact Howard-Bostic at chowardb@shepherd.edu.
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