The Tower Online

Monthly update from the Sustainable Philanthropy Committee

Greetings Trinity Parishioners!

Here is our monthly update from the Sustainable Philanthropy Committee, part of the Mission and Outreach Commission. We have received a portion of the Parish’s Mission and Outreach budget so that we can make kiva loans to the poor around the world in support of the Millennium Development Goals. We call ourselves “sustainable” because as borrowers repay their loans, we can help more people with the same money.

We met in late June to establish our Mission and a loan process so that we can prayerfully be good stewards of the Parish’s assets. Since that time we have made:

• 52 loans in 23 countries of which 12 were funded by borrower repayments
• To date, our borrowers have a 2.9% delinquency (most delinquencies are cleared up within 60 days) and 0% default rate
• 2 loans were repaid and we expect 7 more loans will be fully repaid later this month

Check this space next month for more updates! If you feel inspired to make your own ($25) loans, go to kiva.org.

To see the loans that we have made, check out our lender page http://www.kiva.org/lender/trinitychurch9574

All Youth Kickoff Canoe Trip

The youth ministries programs kicked off 2010-2011 with a canoe trip to northwestern Connecticut.  Peter Anderau organized the trip with Clarke Outdoors www.clarkeoutdoors.com for over 50 people.  After a long ride up to West Cornwall, we ate lunch together (organized by Temple Whitaker) and then were driven to the launch point above the dam in Canaan, CT.  Two hours of canoeing down the beautiful Housatonic river - and no one fell in!  A few got turned around backwards and went zig-zagging down the river, but it was a safe and fun time for all!  Here are a few photos of the fun.

Getting our instructions and life preservers:
 

The very steep launch site. 

 

 

 

A beautiful day for all!