While opening the mail recently, we were startled when—along with a check for $3,335.50—out tumbled a photograph of one of our most amazing new supporters: a seventh grader from New Jersey named Daniel, cradling a basketball in one hand and a Village Banking Campaign brochure in the other.

We contacted Daniel’s mother to find out how he had been able to contribute so generously to FINCA’s efforts to provide financial services to one million poor microentrepreneurs around the world by 2010. Inspired by years of fundraising projects for FINCA with his mother and ninth grade sister Claire, Daniel—an ardent Philadelphia 76ers fan—wrote to one of his favorite players, center Samuel Dalembert, to enlist the Haitian native’s support for a project that would benefit FINCA Haiti and all of FINCA’s 21 programs.

With donated tickets and autographed basketballs and other memorabilia as prizes, and some help from Claire, Daniel organized the "Take It To The Bank" basketball tournament and raffle at his middle school. To promote the event, Daniel spoke to his entire school about microfinance, and showed a FINCA video about the power of Village Banking in Uganda. Two of his friends, Lauren and Michael, supported the cause by baking and selling cookies for eight weeks. The tournament—with a full concession stand, an airbrush tattoo artist, and great music—proved a roaring success. With their extraordinary efforts, Daniel and his friends raised an astonishing $3,350.50 to help industrious women lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Read the whole story here.

In April, FINCA Kyrgyzstan became the second program in FINCA’s 21-country global network to pass the 100,000-client milestone, continuing to set high standards for both the region and the network. Founded in 1995, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, FINCA Kyrgyzstan is, today, helping transform the lives of over 500,000 children and adults in a country in which 41 percent of the population lives below the national poverty line.

Rupert Scofield, President and CEO of FINCA International, said, “This auspicious milestone was met through the dedication and professionalism of our Kyrgyz colleagues, and we couldn’t be more proud of them for their efforts. They continue to strive for excellence through service and outreach in a challenging environment and, on a daily basis, change the lives of hundreds of thousands of their country men and women through financial services that meet specific needs.”

From Afghanistan to Zambia, from Mexico to Kyrgyzstan—in 21 countries around the world—FINCA loans are transforming lives by helping women build profitable businesses so they can feed, clothe and educate their children for a better future. Since 1984, FINCA has focused its lending on women because, as founder John Hatch said, “The fastest way to affect the welfare of children is by supporting their mothers.”

Celebrate Mother’s Day by making a life-changing gift to FINCA. Send one of our beautiful eCards to honor the mothers in your life and share your love: www.VillageBanking.org/Mothers-Day-eCards.

FINCA International cordially invites you to its 2009 Microfinance Research Symposium and Career Event on April 17th in Washington, DC!

The Keynote Address will be given by Dr. Francis Fukuyama, Director of SAIS’s International Development Program and remarks will be given by Dr. John Hatch, Founder of FINCA International.

The "From Information to Innovation" Symposium is a unique platform where scholars, industry representatives and students from a variety of disciplines meet to recognize and encourage research in microfinance. Through the synthesis of research initiatives and student outreach programs, FINCA aims to engage academics and young professionals to further the academic and practical application of microfinance assessments. This year’s monograph competitors have been invited to utilize data gathered using FINCA’s Client Assessment Tool in order to provide insight on product innovations relevant to the microfinance industry. The Symposium will showcase the top three monograph submissions, selected for exceptional writing, research and analysis of data. Each Symposium winner presents her or his findings, and panelists offer commentary and questions in a dialogue with presenter.

To view the Symposium Save the Date, please click here.