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SOSTENICA's Investors and Donors afford Nicaraguan producers
the opportunity to improve the quality of life for themselves,
their families and their communities.
Investors lend funds to SOSTENICA, Inc. for
periods of between 2 and 10 years. SOSTENICA pays investors
a nominal rate of interest (see Investor Registration Form
for specific details). These funds are, in turn, loaned to
CEPRODEL to help fund both the urban and the rural Credit
Programs.
Donations to SOSTENICA finance: 1) technical assistance to
farmers in the Sustainable Rural Development Program and 2)
SOSTENICA's equity in the credit programs. SOSTENICA pledges
to maintain its equity share in the fund at 5% of its Nicaragua
portfolio. This equity policy provides investors additional
protection from loan loss.
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2008 Investors and Donors
The following is a list of of SOSTENICA's
Financial Supporters for 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.
They include: our current investors; those who made a financial
gift; and those who made a donation by virtue of taking
less than the maximum interest allowed on their investment.
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8 people requested to be listed as Anonymous
Sheldon L. Altman
Adorers of the Blood of Christ
Adrian Dominican Sisters Brian Anthony
Joe Fitzpatrick
Judith Asselin
Denis Asselin
David & Kirsten Bechtel
Christopher Bell
Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration
Gerard Bernacchia
Mark Birdsall
Mary Lenore Blair
Cheryle Oshman Blunt
Lynne Bonnett
Susan Bramhall
Brien Brennan
Joan Buccino
Sarah Campbell
Catholic Health Initiatives Lawrence Comstock Congregation
of Sisters
of St. Agnes
Eliezer Cruz
Ann DeFeo
Cheryl Doss
David Duffner
Janice Eisenman
Elliot & Emma Ephraim
Amy Eppler-Epstein
Cynthia Ernst
Robert Brown
Jonathan Evans
James Farnam
Marcy Stovall
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Peter Flynn
Francis Gace & Claire Gace Elizabeth Gibbs
Karla Gilmore
Kathleen Gladstone
Edward Grogan
Peter Guarino
Henry Gundling
David & Margaret Gullette Hildegarde Hannum
Beverly Hodgson
Elizabeth Hubbard
Barbara Hudgins
IMBY Misty Hollow Catherine Jackson
Yvette Jarreau
Julien Jarreau
Kelley Connors
Peter Jessop
Maureen Humpage
David Jones
Gordon Jones
Merrily Kaplan
Ann & David Kaseman Merle Koteen
Jennifer Landry
Dorothy LeBar
George Lindsay
Nancy Metz
Rachel Lindsay
Mary Lindsay
Adriane Lonzarich
Henry Lowendorf
Eifiona Main
Sandra Mandel
for John Bretlinger Michael & Nancy McGuire
Arthur Miller Jr.
Dianed Molenaar |
Lyle & Marlene Neher
Stacie & Keth Newman
Norwalk/Nagarote SCP
Jonathan Kemper Ogle Owen Owens
Ray Pagliaro
Partners for the
Common Good
Alice de V. Perry
Vicky Peterson
Charles Pillsbury
Jay Pressman
Madeline Frankel
Kurt Pressman
Larry Ravitz
Elizabeth Rodiger
Megan Rose
Beth Roth
Jon Sabrowski
Safe Haven Investment Portfolios, LLC
Phyllis Schnepf
Mark Schonbeck
Matthew Schreiber
Richard Schulz
Ruth Scodel
Anna Scodel
Seton Enablement Fund
Gary Sevitsky
Robert Silvan
Sisters of Saint Francis Sisters of Charity of
New York
Sisters of Charity of
Saint Elizabeth
Sisters of the Holy Cross Sisters of the
Sorrowful Mother |
Sisters of the Humility of Mary HM
Alternative Loan Fund
Cydney Slotoroff
Nathaniel Smith
Charles Sommerfield
SosteNica, Inc.
Frank Sprole
St. John's Church (NY)
St. John's Presbyterian Church (PA)
Churchwomen of St. Stephen's
Alec Stevens
Sun Microsystems
Talmadge Hill Community Church The Sinsinawa Dominicans
Robert Trafford in Honor of Rebecca Smith
Egan
Susan Power Trucksess
Drew Tulchin
Maria Tupper
Untours Foundation
Wachovia
Lacey Watkins
Westtown 7th Grade Service Project CCCF Youth Philanthropy
Program at Westtown School
John Weygandt
Joan Whitney
Alan Wright
Dorothy Wright
Justin Wright
Murray Wright
Nora Wright
Mich Zeman |
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Nicaragua has lost two American
angels in 2007- Dorothy Wright (1923-2007) and John Brentlinger
(1935-2007). Dorothy was, perhaps, more patron saint than angel.
During the last quarter century she took up a number of philanthropic
causes, ranging from child health to the performing arts and
agricultural education. She championed the cause of Nicaragua,
and specifically the work of SOSTENICA from its very inception.
Dorothy was SOSTENICA's first major investor, investing $10,000
long before SOSTENICA was even incorporated. Then, when it came
time to move from an experiment to a permanent and independent
non-profit, Dorothy risked more than $250,000 in the form of
a one-year loan to get the project off the ground. Over the
years, Dorothy did more than just invest and lend. She supported
the technical assistance portion of the Sustainable Rural Development
Program with donations totaling almost $200,000. Dorothy Wright
- PRESENTE! |
| John Brentlinger taught
philosophy at the University of Massachusets, while in his spare
time played jazz trumpet, enjoyed photography, and was a serious
political activist. In Nicaragua, John found "sacred places
and events created by people in an unselfconscious, communal
process of self-definition" and in those places and with those
people, John felt a deep and loving solidarity. His interest
in Nicaragua blossomed into a committed life-long love affair,
particularly with the community of artists and artisans of Solentiname.
In 1999 he founded an NGO, the Solentiname Friendship Group
of Western Massachusetts which works to promote education, healthcare,
sustainable agriculture, alternative energy, and eco-tourism.
His book, The Best of What We Are: Reflections on the Nicaraguan
Revolution is based on John's experiences in Nicaragua over
a period of more than 20 years. John organized and curated Solentiname
art exhibits throughout the United States, with all proceeds
benefiting the NGO. John was also a SOSTENICA investor. John
Brentlinger - PRESENTE! |
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Investors Interviewed in our
2006 Fall Update
CATHOLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES

Jennifer Neppel is the Director of Cash and Investments
for Catholic Health Initiatives
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SN: What does Socially Responsible
Investing (SRI) mean to your organization?
CHI: "Catholic Health Initiatives participates in socially
responsible investing through its Direct Community Investment
(DCI) Program. The DCI Program was established to support the
mission and vision of Catholic Health Initiatives. As the second
largest not-for-profit health care system in the U.S., one focus
of our mission is to create new ministries which promote healthy
communities, now and into the future. Direct community investments
are one way Catholic Health Initiatives fulfills that vision."
SN: Why did CHI choose to invest in SosteNica from among
the many SRI opportunities available?
CHI: "Catholic Health Initiatives chose to invest in
SOSTENICA due to its ability to positively impact the lives
of people living in Nicaragua. SOSTENICA was selected as an
organization that fulfills a very important social need with
its ability to loan funds to small businesses and low income
families. Through Catholic Health Initiatives' investment of
$100,000, we were confident that SOSTENICA would efficiently
utilize these funds to positively impact the lives of people
living in Nicaragua."
SN: What have you liked about your experience with SOSTENICA?
CHI: 'We have had a very positive experience with SOSTENICA
knowing that over 244 (rural farm) families have benefited from
the work of the organization. SOSTENICA's focus on the poor
of Nicaragua by teaching them new skills will have a favorable
impact on many future generations. The mission of SOSTENICA
assists Catholic Health Initiatives in attaining its goals of
promoting healthy communities.' |
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SN: What do you think of when you hear the term Socially
Responsible Investing (SRI?
GL: "Primarily, it is the opportunity to put some
of our money to work in ways that we believe will contribute
to the overall health of the planet and its peoples. We are
looking for win/win/win investments - we gain while contributing
to a safer, saner environment and a stronger, healthier society."
SN: Why led you to invest in SOSTENICA, given the many
SRI opportunities available?
GL: "We were introduced to SOSTENICA by Alan Wright
and Paula Kline, and learned first-hand from them about the
goals and the work that SOSTENICA supports in Nicaragua. SOSTENICA's
integrated approach to organic agriculture, economic opportunity,
environmental development, and a "bottom up" social structure
are all ideas that appealed to us. Furthermore, it appears
to us that SOSTENICA is successfully making it all work! "
SN: What do you enjoy about your experience with SOSTENICA?
GL: "SOSTENICA's newsletters are the best - every
bit as good as the interest checks that arrive regularly,
on time. The stories from the field and profiles of staff
and clients in Nicaragua help us to understand and feel connected
to the work that it supports. It is a gift that keeps on giving."
SN: Would you recommend SOSTENICA as an investment for others?
GL: "I have, and will continue to do so. From our experience,
it has been a sound investment from which we have reaped benefits
both financial and intellectual, and which inspires us with
confidence that we are participating in a worthwhile, important,
and successful venture."
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GEORGE LINDSAY, JR

George Lindsay is an Arts Administrator when he isn't contra-dancing,
sailing or walking his dog
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SHELLY ALTMAN

Shelly Altman, proud grandfather of three, writes software,
ballroom dances and bikes with friends
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SN: How you understand the concept of Socially Responsible
Investing (SRI)?
SA: "Money is one aspect of our lives. If we have
savings, what should we do with them? I think that Social
Investment is one great way to work cooperatively with people."
SN: Why did you choose to invest in SOSTENICA?
SA: "For me, SOSTENICA has both an investment and
an emotional component. Working closely with Nicaragua is
like taking a huge dose of truth serum. It helps me to see
through the lies that surround us all the time. Investing
in SOSTENICA is investing in the truth. It is not about 'supporting
Nicaragua'. It really is bi-directional. They get something
from us, and we get something from them. It goes both ways.
"
SN: What do you consider the best aspect of your experience
with SOSTENICA?
SA: "With SOSTENICA we slice right through bureaucracy
and get as directly as possible from investor to the people
borrowing the money - and it feels terrific! The revolution
of 1979 was a long time ago. Why do I still have this bond
with Nicaragua? It comes down to this. We've been fed lie
after lie about Nicaragua since 1979. In fact, what the Nicaraguans
did back in the '70's was so difficult and so inspiring that
no matter how much things have changed or may change in the
future, they remain for me, a people who had great courage.
They identified their values and then acted on them. Theirs
is a smart, spirited culture that threw off the yoke of imperialism
in a valiant effort to become what they dreamed of becoming.
In some sense, they succeeded, despite the chipping away that
continues to this day. As far as I'm concerned, I have a lifetime
commitment to these people and to their country for having
been a model for us all."
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SN: What does Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
mean to your church?
VW: "Principally that it breaks the dominant economic
cycle which disadvantages the poor. It gives them a far greater
sense of wellbeing and hope, enables them to better care for
their loved ones, and keeps more of the money in the local
community. It's such a win-win situation. I first heard of
the concept in an NPR piece some years ago with the founder
of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. The concept blew me away.
It touches the practical (really praxis) essence of our faith
so beautifully in that it addresses all three interwoven and
inseparable challenges-love of God, love of neighbor, love
of self (our best selves). When our Outreach Committee came
up with the idea-quite independently-I was delighted."
SN: Why did your church choose to invest in SOSTENICA
from among the many SRI opportunities available?
VW: "Beth Kephart Sulit was serving on the committee
a few years back. She had written an article for a magazine
about Alan Wright, and she brought the idea to the committee
of making contact with SOSTENICA. As we already had some mission
activity in El Salvador-her husband Bill is from there and
his mother runs a hostel for the elderly-it seemed natural
to extend the connection."
SN: What have you liked about your experience with
SOSTENICA?
VW: "A real sense of making a difference in people's
lives. Also that fact that any investment we make can be kept
rolling back into the community. We also appreciate the sense
of personal contact with those we support, through SOSTENICA."
SN: Would you recommend SOSTENICA as an investment
for other congregations?
VW: "Absolutely. It's been a super experience."
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SAINT JOHN'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DEVON, PENNSYLVANIA

Rev. Dr. Victor Wilson is the Senior Pastor at St. John's
Church in Devon, PA. Victor has been the pastor at St. John's
since 1992. He is the author of Divine Symmetries: The Art
of Biblical Rhetoric
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