Today, 46 million Americans live in poverty. Together
we
will
ignite
positive
change.
We all have the right to live, grow & prosper.
it is time to for the greater good
Rethinking what it means to invest.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty. John F. Kennedy
our initiative of foundation investments from wall street into our communities.
trillion
on wall street
invested by foundations
for lack of an alternative
$100
billion
$1
reinvest 10 %
to your street for
live,
communities
learn
and
to
prosper
The opposite of poverty is not wealth - it is social justice. Bryan Stevenson
innovation
with impact
The Good Difference
• We create social impact investments to fund community development. • Our profit is returned to the community for services that help change peoples lives. • Our vehicle for change: The Continuum Fund, a socially conscious investment portfolio.
Potential Benefits
after 3 years
• Safe and healthy places to live.
• Community engagement and involvement.
• Access to preventative health care.
• Education that goes beyond the classroom.
e
p
2.5 million
$1.5 billion
Social BENEFIT
financial BENEFIT
people positively influenced
in communities for growth
Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.
how we work
1 2 3
We identify communities in need of the basics: housing, help and health.
housing
help
health
We secure investment capital from foundations and corporations to fund communities that speak to their missions.
We make low-interest loans for community revitalization. Our profits go directly back into the community in support of actions that create a positive measurable result on society.
You can’t lead the people if you don’t love the people. You can’t save the people if you don’t serve the people.
Cornel West
founding vision What began as the personal mission of the Center for the Greater Good’s founder, John Belluomini, is now a comprehensive tool aimed at reinvigorating communities by focusing on the people who live in them. John’s vision to create a stable living environment for all people as a means to eradicate poverty is the driving force behind the creation of the Center for Greater Good. Reflecting on the positive interventions he received as a child from teachers in school, John began his research on the causes and effects of what keeps communities in intense poverty and what helps create more stable middle-class environments. Drawing upon his experience as a child growing up in poverty, John understands many of the issues we address on a personal level. After over 18 years in the fast paced society of Silicon Valley and the world of finance, John found the need to reconnect and give back to society rather than take from it. This is just the beginning. It is through our partnerships and collective knowledge that we are able to envision the future of healthy community development practices. We understand the interconnected nature of the issues supporting poverty. We are here to collaborate and share resources so that we may all study, evolve and enhance what truly makes communities thrive; the people.
15% of americans live in poverty. Some 46.2 million Americans lived below the official poverty level in 2010, about 15.1% of the population. The number of Americans living in poverty grew by 27% between 2006 and 2010, when the U.S. population increased by only 3.3%. U.S. Census Bureau, 2011
government funding is gone. It is predicted that with new practices in government funding, assistance programs will be cut in half, which, based on estimates, would bring the total number of Americans living in poverty up to 80 million people, 26% of the population. National Bureau of Economic Research
21% of our children live in poverty. Nearly 15 million children in the United States – 21% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level – $22,050 a year for a family of four. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. National Center for Children in Poverty, 2012
dwindling support for our communities. With the current fiscal pressure on the states, which are required to balance their budgets, every year, they are likely to consider additional cuts to cash assistance, Medicaid and other safety-net programs. States will most likely be compelled to reduce funding for tax and educational policies that primarily benefit low-income populations. At Risk: America’s Poor During and After the Great Recession, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington, January 2012
catapult change Spread the Word Awareness of social impact investments and their benefits is the first step. Working together we can create positive change for the long term.
Share the Knowledge We are seeking like minded people and organizations who wish to join us in helping our communities flourish and ultimately our people. Live. Create. Educate.
Take Action Ideas are just ideas until you act upon them. Call . Email . Interview . Write
It’s just beyond words that this day has come about.
June Talia,Vice President of the Kuhio Park Terrace Resident Board A project supported by Center for the Greater Good.
contact sarah struck 805.280.8397
sarah@centergg.com www.centerforgreatergood.com
410 east state street suite 120 eagle idaho 83616
photography Š thomas hawk all rights reserved. 2012 Š center for the greater good