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Sarah’s Hope Jewelry keeps changing lives She travels to the Eusebia, a widowed factories and sits on mother of 12 in Nicthe assembly line aragua, used a $100 alongside the workers. microloan to plant an “We care about all acre of red beans. Over the people involved in 10 years, she was able the process,” she says. to parlay that into a “I want to know that 100‑acre spread where things are being fairly she raises cattle and produced and workers hogs. fairly treated.” “I have seen firsthand how education UPS has been an inand microfinance can tegral part of the busicompletely transform ness, handling inbound a life from poverty to and outbound logisprosperity,” she says. tics worldwide. The In Afghanistan, a company uses both woman living tradWorldShip® and UPS itionally cannot work CampusShip®, which outside the home, so a saves time on shipping woman named Nepton tasks. “We could not used a microloan to have accomplished raise chickens in her what we have withSarah Smith, right, with Ella Rose, a tortilla maker in Nicaragua who has backyard and sell eggs out the help of UPS,” been helped with affordable credit. to local shops. Now Smith says. “It’s been a she has expanded into real partnership. the neighbor’s yard, too. “Running a business and a of jewelry that reflects their to others,” she says. “Our These are just two of charity at the same time takes story. Each piece showcases motto is, if we are not helping hundreds of women whose a lot of energy,” she adds. a proprietary stone called alleviate human need in some lives have changed because “But giving is contagious, and E’Sperene®, a composite of capacity, we have no business of Sarah’s Hope Jewelry. This people want to help.” quartz and metal oxides with being in business.” Middleton, Wis., company was vibrant colors that shift as the So in 2011 Smith launched Sarah’s Hope Jewelry partstarted to support microlight changes, reflecting the ners with organizations such as a program called Giving Back finance institutions (loans Locally. Now, when customers changes Sarah’s Hope offers. MEDA (Mennonite Economic starting at $50) and small‑busi- (Espére is French for hope.) buy Sarah’s Hope pieces, the Development Associates) and ness training programs for retail jeweler donates a porSmith describes herself microfinance institutions that women living in difficult or tion of the proceeds to local as “an entrepreneur to the distribute the loans, and the impoverished circumstances, charities, ranging from soup bone,” whose first business, MEDA-founded ASSETS (A both in the United States and kitchens to women’s shelters, launched at age 14 with her Service for Self‑Employment abroad. The company donates Habitat for Humanity or the sister, paid for her college Training and Support) to at least 10 percent of profits United Way. education. After obtaining a provide scholarships for small to nonprofit organizations that “Our customers raised master of divinity degree and business training. do this life‑changing work. $100,000 for charities in their a second master’s and doctor“We want people to under“I have traveled to meet backyard this way,” she says. ate of theology, she put her stand the women, their stories with many of the recipients theological and entrepreneurial and the power of microfinance “Being able to see this happen and have seen firsthand how in the United States and Canbackground to work in a new to help women improve their education and microfinance ada is really rewarding. And calling: helping women rise circumstances,” Smith says. can completely transform a life it’s something any company out of poverty. “It’s a giving circle.” from poverty to prosperity,” can incorporate in its business Smith’s personal connection “Unlike other businesses, says founder Sarah Smith. extends to the company’s inter- model.” ◆ especially public companies, Smith meets personally with where the business model and national supply chain as well. Reprinted with permission from the women who have received Jewelry is manufactured in the value proposition is driving UPS Compass. ©2014, United loans and scholarships, then United States, Italy and China earnings and value for investParcel Service of America, Inc. All returns home to design a piece ors, we want to bring hope following fair trade standards. rights reserved. The Marketplace May June 2014
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