NamasteDirect

I am a retired businessman who has spent most of my last 20 years as a social entrepreneur in building nonprofits, personal service, and philanthropy. In the early 1980s I got the idea that I would devote half my time and resources to helping other people, starting at age 50, an experience that I chronicled in a book 50-50 at 50.Going Just Beyond.

It must have been a good idea as I am now 70 and still going strong in my work of service (although I can no longer afford to keep giving away half of what I have left). I have given away more than I ever dreamed I could make and accumulate.

While religious and moral teachings were foundations to my choices, I was triggered to act by the inspiring examples of other people. Consequently I have been open about sharing my story.

I have been passionate about microcredit. I started the Katalysis Partnership for this work, and on its 20th anniversary in 2004 we handed our operations over to the Katalysis Network of Central America, a regional nonprofit serving over 130,000 borrowers. In other words, we accomplished our mission and went out of business. Of course I couldn't quit, so I started NamasteDirect, a microcredit program that specializes in directly connecting small donors to first-time women borrowers in Guatemala.