We are so thrilled to be realizing our dream of starting The Sweet Unfolding! It seems appropriate that, for our first year of business, our charitable donations should support the entrepreneurial dreams of others. We're extremely happy to say that 5% of our profits will be loaned to entrepreneurs in developing countries through Kiva.org.

By partnering with Kiva, The Sweet Unfolding will loan money to specific entrepreneurs in the developing world. These loans help the world's working poor make great strides in economic independence. As the loans are repaid, we'll re-invest that money into the businesses of other entrepreneurs. We love the idea that, because our contributions are being used as loans that will be continuously reinvested, these dollars have a power that reaches well beyond a one-time donation.

Our first loans were made to support Comfort Owusuwaa and Marla Maria Rojas Gonzalez, two women working to make a difference for their families and communities. We'll post periodic updates from these special entrepreneurs on our blog so you can share in their success, which your purchase is helping to build.

Comfort Owusuwaa from Kumasi, Ghana is a 43-year-old mother of four. Without her efforts, her community would not have easy access to safe drinking water. With her first loan from Kiva she was able to lay water pipe from the main city pipeline to her business. Now she is hoping to build a permanent bathhouse in her community and purchase a new water tank to help distribute water to the community and the local market.

Marla Maria Rojas Gonzalez owns a convenience store in Managua, Nicaragua. Marla and her husband work hard to provide their three children with food and an education. Four months ago, her husband was injured and unable to work while he recovered. Due to this difficult situation, they couldn't increase their store's inventory. Marla's loan will help them restock their store and continue to support their family.

Also, in keeping with our commitment to the environment, we make monthly donations to Native Energy to offset the carbon emissions associated with shipping your purchase. We reuse and recycle our packaging materials to decrease waste, so don't be surprised if your purchase from The Sweet Unfolding arrives on your doorstep in a box from a different company. It's just our way of taking a little pressure off the earth.