WELCOME TO PENNYWISE

​Dear Friends:

As we see our first full year of operations coming to completion, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who have helped us get on our way and welcome our new supporters. We are overwhelmed by what we, in partnership with our donors and our grantees, have been able to accomplish so far and are excited by what the future will bring as Pennywise continues to grow.

For us, it was asking the right question that allowed our vision for Pennywise to come together and ultimately defined our mission. That question was: Considering the magnitude of the problems confronting the global community- and lacking the resources of the Gates’ and others like them- what could a small foundation, or a small non-profit, or a small donor contribute that would ever have a substantial and sustainable impact?

As we challenged ourselves to find meaningful answers to this dilemma, we began to establish our priorities, formalize our approach and engage in creative partnerships and promising planning with unique organizations that are doing more with less in truly innovative ways. Tangible positive results from our donors' contributions to our grantees are already apparent.  In 2014-2015 our donors:

• Made it possible for nearly 300 people in Zambia to be trained in how to transform waste plastic into malaria prevention nets and other marketable products [Zambia Net-Works Project];
• Supported programming that helps women in Vermont escape from abusive relationships and move directly into safe, supported transitional housing [Women Helping Battered Women];
• Funded delivery of sports equipment that would otherwise have been discarded to kids in need in the Dominican Republic [Roberto’s Kids];
• Strengthened the efforts of a group of diaspora African women in London to hold  African governments accountable to women’s rights [Make Every Woman Count];
• Provided for planning that will  bring clean water to Nicaragua’s poorest communities [Agua Para La Vida];
• Bought a well so that a  new shelter for indigent women in India could open its doors [Maher Ashram];
• Contributed to a cloud-based monitoring system that will track the health of pediatric HIV patients and increase access to consultations with international experts [Power of Love].

By continuing to connect creative giving to creative programming we know that there is so much more  we will  accomplish. We hope that you will join us in our endeavor. Please consider Pennywise in your year-end giving and beyond. We look forward to hearing from you and again, many thanks for your support.  

All our best,
Laura, Liz and Andrew