Friday, October 30, 2009


Nina Paonessa
Locust Grove, VA
March 6, 1924 - October 28, 2009










Services on: Monday, November 2, 2009 at M.J. Colucci & Son Niagara Funeral Chapel
2730 Military Road
Niagara Falls, New York 14304
Phone: (716) 298-1800


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Great Funding Opportunity for Start-ups

By The Entrepreneur School Blog 
Learn How to Start a Business: 


We have pointed out the horrible nature of angel investing help organizations, those guys that charge you $500 to $5,000 for advice on how to raise angel money and then introductions to some angels.  These groups almost never help land funds, and the unwitting entrepreneur can spend lots of time and money chasing a dream.


So today, I wanted to tell you about a new, exciting, safe way to raise funds.  This method probably wont be useful to raise $100,000, but if you need $10,000 or so, it would be a great bet for you.  Fred Anderson, from Atlanta, was interested in starting a car inspection center.  He tried banks and other traditional outlets, but was not able to find the resources.  So, he placed an ad on Kiva.org and soon had raised the needed $7,000 from almost 200 investors in 15 countries.

Kiva.org was designed to provide micro-financing for super-small businesses in poor countries like India.  You can go on Kiva, see listings of hundreds of small businesses around the world, and invest in companies that appeal to you.  You invest as much or as little as you wish, even just $25.  And, incredibly, the default rate on loans like this is very small, usually less than 2%.  Its a great way to help the poor and a powerful website.  The site now allows U.S. based firms to list their opportunities too, which is how Fred was able to get involved.  If you want to start a small business here in the U.S., we recommend giving kiva a try……
Note from Lisa:
Or if you would like a better way to invest your money for a good cause, instead of having it sit in a bank savings account earning next to nothing, this could be a great alternative!!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

For Nina Paonessa, My Mother

Perhaps God is a poet
who writes with words
of flesh and bone and leaf and flower.
Every hour of every day,
words pour out of the poet's heart,
and every word is beautiful
and true and worth the telling.
And when each poem is perfect,
and there is no more which ought to be said,
the poet gently takes the words
back into his heart,
where they are safe forever...
and then begins again.
             author unknown

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Fight hunger, get inspired on World Food Day USA

What did you to to be an inspiration for World Food Day? In case you missed it, Friday, Oct. 16 was World Food Day USAThe worldwide event is designed to increase awareness and understanding, and is a call to action to alleviate world hunger. It is observed today in recognition of the found of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. The first World Food Day was in 1981. The day is sponsored by 450 national, private voluntary organizations in the U.S. today.

WFD planning is done at the community level. Individual groups can hold a special event, but the most successful observances happen when organizers work together with affiliates of national sponsors. Local coalitions, representing the diversity of national sponsors, can share ideas that will involve schools, businesses, worship centers, government offices, service groups, the media, etc.

On this World Food Day 2009, with the theme Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), as part of the Farmers ‘Fighting Poverty program,’ calls upon governments and funding agencies for a major effort to invest in farmers’ organizations in developing countries. The future of food security hangs in the balance. The 20 billion dollar agricultural investments promised by the G-8 could lead to global food security if farmers’ organizations are the focus of the resources. Read more here...

The 2009 WFDUSA is the 29th observance of the day. The challenge is to coordinate community planning and increase awareness. What are you doing to observe WFDUSA? Please leave your comments below.
For more:

Want to read more from this author? Check out the Dallas Day Trips blog also by Lea Lashley.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received one or more of the products or services mentioned in various blog posts for a discount or free in exchange for my unbiased review. I will always give my honest opinion regardless of any compensation received. Some posts may contain affiliate links. When you click on those links to make your purchases, I receive compensation at no extra cost to you. I love it when you do that. ;) So thank you!
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