One of the things I think I will enjoy most about being general manager at KOPN community radio is the creativity it allows me. My interpretation of our mission is to use radio to bring our community and world together, and make it a better place. Leveraging our role as a community media outlet -- with the radio waves, social media, a large and growing membership, and an incredible base of volunteers and professional staff -- provides a wide array of tools and outlets for creativity and opportunities to do new things.
My sense is that there will be several new programs, large and small, launched in the coming years. For the first one, we took an idea I developed with my friend Jack Peterson. The idea is to use profits generated fro sales -- in this case, from KOPN's online store -- and make loans to developing world entrepreneurs through online service Kiva.org. To explain the idea, I have attached the press release below.
****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017
CONTACT: SEAN SPENCE
sean@kopn.org; 573-823-1308
KOPN WILL LOAN STORE PROFITS TO DEVELOPING WORLD ENTREPRENEURS
Local radio station will use the Kiva.org online platform to make loans around the world
(Columbia, MO) KOPN – Columbia, Missouri’s community radio station – announced today that it will use profits from its online store to make loans to developing world entrepreneurs, using technology and loan processing systems provided by online lender Kiva.org.
This change is effective immediately and will apply to all merchandise sales from the site (www.kopn.org/store/).
“We launched the store a few months ago and have been thinking about innovative ways to both support our non-profit efforts and benefit others throughout the world,” KOPN board president Dan Hemmelgarn said. “Kiva.org makes it very easy to leverage the relatively small amounts of money we make from the store to significantly impact the lives of those who really need our help. Thanks to Kiva.org, we can make the loans, and get most or all of the money back to put into our operations and expansion.”
Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. We celebrate and support people looking to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, anyone can help a borrower start or grow a business, go to school, access clean energy or realize their potential. For some, it’s a matter of survival, for others it’s the fuel for a life-long ambition. 100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes to funding loans. Kiva covers costs primarily through optional donations, as well as through support from grants and sponsors.
“KOPN’s mission is to make our community and our world a better place,” KOPN general manager Sean Spence said. “Using our store in this way allows us to work with our members and others to make a difference for people who really need it, while supporting KOPN at the same time.”
In the coming weeks and months, KOPN plans to dramatically increase the variety of KOPN-branded merchandise available through its store in an effort to grow the program.
On the air since 1973, KOPN is Columbia’s community radio station, offering in-depth news, diverse talk, and music of the world. As a community radio station, KOPN is a hub of community activity and discussion, constantly seeking new ways to bring the community together and make it better. KOPN is available throughout Mid-Missouri on the radio at 89.5, and throughout the world via online streaming at www.kopn.org.
####
No comments:
Post a Comment