It's been a hairy last month at Kiva. (There's a pun here, you'll see it in a moment.) At the beginning of November we launched our new accounting system and just recently completed the first round of billing completely controlled by the new software. The rollout wasn't perfect, and we've spent quite a bit of time dotting i's and crossing t's to make sure our lenders and partners will have a smooth experience from now on. I'm happy to report we're making some great progress. It has been wonderful to see credits rolling into our lenders accounts for the first time in a while and I hope it's renewing interest and confidence in Kiva and what we can all do together to keep fighting poverty.
Alas, all this work hasn't left us with much time to do other things. Nevertheless, there are problems that need solving and we're always looking for creative solutions. With that in mind, some of the gents here at Kiva found a way to help a like-minded organization of which we're big fans, donorschoose.org, by growing mustaches.
Yes, mustaches. This is not a joke.
If you've noticed an uptick in handsomely mustached men in your neck of the woods, it's likely they're participating in the annual Mustaches for Kids fundraiser. I'll personally testify to record setting levels of suaveness around the Kiva Office this past month. Mustaches for Kids is a terrific organization that sponsors a different children's charity each year by enlisting able bodied men to donate one month of their upper lip's life to uninhibited growth. Our local M4K chapter has over 90 growers participating this year and we just cracked $60k in funds raised!! Donorschoose.org is this year's recipient and we couldn't be happier about it. We saw first hand what a great organization they are when they edged us out of second place earlier this year in the Amex Members Project.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and tonight's the night for our stunningly accessorized upper lips. 'Stache Bash 2008 is at 8pm this very eve at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco. The granddaddy of all beauty pageants, this breathtaking show will feature several of Kiva's finest specimens as our beloved facial companions say goodbye until next year. Today also marks the last day for donations, which can be made at our donors choose giving page. The Kiva team has raised nearly $1600 so far, and the San Francisco chapter of M4K is within $4000 of passing New York atop the national leader board!! We'd be thrilled for any support, particularly emotional support tonight as we reminisce on the past month, and move on to Kiva's next challenge.
yours in 'stachehood,
The Kiva Mustache Team
Bennett, Gerard, JD, Jeremy, Jonathan, Rich, Skylar, and Zack
