District 5510 of Rotary International is helping sponsor a Micro-Credit Program in partnership with the Hermosillo Rotary Club and officials from FinReg Bank. The Micro-Credit Program involved making small loans to entrepreneurs who are unable to secure small business loans on their own or through the Federal government. The Micro-Credit Program allows these entrepreneurs from all types of small business to grow their small businesses to the point where they either no longer require the small business loans services of FinReg Bank or to where they are capable to procuring financial assistance in a conventional manner. The socio-economic impact of this program is very significant in an area of the country where poverty, lack of sewer sanitation, electricity, etc. is the norm. Recipients of loans through the Rotary Micro-Credit Program report being finally able to feed and clothe their families, acquire fresh water and electricity, even educate their children beyond the basic because of the impact Micro-Credit Program has had with their family business. At this point Arizona Rotarians have participated in the distribution of $1,350,000 pesos (approximately $102,000 US) to 208 businesses in loan amount between 2,000 and 10,000 pesos (minimum and maximum loan amounts).

San Tan Crown Rotary members Terry Lubsen, Stan and Susanne Kaufman spent a weekend recently visiting a number of the “customer families” in Hermosillo. Return trips will be a regular way for others in our community to personally experience the impact Rotary is having in a very needy place in our world.

For more information on San Tan Crown Rotary Club or the work of Rotary International in general please contact Terry Lubsen at 480-699-9649 or Stan Kaufman at 480-339-0247.