Helen

When Helen’s husband, a tenured U.S. Army veteran, passed away in 2003, she was left wondering how to make ends meet. Through her volunteer work with the genealogy library in Oakland, California, Helen discovered that a large number of people had an interest in exploring their ancestry. Given this demand, as well as her own personal interest in genealogy, Helen founded “My Genealogy” in order to provide family history research services. The business provides her with the supplement to her social security income that she needs.

Helen needs a $2,000 loan to purchase an all-in-one printer, copier, scanner and fax; a used computer; subscriptions to online databases for genealogists; and a desk for her part-time employee. Without the loan for the equipment and Opportunity Fund’s business advisory services, she doesn’t think her business could survive.

Helen dreams of one day moving her business from her home to a small storefront and adding three employees to accommodate the demand she sees for genealogy services. Learn more at www.mygenealogyonline.net.




Important Information About This Loan
Kiva realizes that access to credit is a challenge for entrepreneurs everywhere. Kiva started out as a website focused on developing-world entrepreneurs. In June 2009, Kiva began experimenting with allowing entrepreneurs in the United States to raise money on its website. If this is something you support, please feel free to fund this loan. If you have questions, including how an entrepreneur in your neighborhood might get a loan, please visit our Help Center and click on "Loans in the United States."

Subscribe