Global Impact of For-Profit Social Investment

December 5, 2011

New Education about the Global Impact of For-Profit Social Investment on Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water

Morgan Simon, of Toniic Investment Group, talks with Sharon Kleyne about an Afghan Reality TV Show, a Brazilian Trade Cooperative and Third World Woman Entrepreneurs

Hear Sharon Kleyne's interview with Morgan Simon on World Talk Radio, Voice America, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunes

Sharon Kleyne, host of the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water syndicated radio talk show, recently interviewed Morgan Simon, Co-Founder of Toniic Investment Group, about her company's for-profit investment in socially and environmentally meaningful businesses worldwide. Investments range from a Brazilian trade cooperative to third world woman entrepreneurs to an Afghan reality TV show.

The interview may be heard on-demand on World Talk Radio, Voice America, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunes.

The Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water has always supported social "impact" investment, especially investments that encourage local entrepreneurship to improve the water access, health and lives of the world's poorest people. .

Regarding women entrepreneurs, Sharon Kleyne noted that women in the poorest countries are often discriminated against and have assigned daily tasks, such as walking miles every day to fetch water, that preclude education or community involvement. Sharon Kleyne and Morgan Simon agree that all over the world, women tend to be very entrepreneurial, given the opportunity, and are socially aware and work well in community groups. As an example (not mentioned on the show), Sharon Kleyne cites the "10,000 Woman Entrepreneurs" program in Liberia which has democratized that country and led to its first woman President.

Several Toniic Group social investment projects involve helping to bring safe and reliable community water to remote villages in Africa, India, Mexico and Brazil.

In Mexico, Toniic works with Mexican investors. Ms. Simon notes that if there are trustworthy local investors, US investors are more likely to be interested. Toniic is funding a company that makes low interest student loans based on potential lifetime earnings, with monthly payback as a percentage of earned income (3% to 5%) rather than as a fixed amount. They are also funding a company that manufactures less expensive electronics for small ships. Wind energy in Mexico is also of interest to the Toniic Group.

Toniic works with Angel Ventures/Mexico, a Mexican investor group specializing in for-profit social investment. They also helped finance a Brazilian Trade Cooperative.

Sharon Kleyne asked Morgan Simon about investments in companies that help children. She said that most of their investments ultimately help children by enabling a better life or a cleaner environment. Some investments involving electricity and safe water are preventing disease and enabling education (often by simply providing a light by which to study at night).

According to Morgan Simon, Toniic had an interesting experience in Afghanistan where they helped a local investor develop a socially themed reality TV show, which has become one of Afghanistan's highest rated TV shows. Ms. Simon did not specifically name the show but there is an Afghan reality TV show called "Dream and Achieve," similar to a US show called "Shark Tank," in which prospective entrepreneurs present business ideas to investors. This seed money can make a huge difference in a country where poverty and unemployment are the norm.

Sharon Kleyne asked about other for profit investment groups involved in social entrepreneurship. Morgan Simon noted that there are several impact investment groups in the United States and in target countries such as India and Mexico. However, to her knowledge, Toniic is the only US social investment company that is global in scope. Toniic also invests in socially relevant United States companies.

Morgan Simon said that in addition to her Toniic Group work, she is personally involved in philanthropic giving and that her entire family is dedicated to social justice and helping others. Sharon Kleyne and Morgan Simon agree with the old adage, "pay it forward."

Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water is sponsored by Bio-Logic Aqua Research, whose Nature's Tears® EyeMist® is an all-natural, all-water, personal, hand-held humidifying device for dry eye. Nature's Tears® EyeMist® is available at www.BioLogicAqua.com, Amazon.com, drugstore.com and selected drugstores nationwide.

Listen to the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water Mondays, 10 a.m., PST/PDT. The syndicated radio talk show is heard on Voice America/World Talk Radio, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunes. Go to www.SharonKleyneHour.com for written summaries and on-demand replays. Also visit www.naturestears.com, whatistheeye.wordpress.com, "Nature's Tears EyeMist" on Facebook and "Bio-Logic Aqua" on Twitter.

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended as a precise summary of the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water show in which the guest appeared. While every attempt is made to accurately represent the guest's statements and opinions, their statements are paraphrased or summarized (which is why there are no direct quotes). In some cases, additional material has been added after the fact (and noted in the article) and/or the article's focus has been slightly changed from the focus of the original interview.