December 13, 2011
Issue No. 42

Annual Report, Slow Money Excitement, 2nd Chef Challenge
& Wine to Water
Dear Abundant People,

We are ending the year with our Annual Report and preparing to come out of the gates charging in 2012.  We have so much planned and we'll need your help.  If you want to get involved in any of the workshops, programs or events as a volunteer, please email us!  If you want to support us with your dollars, we'll gladly put your investment to work.  Some of you may get some snail mail coming your way with an appeal letter!  We really value the small local donations as that's what keeps us going!

We wish you, your family and loved ones a very happy holiday season.  May you enjoy some local food and good community.
Thank you for being a friend, a slide show of our year!
Abundance End of Year Slide Show
Abundance End of Year Slide Show
It's sometimes hard to put it into words (at least for myself).  We look back at the year's photos and a few photos from years past and feel gratitude for all the people in our lives.
Annual Report 2011
Annual Report 2011



























The Annual Report is always a fantastic time to reflect on the year and on the organization.  It includes highlights of the year, financials, photos and thank you's to our donors.  We hope you take a moment to peruse the report.  It's always fun to put together and even more fun to have done!  Whew!
Chatham County Schools Chef Challenge prepares for 2nd year
Chef team We have all the talent we need in one room to get this year's challenge off to a great start.  The new Nutrition Director of Chatham County Schools, the former Nutrition Director who has brought in the Dairy Industry, concerned and active Mom's, Briar Chapel, the County School Health Department, the PTA and Abundance.  We are expecting a stellar year with some exciting news to be announced in January!  For last year's info, click here.
On behalf of the Staff and Board, Happy Holidays!!
board staff From Gerardo, Gary, Emily, Camille, McCayne, Kristy, Tami, Naomi, Jenny and Lyle (advisory).  We wish you the best holiday ever!
Our goal is to bring sustainability to central North Carolina quickly, innovatively and while enjoying the journey.

gingko nuts and sparkly lights,


Tamela Schwerin
The Abundance Foundation
In This Issue
Thank you for being a friend
Annual Report 2011
Chef Challenge 2012
Slow Money NC
has loans of $465,000!

Now, let's get Carol some help to match more borrowers with lenders.

Slow Money NC was
approached by the
Fund 4 Democratic Communities.  They recognize the great work we are doing.  They want to
give $5,000 in matching funds to help us keep building our project.  But we need to raise the same, in donations of no more than $100 per person, before Dec 31st!
  Click here to donate online or mail a check.
tonight (Dec. 13) from 6-8pm!
bih
Chatham Marketplace receives $398,000 loan from locals!

Now in it's second year, Slow Money NC has matched fourteen local food producers with interested lenders to finance projects that helped start or expand their local food businesses with low-interest loans. On November 1st they loaned the Chatham Marketplace, our much loved local food coop grocery store in Pittsboro, NC, 398k to refinance their existing bank loan and brought their monthly loan payment down by a third!  Slow Money NC is working hard to finance our local foodshed, one Slow Money loan at a time. Read all about it, join Slow Money NC today, and then make your pledge to become a Slow Money lender!    

Look for your fun appeal letter in the mail!
Think about your philanthropic goals for the year and if Abundance is in them, you can donate online or mail in a check!  It's really easy!
We appreciate your support!
mail
Wine to Water Book Launch and Fundraising Event with Doc Hendley:  Thursday, January 5, 2012 6:00 to 7:30 @ Fearrington
Pittsboro, NC
For tickets, click here.

More info about clean water access, click here.

doc

 

Under our Umbrella.....

gerardo
The Abundance Foundation has the pleasure of working with similar organizations that are on their way to receiving their non-profit status.  This allows them to get a head start. 

Gerardo of Sixth Sun has secured their first land donation.  Construction of the first Learning Farm is beginning.  Sixth Sun builds learning farms that model how human beings can harness, use, and benefit from renewable energy sources and local food sources. For more information on the partnerships we have,