A Message from Penny Forward Founder and CEO, Chris Peterson

Dear Penny Forward Community,

As we approach the end of 2023, my cup is full of gratitude and excitement. As the founder and CEO of Penny Forward, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest thanks for the incredible support you have shown us since our inception in September 2021.

When I started Penny Forward, I didn’t follow the conventional path laid out by countless recommendations on starting a nonprofit. Instead, I embarked on this journey with a vision of creating a thriving organization of financial counselors dedicated to improving the financial health of the blind community. The road ahead seemed daunting, but I held onto the belief that our impact could be substantial.

Since those early days, we have come a long way together. Today, I am thrilled to share that we have served 168 members, and the majority continue to actively benefit from our services. We’ve developed five online financial education courses, with three more currently in production. Our podcast has produced over 100 episodes, and our Wednesday Workshops have reached 80 sessions. Additionally, we’ve provided over 180 hours of one-to-one financial counseling, all made possible by a small, passionate team of volunteers and part-time contractors.

As we stand on the cusp of 2024, I am delighted to announce that Penny Forward is ready to expand even further. Starting tomorrow, I will be taking on an expanded role as Penny Forward’s full-time CEO, and my goal is to elevate every aspect of what we do. We plan to enhance our existing online courses with audio, video, and updated technology, ensuring that our educational offerings are more engaging and accessible. We are committed to spreading the word about Penny Forward far and wide, reaching more members of our community.

To achieve this, we will actively seek grant funding and individual donors who share our vision. We also plan to collaborate with state rehab agencies for the blind to offer financial counseling, employment services, and entrepreneurship support to an even larger audience. Moreover, we are dedicated to increasing opportunities for blind individuals and people with disabilities within our organization.

Tomorrow, I’ll delve deeper into our goals and the strategies we’ll implement to achieve them. Today, however, I ask for your continued support. Please help us by sharing our mission with your families, friends, and colleagues. If possible, consider setting up a recurring donation, of just $10 per week, to empower us in providing more comprehensive financial education to the blind community.

As we bid farewell to 2023, I want to extend my sincere thanks once again for standing by us. Your support has been the driving force behind our achievements, and we can’t wait to make an even greater impact in 2024.

See you next year, and thank you for being an integral part of the Penny Forward family!

Warm regards,

Chris Peterson

Founder and CEO, Penny Forward

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