An afternoon of rhythm, flavor and stories from across the world
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — In parts of rural Uganda, an $80 loan can change everything. It can plant the seeds of a business, put food on the table or send a child to school. Since 2006, The Greater Contribution, based in Thousand Oaks, has issued more than 35,000 of these loans to women who’ve been denied access to capital and opportunity.
What started as a personal awakening—when Karon Wright and a small group of friends recognized the abundance in their own lives—grew into a lasting mission. Wright co-founded The Greater Contribution with the belief that real change starts by giving women the tools to lift themselves up.
Today, with a repayment rate of over 97%, the model is as sustainable as it is powerful.
On Saturday, June 1, the community is invited to experience what that change looks and feels like at A Woman’s Worth, a celebration of resilience, renewal and the power of shared support.
Guests will enjoy global cuisine, Ugandan drumming and dancing, and a performance by singer and dancer Carol Hatchett, known for her work with Beyoncé, Bette Midler and Jon Batiste. The event runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m., and the location will be shared with those who register. Tickets are $50–about the same amount it takes to fund a women’s first loan.
But more than entertainment, the afternoon offers a chance to step inside the stories behind the numbers.
Jennifer, a mother of six, lost everything when her husband took her savings and walked away. With her first TGC loan, she planted five acres of rice and two of simsim. “I was counseled and I gained the strength to stand tall,” she said. “T.G.C. made me the woman I am today.”
For Angioleta, a 37-year-old disabled widow with four children, the loan group became a lifeline. “I lost hope in life,” she said. “But the more I interacted with others, the fewer burdens I felt.” With literacy training, she now tracks her own sales and has expanded her produce business.
Monica, a mother of seven, used her $80 loan to start selling goods in the market. She became chairperson of her group and now plans to run for local office.
And Lucy, who had never held a pen before joining TGC’s literacy classes, is now learning to read and write. “I thank TGC for sending us back to school,” she said.
Wright, who travels to Uganda every six months to meet directly with borrowers, was honored with the Vibrant Giver Award and named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. She’s spoken at TEDx, been nominated for the CNN Hero Award, and remains a tireless advocate for peace, dignity and opportunity.
“This isn’t charity,” she said. “It’s partnership. It’s possibility.”
To attend A Woman’s Worth, donate or sponsor a woman’s loan, visit https://give.donationpay.org/greatercontribution/AWW/.
