Thanks to the leadership and support of the Rossy Family Foundation and several other champions in La Belle Province, we are excited to announce the launch of Le Moulin Microcrédits—Windmill Microlending in Quebec. With an estimated 5,000 skilled immigrants each year seeking re certification and financial support to complete the process in Quebec, the need for Windmill loans is clear. Merette Mathieu recently joined our team as our first Manager of Quebec Outreach to launch our Quebec pilot program. With her experience in the not-for-profit sector and her advocacy for immigrants and refugees in Montreal, we are thrilled to welcome Merette to the Windmill family. In our first year, we hope to deliver 40 loans in Quebec and are actively recruiting community partners, strategic advisors, donors, and investors to help make this happen.
Our Community Bond program is another initiative gaining momentum and driving our ability to respond to the growing number of applications for Windmill loans across Canada. As of May 31, 2019 we have raised $5,415,000 in loan capital. Launched in November of 2017, our community bond program is growing with the increased interest in social impact investing among philanthropists, foundations, family offices and corporations. Our Community Bond investors are putting their capital to use for the benefit of our clients in return for a modest interest payment—and huge social returns—for our clients and for Canada. If you know anyone interested in learning more about social impact investing, we would be delighted to recommend a number of social impact advisors with deep expertise in this important new field, including Social Venture Connection, Rally Assets and Inspirit Foundation.
Without you, Windmill would not have been able to develop a thriving community bond program and expand our organization into Quebec. Thank you, as always, for your continued commitment to Windmill and to the success of skilled immigrants in Canada.
Claudia Hepburn, CEO
