A gift for the person who has everything...and wants to share

There are endless gift ideas for 'the person who has everything', which inevitably manifest themselves in internet and magazine ads around the major gift-giving seasons. These are usually along the lines of ridiculously frivolous items - monogrammed key fobs and the like - the idea being to notch up the frivolity for those who are already maxed out on luxury items.

Kiva (http://www.kiva.org/) has come up with a concept for those-who-have-it-all and want to give back to those who need a helping hand. With the motto "loans that change lives", Kiva enables individuals to make micro-loans (as small as $25) to entrepreneurs in developing countries who are working to raise themselves out of poverty. As the entrepreneur achieves profitability, he/she pays back the loan, enabling the 'investor' to make another loan. As a gift idea, this couldn't be easier, since Kiva allows gift-givers to purchase on-line gift certificates for micro-loans, send the certificate to a recipient and let them choose a loan 'borrower'. Perfect for last-minute gifts and, of course, for those who have no need for more stuff in their lives.

Kiva represents a trend that I hope will expand in our American mentality, where many of us have so much that we can share with those who have very little. Twenty-five dollars may not seem like a lot, but to a grocery vendor in Rwanda, it can make all the difference in the world.