An introduction from our founder sponsor, Sonia Harding

“Hello, I am Sonia Harding.  You may have heard of me through my business start‑up and development lectures or through my motivational and investment classes.  But that’s not why I am here as I will explain below.

Back in the 1980s when I was a mother with very young children and limited spare time on my hands, I worked at home part-time as a computer programmer.  It allowed me to earn an income and be on-hand for my children and I got to meet and work with others in a similar position.  I soon saw I would be better off if I could get my own clients, control the workflow and deadlines so that it would benefit me and others in a similar position.  But we didn’t have enough money to get started.  This is where I discovered and used gift pledging to fund the start of the business which was initially a co-operative. 

The business really took off and one of the people I met was a crazy Dutch woman called Erica de Jaap.  Erica has never been able to sit still in one place for very long.  She is clever, bright and such a caring individual – she just has itchy feet.  She worked on and off with me for a few years in England between her travels and two husbands!  But I could never forget her.

After about five years the business was getting too much for a small co‑operative, so I raised more cash to buy everyone out and sold the business to an American company for $5 million.  The original pledges gave those of us stuck at home as either parents or carers an opportunity to improve our lives and those of our families.  I have never forgotten how effective it was.  It gave us financial help when we needed it.

I had not seen Erica for several years until a recent trip back to England.  I know she has done overseas voluntary work off and on in many areas around the world and was really surprised when she told me how she had lost her home but had been helped by New Beginning Society.  It reminded me somewhat of our original pledging system how it had given me assistance when I needed it.  Having heard from Erica, I promised to do whatever I could.

Also, as I later made the bulk of my fortune from property investments and am financially secure, it angered me to see people caught up in this subprime/credit crunch mess created by poorly supervised financial dealers and brokers.  Here was a golden opportunity for me to help others.

Please see the links as to how pledging works and also the question and answer section.  It has helped me financially as well as others in the past.  I know it can help many of you now.

Sincerely yours,

Sonia”

Sonia’s biog ...

Born and educated in England.  As a young mother with two small sons and limited financial means Sonia started a computing co-operative with others using pledging as start-up capital.  After a few years she sold the business at a tidy profit which was distributed to all those who had pledged assistance.  With the money from her share Sonia turned to real estate investment to give her an income while her family was growing up in the family’s new home in America.  Her investments have grown exponentially in the past decade.  Sonia now lectures regularly on business start-ups, personal finance and property investment.  She is also a motivational speaker and has given many motivational and investment classes.  Divorced, one son helps with her property business; the other is currently serving his country overseas.

NOW SEE HOW GIFT PLEDGING CAN HELP YOU AND YOU CAN, IN TURN, HELP OTHERS.