A great way to kick off any day is to learn something new about the world around us. Today, thanks to Jessica & Sam Lessin, I learned about Echoing Green’s venerable work from their president, Cheryl L. Dorsey.

Since 1987, Echoing Green has backed more than 600 social entrepreneurs in sixty countries with $36 million in start-up funding.  They count among their early backers, Teach for America, City Year, and One Acre Fund.  You have to love their spirit of promoting change through entrepreneurs and building sustainable businesses that want to tackle the largest global problems.

I was energized to meet their recent Fellows from the Bay Area, Lesley Marincola ofAngaza Design who wants to bring affordable solar energy to 10 million people, and Ray Faustino of One Degree working to digitally connect kids and families to poverty-fighting resources.  It was also a treat to learn that our friend Fagan Harris, who PVF has supported, was also named a 2014 Fellow for his new endeavor, Baltimore Corps.