CAMBRIDGE, UK — The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has launched a global, microfinance charity initiative called Sharing4Caring that will help small entrepreneurs gain access to low-cost financing.

The microfinance charity initiative called Sharing4Caring is aimed to actively contribute to connecting people by lending seed money to small, third-world entrepreneurs will help to give a voice and a face to the world's poorest, and a practical, viable pathway to improve their existence.

The Bluetooth SIG endeavors to attract large numbers of people worldwide to lend a hand to such entrepreneurs by pledging SIG funds via its website to raise the microfinancing for this initiative. The group has appointed person-to-entrepreneur microlending specialist Kiva as its partner.

Starting today, visitors to the Bluetooth.com/sharing4caring website can, with just one click, help people all over the world make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community.

Each time a visitor pushes the 'Help Us to Share' button, USD 1 will be added to the Sharing4Caring counter. A Facebook notification that confirms participation in the Sharing4Caring project will be posted automatically in the participant's mini-feed after clicking the “Connect with Facebook” button. Participants can then help spread the word about their good deed through Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

The SIG plans to pledge a minimum of USD 10,000 for lending, and if visitor response is strong an additional USD 15,000 will be added. The SIG has set an initial goal of lending the first USD 10,000 in ten days. As each USD 1,000 is pledged, the Bluetooth SIG will select and lend the money to an entrepreneur via Kiva.

Each successful entrepreneur's story will be published on Bluetooth.com, allowing donors to follow the progress of the business. Once the money has been repaid, Bluetooth SIG will donate the money repaid to Kiva.  

Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG said, "The Bluetooth SIG represents more than 12,000 members, so sharing is at the very center of everything we do. We share intellectual property, best practices, creative ideas, everything that enables us to take the next step in further enhancing Bluetooth technology.

We decided to take this one step further and show how sharing can improve lives of people all over the world if we put our will and energy to it. That's also why, after careful selection, we decided that Kiva, with its strong focus on sharing, was the best fit for us in this endeavor.”

Give it a try on the Bluetooth.com/sharing4caring website