Intersect Fund Executive Director Rohan Mathew appeared with colleagues today on CNN’s American Morning to talk about campus-based microfinance.

The conversation, which included Mathew’s counterparts in Providence, R.I. and New Haven, Conn., focused on the efforts of the Campus Microfinance Alliance, a group Mathew co-founded to help college students develop their local economies.

Watch the video here and check out Lend for America, a new initiative to give college students hands-on experience with local microfinance this summer.

Check out Sakina Spruell’s great article on Intersect Fund client Chris White’s path toward financial security. Our small part in White’s journey was helping her rebuild her credit as she repaid her loans.

Pope Benedict XVI bestowed pontifical honors this week upon Fr. Joseph Kerrigan, pictured, pastor of New Brunswick's Sacred Heart Church. Photo by Tom McNellis

We’ve always known Fr. Joe Kerrigan is a stand-up guy, so it’s good to see him get some recognition from his boss.

The Diocese of Metuchen – in which Kerrigan works – announced today Kerrigan is one of nine local priests that Pope Benedict XVI has named Chaplains of His Holiness.

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You’ll always remember your first.

When the foundation connected to New Brunswick-based Magyar Bank granted the Intersect Fund $1,000 in fall 2008, it became our first funder.

When it announced yesterday a new, $2,500 grant to the Intersect Fund, it became our longest-running. The new grant will support our Entrepreneur University program, which helps aspiring entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

In a statement, MagyarBank Charitable Foundation president Jay Castillo explained his confidence in us: “The training they provide gives each student a solid background in building and implementing a sound business plan that will enable them to succeed in their entrepreneurial endeavor, and we are proud to support their efforts,” Castillo said.

Taken at face value, this story seems common; foundations give to nonprofits all the time, right? It’s their job.

True, but this story is a little different.

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