Lend4Health

When my son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder in 2007, I sought information on treatment. I learned of the biomedical treatment of autism and learned that it was helping many autistic kids who also had sensory issues. I implemented biomedical treatment with my son and saw great improvement. Through this experience, I became part of an online community of other parents seeking answers and pursuing this treatment. I heard several times that cost of these treatments was a major issue (much is not covered under insurance), and I wanted to help. I thought of sending small amounts of money to these families using PayPal, but it wouldn't have the impact I wanted (nor could I afford it!). One night while I was thinking of this problem, I remembered Kiva.org, and the idea for Lend4Health was born! I sat down at my dining room table a couple of weeks later and started Lend4Health as a blog. And here I am 10 months later! At the beginning of 2009, I basically quit my job to focus on Lend4Health full-time. This was not an easy decision to make -- to leave a good paying consulting job in DC in the middle of a recession -- but I honestly felt it was my duty as the originator of the idea to be the one to move it forward. The community was benefiting, the lenders were happy, and the concept was gaining an impressive amount of support from the "who's who" within the non-profit sector.

Tori Tuncan is 36 years old and lives in Northern Virginia with her husband of 11 years and her two kids (ages 7 and 4). She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and was always known as a cheerful, creative optimist. She has a love for international travel and met her husband while an exchange student in Istanbul. For more than a decade, she was employed by various government consulting firms, providing communications-related support to clients including the Army and Department of Energy.

(1) Access to web designers and developers. (2) Access to a lawyer to ensure legal compliance, including regarding SEC regulations. (3) Access to accountant to ensure proper accounting of loans vs. donations vs. income. (4) Funding to cover salary for full-time employee. Much of the rest can be handled by the creativity, hard work, generosity, and passion of the Lend4Health community!

I learned about this contest through two people I "follow" on Twitter - Lucy Bernholz (@p2173) and Ashoka employee @chloevdc. They both recommended I enter. I am participating because I am interested in receiving, considering, and responding to comments from the public, other Ashoka change-makers, and the judges, and because being a finalist would provide Lend4Health increased credibility and visibility.