Renewal friend,  Alaina Love of Purpose Linked Consulting, had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Johns of National Geographic Magazine for her new book, The Purpose Linked Organization (McGraw-Hill, 2009) which is in stores on May 29th.

Paul Richardson, President of Renewal2 Investment Fund, is pleased to announce the first close of the Fund at over $16 million. Renewal2 is one of a handful of funds in North America that focus on companies which have positive environmental, social and financial returns.

Lisa Raitt, the Federal Natural Resources Minister, announced yesterday the launch of a new $1 billion Clean Energy Fund, an initiative to progress Canada’s leadership in clean energy technologies. She said in an address at the University of Alberta, "Not only will this funding protect our long-term energy security, but this additional stimulus creates high quality jobs for Canadians at a time when they're most needed."

UPDATE:  To Listen to a recording of the call Download it Here. 

To view the Conference Call Presentation, please click here. 

 Join Paul Richardson, President and Joel Solomon, Chairman on a call to learn more about. The Renewal team is building on their successful 15-year track record of high-impact investing with the launch of this fund.

On May 3rd, Renewal friend, Paul Hawken gave an unforgettable Commencement Address to the Class of 2009 at the University of Portland. 

Renewal Partners investee, Gary Hirshberg, closed Retail BC’s 2009 Passion for Retail Conference with an empowering keynote presentation in Vancouver last week.

Hollyhock Retreat Centre was highlighted this month in Pique Newsmagazine.

Jewelry designer Susan Fiedler has created a sassy,defiantly positive "charmed bracelet" as a fundraiser for InspireHealth.

Case Study Applications are now being accepted for Social Venture Institute (SVI) Hollyhock, September 9-13, 2009.  Case Studies are the core of the SVI model and where some of the greatest learning happens.  They are a powerful way for SVI attendees to gain a wealth of practical ideas to help manage the challenges of running a socially responsible enterprise.

Suzuki Foundation's (link: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/) CEO and SVI alumni, Peter Robinson, kicked off the 2009 Passion for Retail Conference [link to http://www.retailbc.org/] held last week in Vancouver. The room was packed with some 200 retailers and retail suppliers who were attentively listening to his advice on sustainability as it relates to the retail business. For Peter, true sustainability means "living within the limits of nature." He went on to explain the three levels of sustainability.