TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ROTARY DONATIONS BEFORE YEAR END
A) The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
Last Thursday, Gordon Bigelow, District 7430 Area 2 Foundation Coordinator, presented an overview of the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
TRF is not for profit supported by our voluntary contributions which turns those gifts into service projects throughout the world. TRF makes judicious use of the gifts with 100% financial performance metrics and has continuously received the highest-four star rating-from Charity Navigator.
The Rotary Foundation now has 7 areas of focus:
1. Building Peace & Conflict Resolution
2. Disease Prevention & Treatment
3. Maternal & Child Health
4. Community & Economic Development
5. Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
6. Basic Education & Literacy
7. Supporting the Environment
There are three funds: 1. Annual Fund (primary) 2. Endowment Fund 3. Polio Plus. The efforts of TRF can be found from Bethlehem to Mumbai, India and beyond. Individual Rotarian Recognition can start as a sustaining member at $100 each year. A Paul Harris Fellow is achieved at $1,000, and multiple Paul Harris Fellows up to level 9.
Ways to donate:
Mail a check payable to The Rotary Foundation to Tom Hartzell 1341 Biafore Avenue Bethlehem PA 18017. Checks should be received by Tom no later than December 20 for 2021 tax deductions.
Donate on-line at the Rotary Foundation.
Rotary Direct (online) allows you to make regular contributions to Foundation on a monthly or quarterly basis.
If you have already donated to The Rotary Foundation this year, we thank you.
Please contact Tom Hartzell or President Shawn with questions or requests for more information.
B) Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Charitable Org.
Once again, Morning Star Rotary’s 2 largest fundraisers were disrupted by the pandemic. The 2021 Celtic Classic 5K had to be cancelled. Our Salute the Troops concert has been postponed from November 2021 (indoors) to May 2022 (outdoors), and the financial implications are not yet clear.
Our Morning Star Rotary club and its board have been meeting regularly, and together we have helped the community and beyond with $6,700+ in grants so far this Rotary year:
- Game of Rent project awakened community leaders to the difficulties of finding affordable housing - $4,793.
- Holiday Hope Chest – members donated wrapped shoeboxes filled with gifts for underprivileged children.
- Audrey Rafferty Education Fund grants of $1,000.
- ShelterBox $1,000 to help those affected by natural disasters and manmade conflict.
2021-22 budgeted grants include Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering, Hartmann-Hansen Grant (to help establish a food bank), Victory House and PolioPlus. Funds from District grants and Lehigh Valley Community Foundation match club contributions, and The Edge fundraiser helped, too.
However, the shortfall in fundraising has caused our Charitable Account bank balance to decline significantly, and no donation has been given to Victory House yet this year.
We ask your support to allow us to help more.
Family comes first, of course – if money is tight, please take care of them.
If finances allow, please think about what would have been spent on Rotary (weekly meetings, concert tickets, etc.) and donate as you are able.
Two ways to donate
If desired, you can specify which project or event you are supporting.
BY CHECK payable to “Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Charitable Org.” - tax deductible since it’s a 501(c)3.
For your donation be tax deductible for 2021, please submit by December 20.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and help.
Morning Star Rotary Board of Directors
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