I grew up in Alaska about 20 miles from a town called North Pole. North Pole, Alaska knows how to celebrate the holidays. Not only is the town decorated for Christmas all-year long, but right in the middle of town is Santa’s house complete with candy cane pillars and reindeer. I spent 20 years living in Alaska and have been asked many times if I miss it, if I’d like to go back. The answer is usually no; I don’t miss Alaska, but do miss North Pole every once in a while.
This time of year makes me wish I was in Alaska again. Not for the cold. I do love the weather in Maryland. Alaska had a way of making me feel young and alive. It’s all that fresh air, I guess. You know, the holidays do the same thing – make me feel young. While I don’t love the shopping or the crowds in December, I do love the cooler weather, the time with family and the decorations. It’s true. For me there’s nothing more exciting than a street lined with houses decorated for the holidays. It doesn’t matter how they’re decorated, either. No, for me it’s the lights, the excitement, the colors. I see a house fully decorated and I think about kids opening presents, mom baking (and eating) cookies and watching Christmas movies.
While I’ve never been much for traditions, I do love some of the traditions we have around the holidays. I love that my mother has always let me open a present on Christmas Eve. I love that my 15 year old son begs to do the same. I like the stories behind the gifts people give and get one another. There’s tradition in that. I’m 35 and I still get a make-up set from my mother – why stop after 25 years? I used to get my father Old Spice each year. That’s all he wore. He’s been gone 18 years and I still think about him every time I’m in the cologne aisle at CVS. I hope to never forget that smell.
My New Year’s Resolution this year is simple – I’m going to work on my memory. I’m going to allow myself to forget the things that are hurtful, sad or that worry me. I’m going make a promise to myself that I will never forget how much I love this time of year and the people I get (and have had the chance to) share it with.
Happy Holidays
Leah Gayman
Executive Director
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
'Tis Tax Time
by:Karen Sigler-Goldstein, Finance Director
It’s that time of year again…..no I don’t mean the Holidays-tax planning. I know I hear, the mumbling and grumbling and yawns but planning now will help you out come April 15th. So to make this week’s blog a little more enjoyable, perhaps you could put on some Christmas music, sip on some egg nog and read on….
While we gladly accept cash, check, credit card and even stock donations here at the United Way of Washington County, there are certain rules for claiming the charitable contribution deduction on your tax return.
• You must be able to itemize- usually if you paid interest or taxes on your home, made large charitable contributions, among others.
• You must actually donate cash or property-a pledge is not deductible until ACTUALLY paid.
• You must contribute to an organization that is a qualified tax-exempt organization-payments to individuals, political parties, labor unions, chamber of commences or business associations, for-profit schools and for for-profit hospitals, as well as the value of your time for services are not deductible.
• You must keep records of your donation-this would include a bank record or perhaps a written communication from the organization to include name, date of gift and the amount. For any amount above $250, you must have a contemporaneous written acknowledge from the organization. The acknowledgement must include whether organization provided any goods or services in exchange for the gift and if so that must be described.
• Donations of stock are usually valued at the fair market value of the property-If you contribute property with a fair market value that is less than your basis in it, your deduction is limited to its fair market value. On the other hand, If you contribute property with a fair market value that is more than your basis in it, you may have to reduce the fair market value by the amount of appreciation (increase in value) when you figure your deduction.
Generally, you can deduct cash contributions in full up to 50% of your Adjusted Gross Income and appreciated stocks in full up to 20% of your Adjusted Gross Income. Any excess can be carried over for five years until it is used up.
This is a very brief overview of charitable contributions. If you have any questions, I suggest contacting a tax planning professional. Now, go out there and enjoy the holidays-the parties, time with family and friends, shopping, religious activities. Tax time will be here before you know it! Oh and remember the United Way when you finally do think about your charitable gift giving. The end of the year is only a few weeks away!
It’s that time of year again…..no I don’t mean the Holidays-tax planning. I know I hear, the mumbling and grumbling and yawns but planning now will help you out come April 15th. So to make this week’s blog a little more enjoyable, perhaps you could put on some Christmas music, sip on some egg nog and read on….
While we gladly accept cash, check, credit card and even stock donations here at the United Way of Washington County, there are certain rules for claiming the charitable contribution deduction on your tax return.
• You must be able to itemize- usually if you paid interest or taxes on your home, made large charitable contributions, among others.
• You must actually donate cash or property-a pledge is not deductible until ACTUALLY paid.
• You must contribute to an organization that is a qualified tax-exempt organization-payments to individuals, political parties, labor unions, chamber of commences or business associations, for-profit schools and for for-profit hospitals, as well as the value of your time for services are not deductible.
• You must keep records of your donation-this would include a bank record or perhaps a written communication from the organization to include name, date of gift and the amount. For any amount above $250, you must have a contemporaneous written acknowledge from the organization. The acknowledgement must include whether organization provided any goods or services in exchange for the gift and if so that must be described.
• Donations of stock are usually valued at the fair market value of the property-If you contribute property with a fair market value that is less than your basis in it, your deduction is limited to its fair market value. On the other hand, If you contribute property with a fair market value that is more than your basis in it, you may have to reduce the fair market value by the amount of appreciation (increase in value) when you figure your deduction.
Generally, you can deduct cash contributions in full up to 50% of your Adjusted Gross Income and appreciated stocks in full up to 20% of your Adjusted Gross Income. Any excess can be carried over for five years until it is used up.
This is a very brief overview of charitable contributions. If you have any questions, I suggest contacting a tax planning professional. Now, go out there and enjoy the holidays-the parties, time with family and friends, shopping, religious activities. Tax time will be here before you know it! Oh and remember the United Way when you finally do think about your charitable gift giving. The end of the year is only a few weeks away!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Holiday Hope
By Jenny Fleming, United Way Community Impact Director
Buttons can do amazing things. Now, I’m not talking about those on our shirts, coats and pants. I’m referring to those that are connected to an electrical machine or device - buttons on elevators, remote controls, phones and computers. I just love how technology has made my job easier. When I started working at United Way, we didn’t even have Internet access. I surely don’t miss the fax machine, which is how I sent reminders to meetings or other communications.
Technology helps to get the word out about important issues and recently assisted me to harness the caring spirit of our many supporters in the community. I had heard the director of the Department of Social Services (DSS) mention in a meeting that they had numerous families and children who had not been “adopted” to receive Christmas gifts. While direct services isn’t what United Way necessarily does, we certainly felt compelled to tell this message, especially when DSS isn’t in a position to solicit these gifts. I used another wonderful invention – Constant Contact – to inspire our 3,000+ people on our e-mail list to consider buying gifts. Ok, I can’t emphasize enough how powerful it was to hit the send button that day. Within 4 minutes, we got our first response. This was followed by another . . . . another . . . and yet another . . . and soon our phone and e-mails were being flooded. Some people who responded weren’t even on our list. The message was forwarded to friends, families, churches and organizations.
I sure wish everything was this easy! I’m incredibly glad this happened and hope that these families, in addition to enjoying the wonderful gifts they are about to receive, understand what a generous community this is. When times get tough, everyone rallies to get things done.
This compassion is so important because many of these families need some sort of hope to hold onto. They haven’t had the positive start that many of us have been afforded. Personally, I challenge myself when I hear of an overwhelming story to press yet another button “rewind.” Does this mean that I ask them about the details of their lives up to this point? No. It is just a method for me to understand it probably has been a rocky road that led them where they are today. The important part is to start from this point and move forward. This is exactly what everyone has done for the families at DSS. Many, many thanks to all of you who bought items. Let’s keep this generosity going into the New Year and make 2012 prosperous for Washington County.
Buttons can do amazing things. Now, I’m not talking about those on our shirts, coats and pants. I’m referring to those that are connected to an electrical machine or device - buttons on elevators, remote controls, phones and computers. I just love how technology has made my job easier. When I started working at United Way, we didn’t even have Internet access. I surely don’t miss the fax machine, which is how I sent reminders to meetings or other communications.
Technology helps to get the word out about important issues and recently assisted me to harness the caring spirit of our many supporters in the community. I had heard the director of the Department of Social Services (DSS) mention in a meeting that they had numerous families and children who had not been “adopted” to receive Christmas gifts. While direct services isn’t what United Way necessarily does, we certainly felt compelled to tell this message, especially when DSS isn’t in a position to solicit these gifts. I used another wonderful invention – Constant Contact – to inspire our 3,000+ people on our e-mail list to consider buying gifts. Ok, I can’t emphasize enough how powerful it was to hit the send button that day. Within 4 minutes, we got our first response. This was followed by another . . . . another . . . and yet another . . . and soon our phone and e-mails were being flooded. Some people who responded weren’t even on our list. The message was forwarded to friends, families, churches and organizations.
I sure wish everything was this easy! I’m incredibly glad this happened and hope that these families, in addition to enjoying the wonderful gifts they are about to receive, understand what a generous community this is. When times get tough, everyone rallies to get things done.
This compassion is so important because many of these families need some sort of hope to hold onto. They haven’t had the positive start that many of us have been afforded. Personally, I challenge myself when I hear of an overwhelming story to press yet another button “rewind.” Does this mean that I ask them about the details of their lives up to this point? No. It is just a method for me to understand it probably has been a rocky road that led them where they are today. The important part is to start from this point and move forward. This is exactly what everyone has done for the families at DSS. Many, many thanks to all of you who bought items. Let’s keep this generosity going into the New Year and make 2012 prosperous for Washington County.
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