NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (AP) -- Royal Caribbean Cruises has agreed to pay more than $1 million to the estate of a Connecticut man who vanished from his honeymoon cruise in 2005 according settlement papers to be filed Thursday.
George Allen Smith IV disappeared on July 5, 2005, after a night of heavy drinking aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas as it sailed between Greece and Turkey. The FBI has been investigating, but no one has been charged in his disappearance and no body has been recovered.
A copy of the settlement agreement, which still requires court approval, shows the Florida-based cruise company will pay $950,000 to Smith's estate and Read more
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Costa Rican President to Donate Salary to Charity
By VOA News
20 December 2006
Oscar Arias
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias says he will donate his yearly salary to several of his nation's charities.
In a statement released Wednesday, Mr. Arias said beginning in January he will donate the money discreetly to organizations that help the elderly, children, the disabled and others in need.Read more
20 December 2006
Oscar Arias
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias says he will donate his yearly salary to several of his nation's charities.
In a statement released Wednesday, Mr. Arias said beginning in January he will donate the money discreetly to organizations that help the elderly, children, the disabled and others in need.Read more
Chinese AIDS Patients Win Million-Dollar Compensation
By Benjamin Robertson
Beijing
05 December 2006
Nineteen Chinese AIDS patients have been awarded more than $1 million in compensation in a victory hailed by rights campaigners. Benjamin Robertson in Beijing reports.
The nineteen AIDS patients were infected by contaminated blood transfusions, and state media says their award of $1.2 million in compensation represents the biggest lawsuit of its kind in China.
Fifteen of the patients were infected while undergoing operations at a hospital in northern China's Heilongjiang province in 2004.Read More
Beijing
05 December 2006
Nineteen Chinese AIDS patients have been awarded more than $1 million in compensation in a victory hailed by rights campaigners. Benjamin Robertson in Beijing reports.
The nineteen AIDS patients were infected by contaminated blood transfusions, and state media says their award of $1.2 million in compensation represents the biggest lawsuit of its kind in China.
Fifteen of the patients were infected while undergoing operations at a hospital in northern China's Heilongjiang province in 2004.Read More
Monday, December 25, 2006
All Car Donation Programs Are Not Created Equal
Scenario A: It's got four wheels and an engine. Sometimes it even runs. But the mechanic's estimate is more than you want to pay, so it's time to get rid of the old clunker in your driveway. A 501(c)(3) public charity you like will take it off your hands. You'll dispose of your car, support a favorite charity, and get a nice income-tax deduction. It's the best of all possible worlds—isn't it?
Scenario B: Your 501(c)(3) organization accepts the donation of a used car, turns it over to a broker to sell, and receives a portion of the proceeds. Your nonprofit receives some much-needed cash, the donor gets a deduction, and the broker makes some money. It's a win-win-win situation—right?
In these two cases, yes. But vehicle donations to charity don't always work out that way. To clarify the situation, on June 29 the IRS issued two new publications on the topic, one for donors and one for charities.
Donors Beware
"A Donor's Guide to Car Donations" (IRS Publication 4303) offers the following advice to individuals thinking of giving a used car to charity:
* "Check out the charity"
Only gifts to qualified nonprofits are deductible. If you plan to deduct your vehicle donation from your taxes, you need to verify that the nonprofit receiving the car is a qualified organization before you turn over the keys and title.
Note: If you find a nonprofit on GuideStar, it's likely that your gift to it will be deductible. To be sure, look at the fine print that appears under the organization's EIN on the first page of its GuideStar Report. If it is a 501(c)(3) public charity, your donation will be deductible. If the nonprofit is exempt under another subsection of the tax code—for example, a 501(c)(4) organization or 501(c)(6) entity—contact the organization to ask about the deductibility of your gift.
* "See if you'll get a tax benefit"
You can deduct charitable contributions from your taxes only if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A of your 1040. There are also limits to the total amount a donor can deduct for charitable contributions.
* "Check the value of your car"
A car's blue book value is not necessarily the same as its fair market value—a vehicle missing a bumper or driven for thousands of miles without an oil change will have a lower fair market value than a car that is the same age and model and has been well cared for. Only the fair market value of the vehicle you donate can be deducted from your taxes.
* "See what your responsibilities are as a donor to charity"
Make sure you obtain all necessary receipts and, if you declare your car's value as more than $5,000, that you have a written assessment for it.
See Publication 4303 for more information.
Charities Beware
"A Charity's Guide to Car Donations" (IRS Publication 4302) warns charities that an organization's car donation program can affect both the nonprofit's tax-exempt status and the donor's ability to deduct the gift. Individuals associated with the charity cannot benefit personally from the program, and only reasonable fees may be paid to a person who sells donated vehicles for the charity.
Publication 4302 identifies four types of car donation programs. Three of them should not affect a charity's exempt status or the donor's ability to deduct the value of the gift:
* The charity uses the vehicles or distributes them to the needy.
* The charity sells the vehicles and uses the profits to fund its charitable programs.
* The charity hires a for-profit agent to operate the car donation program.
In such cases, the IRS states, "The charity and the for-profit entity must establish an agency relationship that is valid under the applicable state law." The for-profit organization must be acting as the charity's agent, and the charity must have oversight over the actions the agent takes on its behalf.
The fourth type of program is the one that can get both charities and donors in trouble:
* The charity allows a for-profit entity to use its name to solicit car donations, receives a fee or percentage from the sales, but has no control over the for-profit organization's activities.
Contributions to this kind of vehicle donation program are not deductible, even if the nonprofit uses the money it receives to fund charitable activities.
Because the charity has not hired the for-profit entity as its agent and has no control over how the program is carried out, the IRS regards the car donations as contributions to the for-profit organization, not the nonprofit. "A charity," the IRS warns, "cannot license its right to receive tax-deductible contributions." Both the charity and the for-profit entity can be penalized if they mislead donors about the deductibility of their contributions through this kind of program.
For more information on charities' responsibilities under car donation programs, see Publication 4302.
Suzanne E. Coffman, August 2004
© 2004, Philanthropic Research, Inc. (GuideStar)
Suzanne Coffman is GuideStar's director of communications and editor of the Newsletter.
Scenario B: Your 501(c)(3) organization accepts the donation of a used car, turns it over to a broker to sell, and receives a portion of the proceeds. Your nonprofit receives some much-needed cash, the donor gets a deduction, and the broker makes some money. It's a win-win-win situation—right?
In these two cases, yes. But vehicle donations to charity don't always work out that way. To clarify the situation, on June 29 the IRS issued two new publications on the topic, one for donors and one for charities.
Donors Beware
"A Donor's Guide to Car Donations" (IRS Publication 4303) offers the following advice to individuals thinking of giving a used car to charity:
* "Check out the charity"
Only gifts to qualified nonprofits are deductible. If you plan to deduct your vehicle donation from your taxes, you need to verify that the nonprofit receiving the car is a qualified organization before you turn over the keys and title.
Note: If you find a nonprofit on GuideStar, it's likely that your gift to it will be deductible. To be sure, look at the fine print that appears under the organization's EIN on the first page of its GuideStar Report. If it is a 501(c)(3) public charity, your donation will be deductible. If the nonprofit is exempt under another subsection of the tax code—for example, a 501(c)(4) organization or 501(c)(6) entity—contact the organization to ask about the deductibility of your gift.
* "See if you'll get a tax benefit"
You can deduct charitable contributions from your taxes only if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A of your 1040. There are also limits to the total amount a donor can deduct for charitable contributions.
* "Check the value of your car"
A car's blue book value is not necessarily the same as its fair market value—a vehicle missing a bumper or driven for thousands of miles without an oil change will have a lower fair market value than a car that is the same age and model and has been well cared for. Only the fair market value of the vehicle you donate can be deducted from your taxes.
* "See what your responsibilities are as a donor to charity"
Make sure you obtain all necessary receipts and, if you declare your car's value as more than $5,000, that you have a written assessment for it.
See Publication 4303 for more information.
Charities Beware
"A Charity's Guide to Car Donations" (IRS Publication 4302) warns charities that an organization's car donation program can affect both the nonprofit's tax-exempt status and the donor's ability to deduct the gift. Individuals associated with the charity cannot benefit personally from the program, and only reasonable fees may be paid to a person who sells donated vehicles for the charity.
Publication 4302 identifies four types of car donation programs. Three of them should not affect a charity's exempt status or the donor's ability to deduct the value of the gift:
* The charity uses the vehicles or distributes them to the needy.
* The charity sells the vehicles and uses the profits to fund its charitable programs.
* The charity hires a for-profit agent to operate the car donation program.
In such cases, the IRS states, "The charity and the for-profit entity must establish an agency relationship that is valid under the applicable state law." The for-profit organization must be acting as the charity's agent, and the charity must have oversight over the actions the agent takes on its behalf.
The fourth type of program is the one that can get both charities and donors in trouble:
* The charity allows a for-profit entity to use its name to solicit car donations, receives a fee or percentage from the sales, but has no control over the for-profit organization's activities.
Contributions to this kind of vehicle donation program are not deductible, even if the nonprofit uses the money it receives to fund charitable activities.
Because the charity has not hired the for-profit entity as its agent and has no control over how the program is carried out, the IRS regards the car donations as contributions to the for-profit organization, not the nonprofit. "A charity," the IRS warns, "cannot license its right to receive tax-deductible contributions." Both the charity and the for-profit entity can be penalized if they mislead donors about the deductibility of their contributions through this kind of program.
For more information on charities' responsibilities under car donation programs, see Publication 4302.
Suzanne E. Coffman, August 2004
© 2004, Philanthropic Research, Inc. (GuideStar)
Suzanne Coffman is GuideStar's director of communications and editor of the Newsletter.
Consider A Car Donation
MKichael Colucci
If you are looking to purchase a new vehicle, you may be trying to figure out what to do with your current automobile. Many people trade in their old cars to reduce the price of a newer car. While this is a good strategy, another thing you can do is donate your car to a charity. Believe it or not, there are a number of advantages this has over trading in a car towards the purchase of a new vehicle. When you buy a new car from a dealer, you will find that most of them will try to talk you into trading in your old car. Once you do this, they will often turn around and sell your older car, especially if its in good condition.
However, this is not what usually happens. In most instances, the dealer will try to buy the car from you at a lower price than they expect to get when selling it at an auction. When you donate your car to a charity, not only will you be turning it in for a good cause, you may also get a deal which is better than what you would find from a dealership. Many people don't realize that donating their car to a charity can allow them to get a tax deduction during tax season. Not only can you use it as a tax write off, you will often earn money that is significantly more than what you would get from most car dealers.
When most people hear about car donations, they are often discouraged because they feel that it will be a long process that will cost them a lot of money. Nothing can be further from the truth. In reality, donating your car to a charity can be just as quick as trading in your car through a dealer. Remember, the charity needs the car from you, and will make it convenient for you to turn it in to them. To donate your old car to a charity, the first thing you will need to do is contact charities in your area. They will be able to answer any questions you have about donating your car. Many of them will visit you at your home and pick up your car, saving you money on shipping.
Once you have donating the car to the charity, you will be mailed a receipt of the transaction. The receipt should tell you how much the car was sold for, and it may also tell you the price that you are given by the charity. Once tax season arrives, you will be able to get your reward for donating your car to the charity. By helping other people who may be less fortunate than you, you will feel good, and you will also be rewarding financially. Most people trade in their cars when they go out to purchase a new one. Only a small segment of the population uses car donation services. However, car donations services are a smart financial tool that can allow you to save a large amount of money on taxes over a long period of time.
The money that you save on taxes can be used for investments, vacations, or anything else you're interested in. Before you trade in your existing car for a new one, be sure to look at the car donation services in your area.
If you are looking to purchase a new vehicle, you may be trying to figure out what to do with your current automobile. Many people trade in their old cars to reduce the price of a newer car. While this is a good strategy, another thing you can do is donate your car to a charity. Believe it or not, there are a number of advantages this has over trading in a car towards the purchase of a new vehicle. When you buy a new car from a dealer, you will find that most of them will try to talk you into trading in your old car. Once you do this, they will often turn around and sell your older car, especially if its in good condition.
However, this is not what usually happens. In most instances, the dealer will try to buy the car from you at a lower price than they expect to get when selling it at an auction. When you donate your car to a charity, not only will you be turning it in for a good cause, you may also get a deal which is better than what you would find from a dealership. Many people don't realize that donating their car to a charity can allow them to get a tax deduction during tax season. Not only can you use it as a tax write off, you will often earn money that is significantly more than what you would get from most car dealers.
When most people hear about car donations, they are often discouraged because they feel that it will be a long process that will cost them a lot of money. Nothing can be further from the truth. In reality, donating your car to a charity can be just as quick as trading in your car through a dealer. Remember, the charity needs the car from you, and will make it convenient for you to turn it in to them. To donate your old car to a charity, the first thing you will need to do is contact charities in your area. They will be able to answer any questions you have about donating your car. Many of them will visit you at your home and pick up your car, saving you money on shipping.
Once you have donating the car to the charity, you will be mailed a receipt of the transaction. The receipt should tell you how much the car was sold for, and it may also tell you the price that you are given by the charity. Once tax season arrives, you will be able to get your reward for donating your car to the charity. By helping other people who may be less fortunate than you, you will feel good, and you will also be rewarding financially. Most people trade in their cars when they go out to purchase a new one. Only a small segment of the population uses car donation services. However, car donations services are a smart financial tool that can allow you to save a large amount of money on taxes over a long period of time.
The money that you save on taxes can be used for investments, vacations, or anything else you're interested in. Before you trade in your existing car for a new one, be sure to look at the car donation services in your area.
Car donation (or any type of charity) can make the world a better place
By: Rick Martin
People choose to make donations when they have objects that are no longer useful to them or simply because they want to help other people in need. Car donation is one of the methods through which people can give a helping hand to others.
People are encouraged to make any kind of charity they wish as long as they can open their hearts to the poor and the needy. Therefore they give away a lot of things from clothes and food to blood and organs. Some people would like to give away money, but many of them don’t posses large sums that can be useful to others. They give away whatever they can afford and many peoples’ lives have been saved because of charitable programs. So, it is not necessary to donate money to be able to bring a smile on someone’s face. Donation can be as simple as help in a voluntary organization. Time donation can be just as important as material help and working in an organization can make a difference for many families around the world.
But help comes in many ways. Some families choose to sell their old cars and donate whatever they receive to people in need. Their actions do change a lot for those who have no options. While others choose to respond to exchange programs and to offer their car as the first rate in buying a new vehicle instead of making a donation, some know that the old car in the garage can bring someone food and clothing. The concept of car donation is not very popular even if there are many agencies that deal with donation. This is why we promote charity and we try to increase the awareness of the people about the many bad things they can change through something that might be very little for them. We want people to be aware of their possibility to do good deeds. We believe that donation can make everyone feel a little happier, donators as well as people who receive charity, even if the only thing you can afford to give away is your old car.
Making a car donation is very easy and it is not different from other forms of donation. The former owner must carefully choose a charity agency and contact a donation agent. The agency or aid organization will answer questions regarding the process of donation and then they will provide the necessary paperwork that has to be filled in. The process is not complicated because all the agencies are eager to receive as many car donation offers as possible. The charity centres are aware that every donor is very precious and try to make it easy for people to do this.
What is important is that people know that it is better to contact only accredited charity programs. In order to make a car donation, the owners want to know that the car or the money is properly used. The better known the agencies are, the bigger the trust is. Verified donation websites or leading donation websites can be the best source of information when it comes to protecting yourself from fraud.
There are some things the donors should pay attention to. Almost every kind of vehicle can be donated, from automobiles to boats. Car donation means anything from the following: trucks, trailers, cars, RVs and boats. There are some cases when agencies receive vehicles that do not function, but the donation agency must first analyse these charities and give its approval. It is very important for the donor to pay attention to details when filling in the donation form because it contains all the needed data regarding the agreement made by both parts.
The IRS makes tax deductions for persons who make contributions. The IRS also has a free phone number for contact in case information about charity programs is demanded. The donors must provide the IRS with a valid estimation of the charity vehicle if they want to be taken into account concerning the bona fide tax deduction.
There is a very high number of charity agencies in the US as well as worldwide. The first thing that needs to be done is to call a car donation agency and find out their terms and the time in which they can pick up the old car you are willing to give up. It is wise to ask about the information on charity made available to the public (important for the donors as well as for the agency). These agencies can also give away information about tax deduction and about their past donation campaigns.
We believe that charity teaches about human values and helps build a better world. We promote these actions through donation campaigns because many people around the world need help. Those who can offer human kindness and can contribute to charity funds support each other and prove to be wonderful examples for future generations. Car donation is a very important method to help others. Instead of wasting this opportunity through abandoning a used car, everybody should consider making a donation. This way they can also become charity promoters.
People choose to make donations when they have objects that are no longer useful to them or simply because they want to help other people in need. Car donation is one of the methods through which people can give a helping hand to others.
People are encouraged to make any kind of charity they wish as long as they can open their hearts to the poor and the needy. Therefore they give away a lot of things from clothes and food to blood and organs. Some people would like to give away money, but many of them don’t posses large sums that can be useful to others. They give away whatever they can afford and many peoples’ lives have been saved because of charitable programs. So, it is not necessary to donate money to be able to bring a smile on someone’s face. Donation can be as simple as help in a voluntary organization. Time donation can be just as important as material help and working in an organization can make a difference for many families around the world.
But help comes in many ways. Some families choose to sell their old cars and donate whatever they receive to people in need. Their actions do change a lot for those who have no options. While others choose to respond to exchange programs and to offer their car as the first rate in buying a new vehicle instead of making a donation, some know that the old car in the garage can bring someone food and clothing. The concept of car donation is not very popular even if there are many agencies that deal with donation. This is why we promote charity and we try to increase the awareness of the people about the many bad things they can change through something that might be very little for them. We want people to be aware of their possibility to do good deeds. We believe that donation can make everyone feel a little happier, donators as well as people who receive charity, even if the only thing you can afford to give away is your old car.
Making a car donation is very easy and it is not different from other forms of donation. The former owner must carefully choose a charity agency and contact a donation agent. The agency or aid organization will answer questions regarding the process of donation and then they will provide the necessary paperwork that has to be filled in. The process is not complicated because all the agencies are eager to receive as many car donation offers as possible. The charity centres are aware that every donor is very precious and try to make it easy for people to do this.
What is important is that people know that it is better to contact only accredited charity programs. In order to make a car donation, the owners want to know that the car or the money is properly used. The better known the agencies are, the bigger the trust is. Verified donation websites or leading donation websites can be the best source of information when it comes to protecting yourself from fraud.
There are some things the donors should pay attention to. Almost every kind of vehicle can be donated, from automobiles to boats. Car donation means anything from the following: trucks, trailers, cars, RVs and boats. There are some cases when agencies receive vehicles that do not function, but the donation agency must first analyse these charities and give its approval. It is very important for the donor to pay attention to details when filling in the donation form because it contains all the needed data regarding the agreement made by both parts.
The IRS makes tax deductions for persons who make contributions. The IRS also has a free phone number for contact in case information about charity programs is demanded. The donors must provide the IRS with a valid estimation of the charity vehicle if they want to be taken into account concerning the bona fide tax deduction.
There is a very high number of charity agencies in the US as well as worldwide. The first thing that needs to be done is to call a car donation agency and find out their terms and the time in which they can pick up the old car you are willing to give up. It is wise to ask about the information on charity made available to the public (important for the donors as well as for the agency). These agencies can also give away information about tax deduction and about their past donation campaigns.
We believe that charity teaches about human values and helps build a better world. We promote these actions through donation campaigns because many people around the world need help. Those who can offer human kindness and can contribute to charity funds support each other and prove to be wonderful examples for future generations. Car donation is a very important method to help others. Instead of wasting this opportunity through abandoning a used car, everybody should consider making a donation. This way they can also become charity promoters.
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