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$2 Million and Counting   

As your Foundation ends a record-breaking year, you still have time to be part of it 

By Brett R. Kimball, CFP,ChFC

The MDRT Foundation offers members a unique and meaningful opportunity to support charitable causes that are creating stronger families and individuals in MDRT member communities throughout the United States and the world. Through generous contributions from MDRT members and corporate partners, this year your MDRT Foundation set a grant distribution record by donating more than $2 million to hundreds of charities across the globe.

A group of campers at YMCA Camp Wilson, a camp program of the YMCA of Central Ohio. The MDRT Foundation awarded a $2,500 grant to provide low-income and homeless children with the opportunity to attend camp on a sliding-fee scale. This Quality of Life grant was awarded on behalf of the volunteerism of Ralph L. Howes, a 25-year MDRT member and Bronze Knight from Delaware, Ohio.

Grants were distributed to some well-known charities such as YWCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, along with a diverse group of smaller grass-roots organizations working tirelessly to offer hope and comfort to the sick, homeless, disabled and at-risk youth.

2007 will bring new challenges for those in need. Your MDRT Foundation will continue to transform those challenges into opportunity for thousands around the world. We need the support of all MDRT members to continue to spread the MDRT tradition of giving back and helping those in need. A year-end gift is a compelling way for you to support charitable causes dear to your heart, while also taking advantage of the tax benefits offered to donors. 

Tax benefits

The MDRT Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Therefore, gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible. For gifts of cash, if you itemize your deductions on your federal income tax return, you can deduct up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income each year. (Note: Tax benefits listed are for donations made in the United State. Please contact your legal and financial advisor to discuss tax benefits in your country.)

If sending a gift by mail, the donation is effective on the date mailed, indicated by the postmark. All year-end gifts must be received by December 31, 2006. Before making a significant gift, meet with your legal or financial advisor to discuss how your year-end gift can impact your income tax returns.

Matching gifts

The MDRT Foundation has 11 companies that participate in the matching gift program. This is an easy way for you to double the impact of your gift. Matching gift companies include: American National and Farm Family, AXA Advisors, Beneficial Life, ING Foundation, John Hancock, Lincoln Financial Advisors, Massachusetts Mutual, Principal Financial, Prudential Foundation, Thrivent Financial, Transamerica and ValMark Securities. (Other companies may also match gifts. Please check with the matching gift office at your company for details.)

To take advantage of a matching gift, contact your home office to request the matching gift forms, and complete and submit the required matching gift forms along with your donation to the MDRT Foundation.

Brent R. Kimball, CFP, ChFC, is an 18-year MDRT member and Diamond Knight from Concord, New Hampshire. Kimball is Chair of the MDRT Foundation Member Giving Committee

We hope that as you reflect on your blessings this year, you will remember to support your MDRT Foundation with a year-end gift. All gifts of $100 or more will be acknowledged in the MDRT Foundation’s annual Honor Roll for Donors. On behalf of all of the lives that will be changed because of your generosity, we thank you for your support.

For more information about year-end giving to the MDRT Foundation, please contact fund development manager Michele Stauff at (847) 993-4908 or via e-mail at mstauff@mdrt.org.

Read about the Foundation's grant programs.