I’m running the New York City Marathon in November 2012 as a member of Team Chances and I am inviting you to be a part of it with me.
In the past four years, Chances for Children-Arizona (http://chancesforchildrenaz.com/) has assisted in providing running programs to over 3000 students from a number of elementary schools in the Phoenix area. This local not-for-profit organization targets at-risk youth, who may not have physical education at school, or who can’t afford to participate in after school sporting opportunities. It is Chances for Children’s mission to grow these programs in schools and youth programs throughout the state with the intention of eradicating obesity among our youth and improving their life chances. Team Chances will help raise money to grow these programs. My favorite part of this program is the PROACTIVE approach – affecting change that will last a lifetime. It is easy to sit and grouse about problems with our youth – from obesity to gang activity – but this is an opportunity for us TOGETHER to do something very tangible – NOW.
You all know that I have struggled with my weight, and my health, since childhood. I wish Chances for Children had existed to help me out. For more about my story, have a look around blog on this site. But this is about the kids.
Here’s how you can help us out:
The I REALLY DON’T WANT THE AZ LEGISLATURE DECIDING HOW TO SPEND MY MONEY! Program – $200 or $400 or however much you like
Make your taxes go where you want them to go, and come out ahead! Chances for Children is registered in the state of Arizona as a SELF-CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION so that means your donation is eligible for an ARIZONA TAX CREDIT, and there are 3 fantastic reasons for you to consider making a contribution:
See below for more information about how the tax credit works for you and for the kids. And note that the tax credit applies no matter how big or small your contribution! All contributions are tax deductible and will be acknowledged as such in a letter to you from Chances for Children.
The BUY A MILE! Program - $50
Yes, 25 (Mile 26 six is mine!) lucky people have the opportunity to sponsor the mile of their choice (first come, first served) of the marathon for $50.00. Pick your favorite mile and make it yours! (Just let me know which one you have picked. I will add your name to the map on this site. A map of the course is available online at: http://www.nycmarathon.org/documents/INGNYCM12_Course_Map_ForWeb.pdf.
The WOW I’M GLAD SOMEONE ELSE IS RUNNING IT Program - $26.20
The opportunity to CHANGE A CHILD’S LIFE FOREVER is yours for only $1.00 per mile and remember, you don’t have to run a step of it! I’ll be doing all the hard work, and your donation will make it all worthwhile.
The HEY – THAT IS REALLY COOL OF YOU Program - $1.00 - ?????
Anything, literally anything, would help – and will go DIRECTLY to help our kids.
Once you have decided that this would be a terrific thing to support, there are several ways to sponsor me:
Online donations: http://www.chancesforchildrenaz.com/AZTriTwit/donate.
Mail-in Contributions can be sent to me at 1838 E Ranch Rd, Tempe AZ 85284 or Chances for Children directly at 9399 S. Priest Dr., Tempe AZ 85284. If you donate by check, please put my name on the Memo line.
REMEMBER! If you choose the Buy A Mile, I need to know which mile you want!
This opportunity, however lofty the goal, to help children in such a direct and positive way is an honor I simply could not refuse – please join me! Thanks in advance for helping me—and thousands of schoolchildren!
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For those who are unfamiliar with how a tax credit works, it means that after calculating your annual tax return, you get to apply the Chances for Children donation as a tax credit. So you are given credit for having paid those taxes (in the form of a donation). For example: let's say you owe $1200 on your state taxes. By making a donation of $400 to Chances for Children, your tax liability will be reduced by $400 which means you would owe only $800. And if you are expecting a refund on your AZ State taxes, you will in fact get the money back as well!
For the federal tax deduction, instead of paying taxes on all of your income you get to subtract the donated amount from your income before you calculate what you owe in taxes. (For example: if you are in the 15% tax bracket, a $400 donation will save you about $60 in federal taxes, and if you are in the 27% tax bracket, you will save about $108).
Both of these combined then, actually have you come out ahead financially by donating!