Year-End Giving

The first snow is on the ground (at least here in Grand Rapids it is!), the nights are darker, and the temperatures are falling. Stores are decked out for the Holidays, and Star 105.7 has already switched to 24 hour Christmas music. Yes, the Holidays are well on their way!

Since children, we've been encouraged at this time of year to be thankful for our good health, family, friends, and lifestyles, and to think about those less fortunate than ourselves.

Now that we're adults, we can go one step further.

November and December bring year-end campaign letters in the mail. If you have donated to a charity in the past, you are bound to receive at least one letter, although those of you whom have never given may receive something as well.

I want to take a moment to encourage you to make a year end gift this year. I know that money is tight, and I know that we're all busy and stressed, but even a contribution of $25 is beneficial to many organizations, and well-deserved at this time of year.

Year-end giving allows us to touch the lives of others during the holiday season, and provides you with one final charitable write-off for your taxes before the calendar year closes.

And it's not just money. There are many organizations that will accept food, toys, clothing, educational supplies, and more. All of these contributions are tax deductible as well.

Please, make a charitable contribution this year. Your community is counting on you. I've listed below several fantastic non-profit organization, some of which I am affiliated with and some I am not. Click on a name to go to their website and find out about making a donation.

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities
Your year-end contribution helps sustain free literacy and arts programming for children, adults, and families, at the Cook Library Center and the Grandville Avenue Academy for the Arts located in the low-income, undeserved Grandville Avenue neighborhood of Grand Rapids, MI.

Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots delivers, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

American Cancer Society
Your gift is a big help in the battle against cancer—in your own community and across the country.

Susan K Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® strives to raise funds and educate people in the battle against breast cancer through global events and legislative actions each year.

Second Harvest Gleaners
The mission of Second Harvest Gleaners Food Bank of West Michigan, Inc. is to feed the hungry in West Michigan sby soliciting marketable food and other grocery products from all sources available to us, and judiciously distributing those goods to the needy through nonprofit charities who distribute such goods to the needy at no charge.

YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
Your contribution to the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign provides funds for kids and families who could otherwise not afford to attend the Y in their community.

These are just a few of the many, many worthwhile non-profit organizations out there. Please feel free to comment on this post with non-profit names and websites if you have other support recommendations. If you have any questions about end of year giving, or need help finding an organization that best matches your giving priorities. Please let me know! : )

Happy Holiday Season, and Happy Giving!