Tom Anderson | meanderings

Today, December 31, is the last to donate to non-profit organizations and have it count as a deduction toward your 2014 income tax. Here in Arizona, donations of up to $400 for an individual and $800 for a couple count as tax CREDITS. Meaning it’s like you paid the state that much money already in taxes. You can even get that money back as a refund if you qualify for one. Does your state have something like this?

We here at the Munroe residence are not drowning in cash. Far from it. But every year we give regularly to the church we belong to. This year we also gave to a couple of non-profits near and dear to our hearts. One is a non-profit started by my brother. The other is a local entity.

IT4Causes is a new start-up by my brother, Tom Anderson. His idea is to utilize volunteers to create and maintain IT for small to medium size non-profit organizations. See the website for more information.

The other is StreetLightUSA, which provides transitional housing and help for teen victims of sex trafficking and abuse. It’s the largest facility of its kind in the country. The need is great and they hope to expand. I also volunteer time for them.

I’m not really wanting to toot my own horn, or even suggest you donate to these entities, even though if you’re at a loss where to send your money, please send it to one or both! The important thing is to share with some place that is doing good. Even if it’s only a few dollars. Maybe it won’t mean much on your taxes, but it will mean so much to the staffs and people helped by the places you help.

I personally have been helped by donations to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society which funded research to treat Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, which somehow I managed to develop. Instead of chemo and transplants, I just take a pill a day to keep funky white blood cells away.

What’s near to your heart? Veterans? Homeless people? Hungry people? Abused women and children? Places that don’t have clean water? Abused animals? Cancer research or cancer victims? Mental health issues? Disabled people? All you need is a credit or debit card and a place’s website.