April 15. . . We all recognize that date if we have made money during the year. The IRS stands by to take its fair or unfair share of that, depending on one's point of view. Many have already faced the music and filed. Millions of others wait until the last possible moment to put their returns in the mailbox. If you are one of the latter, and need a tax write-off of some kind, consider this. Charitable donations are the life blood of many community organizations, foundations and churches. Your contributions are tax deductible and can make it possible for many worthwhile groups to continue their good work.
We, for example, support Edmonds Community College, United Way, the American Diabetes Association, Cocoon House, the Seattle Symphony, the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, and several others. Our favorite foundation is our own, the Martin Luther King School Dream Foundation. May I suggest that you put it on your list of future giving? You would be making it possible for many Seattle area young people to have a chance at getting a higher education, whether it is the local beauty school, a community college or the most prestigious four year university in the country.
A banquet honoring this year's crop of winners and their families will take place on Monday, May 23 at the Mount Zion Baptist Church. They will join the ranks of over one hundred former winners, most of whom are leading busy, productive lives, and some of whom have reached a certain level of celebrity.
We all know that Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. Through his vision and dedication he and millions of others began a civil rights movement to eliminate racism, paving the way for the first African-American president to be elected. I think most people have dreams, no matter how simple. Some realize them while others look back wistfully at the "if onlys" in life.
The Dream Foundation makes it possible for some disadvantaged young people in Seattle to take that important first step to a productive future. Since 1999 over one hundred scholarships have been given. Many have graduated from or are attending well known universities such as the University of Washington, Clark Atlanta, NYU, USC, and more. Others have attended various Washington state community colleges and technical schools. Some have enrolled in certificate programs, getting good jobs upon graduating.
My husband and I started this foundation after an unexpected financial windfall. For seventeen years our dedicated board has provided stewardship of our funds and added its own. Others have chipped in as well. Perhaps you would like to add your financial assistance to help young people in the Seattle area achieve their dreams. Go to www.mlkdream.com and check out how we started and what we are all about. Click the "donate button" to provide a donation that will insure anything from a book or student fee to a year of college. Such a donation allows you to help someone achieve a dream, and it's a great feeling! Not only that, it's tax deductible, and you'll get another good feeling come tax time.
Beyond that, what matters to me is to make a difference in someone's life, to help them realize their dreams, and to throw a financial stone that ripples out into the future. Edwin Hubbel Chapin says it well. "Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity." Click on http://www.mlkdream.com/ and throw out your own stone. It WILL make a difference.
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