A year later

Families lost loved ones, virtual learning for students, and our kitchen tables became our workspace.

A year later, after the World Health Organization officially declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic, the world is still struggling to recover and operate in what we have come to accept as the “new normal.”

As we move forward with the rollout of vaccines, we still see the struggles of individuals, families, non-profits, and businesses.

When the pandemic hit, the Cadillac Area Community Foundation did not hesitate to support our community’s emergency needs.  We put philanthropy in action, using grant dollars to support food banks, shelters, masks, personal protective supplies, etc.

A year later, we continue to fund non-profits, our most recent grants to WexExpress and Veterans Fund of Wexford and Missaukee Counties.

The WexExpress funds are to provide transportation to individuals in Wexford and Missaukee County.  The grant is for anyone age 54 and under without transportation or has disabilities to and from COVID clinics for their vaccine. With a matching grant, we have provided 3000 miles.

Due to Veterans’ overwhelming requests, the Fund fell below $2000 in 5 months.  An additional grant from the Foundation of $5000 was obtained to provides emergency needs for Veterans in Wexford and Missaukee County.

Foundations across the country have continued their charitable mission, delivering services to non-profits during this crisis.

We are all monitoring the pandemic finding ways to respond to the ever-changing needs, and praying for the thousands of people affected by the virus.

Our lives feel different now, but we are all in this together and gaining the strength we will need for tomorrow….

Happy Spring, Doreen

Caring for our Community
What the CARES Act means for your charitable giving

During 2020, the Coronavirus has affected millions of Americans and small businesses. This has resulted in significant federal aid and private donations towards the relief effort. If you have personally donated to a charity during 2020, then you may qualify for a new deduction under the CARES Act. The CARES Act outlines the following changes to charitable giving:

*A new temporary deduction in 2020  for cash donations up to $300, even for taxpayers that do not itemize deductions.  This is an “above the line” deduction.

*For taxpayers that itemize deductions, the adjusted gross income limit for charitable gifts of cash was increased from 60 percent to 100 percent for 2020 only.  This could allow taxpayers to completely wipe out their AGI and their tax liability with a charitable contribution.

If you were subject to required minimum distributions (RMD)  in 2020, the good news is that the CARES ACT suspended the RMD requirement.  But you can still contribute up to $100,000 from your IRA to a qualified charity in 2020.  The check has to be written from the trustee of the IRA directly to the charity.    This way, it doesn’t show up as taxable income and helps prevent the distribution from being taxed in Michigan.

If you have already donated to a public charity in 2020, make sure you received supporting documentation for the donation. If you have yet to donate or have questions, CACF would be happy to help.

Happy Holiday, Doreen

Help us make the change.

Literacy is the foundation of community and economic development.  If you can’t read, how do you follow instructions, manage finances, take orders, understand medical instruction, apply for jobs, get promotions, read to your children and help them with their homework?

Our state has a lot of work to do to improve literacy rates among elementary students. The 2015 M-STEP data examines the number of third-graders who are considered proficient readers. Nearly 50 percent of third-graders in Michigan are considered partially proficient or not proficient readers.  Students who fall below the standards in third grade are more likely to struggle for the rest of their education.

Research shows that reading to young children (ages 6 months to 5 years) not only provides healthy together time for parents, families, and children, it also offers many lifelong benefits.

Increased vocabulary, curiosity, and memory;
Positive associations with books and reading;
Opportunities to build listening skills; and
A foundation for scholastic success.

This is why the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program is so important to communities.  Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that gifts free books to children from birth to age five in participating communities.

The Wexford-Missaukee Imagination Library program, which started in June of 2013, provides a book in the mail each month to children birth to 5 years, who choose to sign up. The only eligibility requirement is that the family live within the service area of the Wexford Missaukee Intermediate School District. (Cadillac, Manton, Mesick, McBain, Pine River, Marion, and Lake City).

The cost of the age-appropriate, monthly book, with postage, is $2.25. The program is funded 100% locally through grants, businesses, and individual donors.  The cost of the program is over $40,000 a year and currently has 1,854 children registered.

This month we have a match opportunity…… up to $10,000, from October 1 –until the 31^st, every $1 will be matched 100%.

We need your help to keep books in the hands of children by donating.

$25 will sponsor 1 child to receive a monthly age-appropriate book for 1 year (12 books)
$125 will sponsor 1 child to receive a monthly age-appropriate book for 5 years (60 books)
$250 will sponsor 2 children to receive a monthly age-appropriate book for 5 years (120 books)

Send you checks to          Cadillac Area Community Foundation
201 North Mitchell Street, Ste. 101
Cadillac, MI 49601

Or donate online at www.cadillacfoundation.org  click on DONATE
Please add in the memo:  Book Match

You can help us make a change.  Doreen