Donors

As a private, nonprofit, charity, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind relies on the generous support from our neighbors to help continue our valuable program of services. Support can be made in various ways:

Memorials/Tribute Gifts - A lovely way to commemorate a deceased family member or friend is through a memorial contribution.  Gifts can be in any amount and the memorial will be published in our annual donor report.  We will send you an acknowledgement and the family or next-of-kin will be notified of your memorial to the Blind Association without mentioning the amount of the gift.  Tribute Gifts work in the same fashion and can be made to honor a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary.

Annual Appeal - Each Fall the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind conducts an Annual Appeal campaign to help fund the coming year's special programs and services. Support for the Association can include tangible personal property, real property, cash, or pledges which can be billed at your request.  Gifts of real estate owned for longer than one year may be entitled to a charitable deduction equal to the full fair market value of the property and allows you to avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation.  Also, you might consider a gift of stock.  This entitles you to a tax deduction for the market value of the donated stock; and if it has been held for more than one year, you can avoid capital gains tax on any appreciation of the stock by donating it prior to the sale.

Planned Giving - Bequests, Charitable Trusts, and gifts of Appreciated Assets are methods by which even the person of average or modest income can leave a sizable legacy.  For instance, consider these options:

• Gifts of Life Insurance - You may have purchased a policy years ago to provide for children or others that is no longer necessary.  In that case, consider donating the policy to the Association.  You can claim a charitable deduction for the policy's cash surrender value and the proceeds will be completely removed from your estate's assets.

• Life Income Plans - You irrevocably transfer some of your assets to the Association now, and in return, you receive an income for life (and a beneficiary if you wish).  These include Charitable Gift Annuities -  whereby in exchange for your gift of cash, we agree to pay you a fixed amount annually for your lifetime.  The transfer is part gift and part purchase of an annuity.  The rate of return is attractive and the payments are guaranteed for life.  Charitable Remainder Trusts - Through this life income plan, you transfer assets to a Trust that pays you an income for life.  At the end of the Trust, the remaining trust assets are transferred to the Association.  A bank or trusted advisor can serve as your trustee. 

• Retirement Plans - The assets in your 401 (k), IRA, or Keogh can be heavily taxed when passed on to your heirs.  In addition to estate taxes, retirement plan assets are subject to income taxes, resulting in as much as 75% of these assets going to the IRS instead of your heirs.  This tax burden can be avoided, getting the most from your money, by naming the Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind as a beneficiary.  Or, you can name a family member as beneficiary with the Association as an alternative beneficiary.  Any amount passed on to the Association will be free of estate and income taxes.

You can also support the Association for the Blind by using the free GoodSearch search engine.  They will donate 50% of revenues from their advertisers if you designate "Association for the Blind (Exeter, PA)" as the charity of your choice.  Remember, using the search is free to you and the Blind Association.  You can also shop online from dozens of businesses such as Best Buy, Ebay, and Staples by accessing them through GoodSearch and we will receive a donation of 3% or more for each purchase. 

Click on the button below to access the GoodSearch search engine...   

 

If we may help you or a loved one, or if you would simply like to contact us for more information, please come by and see us or contact us at (570) 693-3555, or Email us here.

Thank you for caring.  In the words of Helen Keller, "There is no lovelier way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark."