Posts tagged as:

breast cancer awareness

Comment for the Cure">Comment for the Cure

October 19, 2009 · 28 comments

It’s October, which means that it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. Last year, on the blog, I promised to donate a dollar for every unique comment on my cancer post.

This year, I’m doing it again.

I saw, on twitter, and elsewhere criticisms of similar campaigns, asking why it’s necessary to ask for comments: why not just donate?

To be clear, I do donate. I give my dollars and my time to the work of various cancer and breast cancer organizations. In fact, I’m running again in May, as Team Captain, for Komen’s Race for the Cure in honor of my grandmother (you can make a tax deductible contribution here).

This is a cause that I am passionate about. And I do *get* the criticisms about making it a spectacle. But here’s why I do it: I want to make a spectacle. I want to cause a commotion. I want you to think about cancer.

Last year, I was particularly struck by this an article written by Karen Heller of the Inquirer, critical of the whole Pink for October campaign. I wrote her a letter in response, which I’m posting here (edited for brevity):

I read your column each week and often agree with your observations about children, commercialism and culture.  However, this week, I feel compelled to write to you because I think  you missed the mark in your article on breast cancer.

My grandmother died of breast cancer.  You’re right in saying that it is not a pretty disease.  My grandmother’s cancer spread to her lungs.  I watched her die.  Literally.  My mother and I were with my grandmother in her house when she took her last breath.  It was a horrible, terrible way to die. 

…

You are not the first person that I have heard criticize the "pinking" of October.  I’ve heard it a lot, and I respectfully disagree.  Is it commercial?  Of course it is.  This is, after all, America, and if a capitalist can find a way to make a buck no matter what the occasion, he or she will.  It has become "cool" to wear Lance Armstrong Foundation bracelets and AIDS ribbons.  At the end of the day, does that take away from the good that it does?  I don’t think so.  …I don’t think that you can be too aware.  And, despite your statements in your column, I do think it promotes awareness. 

Every time that I see my pink ribbon, I think about my grandmother… And then I think about the fact that more than 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone.  They are grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, family friends…  As a woman and as a mother of three children, how can I not promote awareness of a detectable, and often curable, disease that affects women in such huge numbers?

So, at the end of the day, while I agree with you that there’s a whole lot of pink going on, I don’t think that’s a bad thing.  Awareness might mean that one more woman gets a mammogram, or asks the doctor what that lump is.  And it might save a life.  Isn’t that worth a little pink now and again?

With that in mind, here’s my little bit of pink on the blog today. Like last year, for October, in honor of my grandmother, I’m making a donation to Susan G. Komen For the Cure. I’ll donate $1 for every unique comment (meaning, not spam) on this post. You can just say hi, ask me a tax question, chat about tax policy or leave the name of someone close to you that was diagnosed with breast cancer – heck, you can even tell me how much you love the Phillies! (Actually, after the game last night, you can especially tell me how much you love the Phillies!)

Technorati Tags:
,

{ 28 comments }

Infant Formula Not a Medical Expense

October 14, 2009 · 19 comments

Lactogen Baby Food

It’s somehow appropriate that the IRS would release a private letter ruling regarding a double mastectomy in October (in case you’re not aware, it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month). Here are the facts:

Taxpayer had a double mastectomy. She later gave birth to a healthy baby. As a result of the mastectomy, she was not able to breastfeed her baby. To meet her baby’s nutritional needs, taxpayer bought infant formula. She then requested a ruling from the IRS to classify infant formula as a deductible medical expense on her tax return.

It’s worth noting that infant formula can be a significant expense. Estimates are all over the place but seem to settle in at about $40 per week for formula – or just over $2000 per year. If you require a special formula, such as Alimentum, you can easily double that estimate.

Generally, infant formula is not deductible as a medical expense. It’s nutrition and as far as the IRS is concerned, it’s no different than, say, an apple. That’s spelled out at section 262 of the Code which bars deductions for mere personal or living expenses.

However, section 213(d)(1)(A) of the Code allows you to claim an expense for “medical care” for amounts paid:

(A) for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body

“Medical care” may include special foods and beverages if they are prescribed to treat a specific illness and are in addition to your normal diet. But… And it’s a big but… If those special foods and beverages are consumed as substitutes for your normal diet, they aren’t deductible. This is why, for example, you can’t deduct your Jenny Craig meals (though certain diet program fees may be deductible).

So, using that criteria, the IRS found that, in this case, the infant formula was considered food and not a deductible medical expense as that term is defined under section 213.

Keep in mind that while private letter rulings are interesting in that they provide insight into where the IRS is going on a particular issue, they are not binding and are only applicable to the individual taxpayer. That said, do you think the IRS got this one right?

(Hat Tip: TaxProf Blog)

{ 19 comments }

12 Days of Charitable Giving: Susan Komen for the Cure

December 21, 2008 · 2 comments

It’s the seventh day of my 12 Days of Charitable Giving. To recap, I’ve asked a panel of judges to review a number of deserving charities as suggested by my readers. I’ll be posting one a day for – well, 12 days (I’m clever that way).

I encourage you to check out the charities voted “most deserving” by my readers and judges. Remember that these are just suggestions and, in most cases, we can’t personally vouch for the good work that these folks do. So be smart. And be generous.

Today’s featured charity was submitted by me. That’s right. I can comment, too! I wrote:

I support Susan Komen for the Cure.

As you may know, my grandmother died of breast cancer and I supported Komen publicly on the blog this year in her honor.

In prior years, I have “walked for the cure” — this year, I am putting together a team to “run for the cure” in May. It’s a 5k run in Philadelphia.

I think it’s important to support a cause that has the potential to affect so many women. More than 40,000 women will die this year from breast cancer in the US. That is more than 40,000 mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, daughters and friends. We can make a difference.

Web site is http://www.komen.org/

A search at irs.gov (which I highly recommend any time you are considering making a donation) reveals that Susan Komen Foundation is on the IRS list of charitable organizations.

Since it was my original pitch, I’ll make a second pitch. I’ll be running a 5k on Mother’s Day 2009 to raise funds for Susan Komen. Help a taxgirl out and support Team Joye in memory of my grandmother, Aline Joye.

You can read about our prior 12 Days’ picks here:

Thanks to our guest judge, Sean Kelly, for choosing Susan Komen for the Cure. It is a meaningful pick since Sean lost his mother to cancer last year. Sean writes the snarky, witty and popular Franchise Pick blog. Sean founded the Marketing Department of Auntie Anne’s Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels, designed and implemented their national marketing program and served as their first Director of Marketing until founding the national marketing firm, IdeaFarm in 1996 – which means I think he owes me some pretzels!

{ 2 comments }

Pink for October">Think Pink for October

October 7, 2008 · 47 comments

My maternal grandmother may be responsible for my current coffee addiction. She used to let me drink a little bit of coffee – with a lot of milk – as she drank her own coffee (all day long). It was the beginning of a life long love affair, though now I drink it black, the way that nature intended. So, today when you drive by a Starbucks and wonder how they made all of their money, you can thank my grandmother.

My grandmother also had breast cancer. It eventually spread to her lungs and she died. I was with her, in her house, when it happened, when she took her last breath. I remember every thing about that day.

I’d like to think her spirit lives on – and not just through our mutual love of coffee. So, for October, in honor of my grandmother, I’m making a donation to Susan G. Komen For the Cure. I’ll donate $1 for every unique comment (meaning, not spam) on this post. You can just say hi, ask me a tax question, chat about tax policy or leave the name of someone close to you that was diagnosed with breast cancer – heck, you can even tell me how much you love the Phillies!

Of course, you can always make a donation directly. Since Susan G. Komen For the Cure is a tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization, you can take the deduct your donation on your federal income tax return – assuming you itemize.

Susan G. Komen For the Cure has received the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator. You can review their financial statements and forms 990 here (something I always recommend when making a decision about donations).

For more information about breast cancer, be sure and check out Pink Ribbon Review.

Thanks in advance.

[Author's note: A reader pointed out that the pink may be hard to read on some screens... So in the event that you're one of those folks, the pink part reads: I'll donate $1 for every unique comment (meaning, not spam) on this post.]

{ 47 comments }