It’s the third day of our 12 Days of Charitable Giving! In December, I’ll be focusing on twelve charitable organizations that my readers have nominated as most deserving of your charitable donation. You have a couple more weeks to squeeze in your charitable deduction for tax purposes in 2013 – so why not consider one of our twelve?
Today’s featured charity is Children of Fallen Patriots.
Children of Fallen Patriots has as their mission to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. Fallen Patriots understands the financial burdens placed on families that have lost a loved one while serving and college might seem like an unaffordable luxury. Fallen Patriots helps to relieve the financial burden that comes with higher education while also trying to ensure these children have a successful future.
The organization was started nearly twenty-five years ago. In 1989, five days before Christmas, Sergeant William Delaney Gibbs from the 7th Infantry Division was killed in action during Operation Just Cause in Panama, leaving behind a young wife and an unborn daughter. David Kim served with Sergeant Gibbs and was inspired by his sacrifice to establish Children of Fallen Patriots as a way to help Sgt. Gibb’s daughter and the thousands of children like her. Kim now serves as President of the organization.
Children of Fallen Patriots awards scholarships to families from all branches and units of the armed forces. So far, they have awarded $5.8 million in scholarships to 377 children. The organization has raised even more dollars to assist 1,000 more children in the system who are currently too young for college. The goal is to ultimately raise over $200 million to help all children who need assistance.
You can see some of the lives touched by the organization here:
So how can you help? Cash donations are always appreciated. You can make a donation by check by sending it to the organization’s mailing address:
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
ATTN: Donor Services
419 Third Street North
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
You can also make a donation by wire transfer or donate stock (gifts of appreciated stock are a win-win-win) by contacting the organization directly via email at donorservices@fallenpatriots.org or call 866-917-2373.
If your workplace participates in the Combined Federal Campaign, Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is proud to be a member (#69859). Contact your human resources manager for more information.
As always, you want to make sure that your donation is going to a qualified charitable organization. A search using the IRS’ Exempt Organizations Select Check reveals that Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is on the IRS list of qualified charitable organizations. To find out more about the work of the organization, check out their website, like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.
As we go along this month, I encourage you to check out the charities that made our list this year:
- 12 Days of Charitable Giving 2013: Kids Making It
- 12 Days Of Charitable Giving 2013: Flashes Of Hope
Remember, submissions to the 12 Days of Charitable Giving are made by readers and in most cases, I can’t personally vouch for the good work that these folks do. So be generous. But be smart. Do your homework.
For more on the tax considerations in making charitable donations, check out some of these prior posts:
- Making Your Gifts Count: 10 Smart Tips For Charitable Giving
- 12 Tips for Year-End Charitable Giving
- Ask the Taxgirl: Charitable Contributions and Receipts
