The Hospital for Special Care Foundation in New Britain will host a series of four educational programs starting Sept. 24 to assist those interested in charitable giving in understanding how to make the most of their gifts in light of possible tax changes in 2013.
“President Obama has proposed limiting the amount that wealthy Americans can write-off on their taxes for making gifts, so we are offering this series as a helpful educational resource for the community,” said Sheila Hogan, vice president, Hospital for Special Care Foundation. “For example, donors who are concerned about the potential for new limits in 2013 might be motivated to make gifts before the end of 2012, or accelerate payments on pledges from past years in order to receive a tax break now.”
Currently, individuals can give or leave up to $5 million to heirs tax-free in 2012, but unless Congress takes action, much more of their estates may be taxable in 2013.
The schedule of free programs includes:
• Sept. 24 — “Finding Your Philanthropy: Getting the Greatest Impact from Your Giving,” presented by Amy Jamrog, Northwest Mutual. This program highlights how you can make the most of your giving.
• Sept. 28 — “The Special Needs Trust,” presented by James Parker, Wells Fargo Private Bank, and Jay Kearns, Kearns & Kearns, for individuals and families who want to ensure the financial well-being of a loved one with special needs in future years.
• Nov. 14 — “End-of-Year Strategies for Wealth Preservation,” presented by Webster Bank advisors on how to make the most of your investments and your philanthropy in light of impending tax changes.
• Dec. 6 — “Understanding Potential Changes to the Estate Tax,” presented by Brendan Conry of Conry Asset Management, which will cover potential changes to the way families will approach generational planning concerning inheritance.
All sessions will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Howey Conference Center at the Hospital for Special Care. Registration must be made in advance as seating will be limited. To register, call Sheila Hogan at 860.832.6213.
Habitat for Humanity gains
Hartford Area Habitat For Humanity raised more than $70,000 in donations with its 18th annual “Bricks for Sticks” charity golf tournament at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford.
Funds raised from the tournament will assist Habitat with funding for several projects including building 16 townhomes on South Marshall St. in the Asylum Hill neighborhood of Hartford.
Cornerstone Advisors and Simon Konover were the lead sponsors.
Habitat homes are funded by a combination of corporate donations, city money, grants and volunteers. More than 5,000 volunteers from civic groups, faith organizations, businesses and educational institutions have helped build the homes.
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Two grants at Children’s
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center has been beneficiary of two major awards.
The National Institutes of Health — National Cancer Institute has awarded the center $2 million for a five-year study, “Sphingosine-1- Phosphate Pathway Based Therapy for Neuroblastoma.”
The study, led by Connecticut Children’s Executive Vice President and Surgeon-in-Chief Fernando Ferrer, will investigate a novel approach to treating neuroblastoma, a deadly childhood tumor, by targeting a lipid signaling pathway essential to tumor growth.
Neuroblastoma is difficult to treat and, in most patients, has already spread when first diagnosed. It is most commonly identified in children before age five, and occurs in approximately one out of 100,000 children.
Also, Hyundai Hope On Wheels, and Hartford area Hyundai dealers presented $325,000 in research grants to support pediatric cancer research in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr. Olga Toro-Salazar of Connecticut Children’s is one of 41 recipients of the Hope On Wheels’ 2012 Hyundai Hope Grants in the amount of $250,000. In addition, Dr. Andrea Orsey received a $75,000 Scholar Grant and Hope On Wheels has awarded Connecticut Children’s with $10,000 toward the purchase of personal technology and electronics. That money is part of the Hyundai Hot Spot Award, which is designed to fill the void of in-care activities catered to teen patients.
