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51 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, December 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 26, 2004 Planned Parenthood Teen Theatre director Cil Stengel, left, watches Brianna Miller, Lea Davis and Erika Perkinson rehearse a skit recently for a fund-raising performance. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli A welcome tax kicker Southern Oregon charities reap the benefit of state tax return check-offs By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune It’s still six months from tax season, but in Southern Oregon, agencies that benefit from charitable check-off donations are celebrating many happy returns. Several local projects are flourishing thanks to a quick flick of a pencil on state tax forms, advocates say. From a new Head Start playground to a Planned Parenthood teen theater group, parenting classes to AIDS research, a wide range of programs are putting extra tax dollars to use. "We’re real excited because we’ve taken that money and put it right back into the community," said Peggy Jorgenson, development director for the local Planned Parenthood affiliate. Last year, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Oregon received more than $5,000 of the nearly $20,000 collected during the first year the agency participated in the program run by the state Department of Revenue. Planned Parenthood used the money to pay for traveling expenses for its teen theater group to perform statewide, Jorgenson said. In Eugene, between 250 and 300 people saw local kids enact skits about teen life. Advertisement Those funds were only a fraction of the nearly $740,000 Oregonians contributed in 2003 to nonprofit causes through the program that has raised nearly $8 million since 1991. More than 103,000 taxpayers last year opted to donate a dollar or more to any of 18 causes. That’s about 6.5 percent of the 1.6 billion folks who filed returns in the state; clearly most taxpayers prefer not to pay any more money than they have to. But those who don’t mind can choose from a growing number of charitable check-off options. Five agencies are listed right on the tax form. Two must be included by state statute: the Oregon Nongame Wildlife Fund and AIDS/HIV Education and Services, according to Ken Ross, a manager with the state Department of Revenue. Those five have benefited most from the donation program, figures showed. The Child Abuse and Prevention category, for instance, has collected the most money through the program — nearly $165,000 in 2003 and more than $2 million in check-off funds since 1991. In Southern Oregon, about $35,000 to combat child abuse has been routed through the Children’s Trust Fund, said Cindy Thompson, director of the Portland agency. The money pays for parenting classes offered by Community Works of Medford, for crisis services in Klamath Falls and also for Project Baby Check in Cave Junction, which sends advocates to rural homes to offer support and advice to new parents. "We do a lot of promotion of the check-off option, particularly in the larger metropolitan areas," said Thompson. The charitable check-off program is a welcome fund-raiser for more than a dozen charities that don’t get tax-form billing. Agencies that want to be included on tax forms must follow a few guidelines. They must have received $1 million in income or contributions in the previous year; offer programs consistent with state goals; and collect 10,000 signatures of registered voters. Three more new charities are set to be listed in tax return instructions next year, Ross said. "The way the law is written now, my understanding is that there is no limit," he said. "It could be up to 500 or more." To donate, taxpayers must find the agency’s listed code and fill it in on the form. Only one write-in charity is allowed, Ross noted. More listed options could offer taxpayers more charitable choices — or it could dilute a limited donation pool. As it is, many agencies combine the check-off funds with other contributions. At St. Vincent de Paul in Medford, director Bill Schueller turned down his portion of the $8,500 collected statewide through the program in 2003. "It’s only a few hundred dollars," he said. "I just bypass it and say give it to Klamath Falls. They need it more." Other nonprofit leaders say every little bit helps. Habitat for Humanity divides the $12,000 it receives among about three dozen local chapters. Past director Anna D’Amato said she always took the money. "It’s $500 you didn’t have to work too hard for," she said. "It’s always a good thing." On the Web: http://www.dor.state.or.us/taxInfo/charities.html Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Local projects helped through the program Following are a few Southern Oregon projects funded through the state’s check-off program: Head Start of Southern Oregon, $10,500 to build a preschool playground at Jackson Elementary School in Medford. Planned Parenthood of Southwest Oregon, $5,500 for travel expenses for the agency’s teen theater group. Salvation Army, Medford Citadel, $850 to send five local children to Camp Kuralti, a weeklong summer camp for youth. Community Works, Medford, $4,000 through the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence for Dunn House and sexual abuse assault services; $11,000 through the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon for parent education and alternative education. Siskiyou Community Health Center, Cave Junction, $14,000 for Project Baby Check. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities