Saving Lives and Money

(ARA) - Tax time will be here before you know it, and if you don't have enough deductions to balance things out, instead of getting a refund check, you may have to send more money to Uncle Sam.(ARA) - Tax time will be here before you know it, and if you don't have enough deductions to balance things out, instead of getting a refund check, you may have to send more money to Uncle Sam.

If you want to save yourself from a similar fate next year, now is the time to start looking into your options. One idea is to sign up for a "monthly giving" program like the one offered by Mercy Corps, a not-for-profit organization that delivers critical aid to the world's poorest families.

Just log on to www.mercycorps.org, to set up an account. The site allows people to customize their giving to fit their unique interests and lifestyle. It also offers benefactors a simple way to keep track of their donations: the organization sends out a cumulative receipt at year's end. That way, at tax time, it's easy to total and deduct your contributions.

By helping donors spread out their gifts throughout the year, Mercy Corps' monthly giving programs give them an affordable way to make a difference in the lives of poor families every day.

For example:

* A $30 monthly donation -- just $1 per day -- can provide clean drinking water to 15 children in Liberia every month. Your year-end contribution will total $360 toward a tax deduction.

* A $60 monthly donation -- less than the price of a cup of coffee each day -- will amount to a $720 deduction at tax time. That amount could construct a temporary school classroom for children in a disaster-affected community.

"Our monthly giving programs are exceptional because they not only help poor communities on an ongoing basis, but also give donors an opportunity to choose the program they'd like to support," says Matthew De Galan, Mercy Corps' Chief Development Officer. "We also make a personal commitment to donors by sending out monthly receipts, sending out informative updates and respecting their privacy."

Mercy Corps uses donors' money wisely and efficiently: over 91 percent of donations go directly to lifesaving programs. The organization's experience and efficiency have earned it a prestigious "four-star" rating from Charity Navigator.

Donating to these programs is easy. When someone joins one of the three monthly giving programs -- Give for Kids, Heroes Against Hunger and Partners in Mercy -- they receive periodic newsletters and information, but no additional solicitations.

Here are brief descriptions of the programs:

* Give for Kids specifically addresses the most urgent needs of poor children around the world, helping them gain more reliable access to nutritious food, clean water, shelter and a good education.

* Heroes Against Hunger helps Mercy Corps ensure that children and families have enough to eat through supplying nutrient-rich foods to communities and establishing feeding programs in local schools.

* Partners in Mercy supports Mercy Corps' commitment to rapid, decisive action in response to disasters. With your partnership, we are prepared to act when the world's most vulnerable families need our help most.

"The need for mercy is ongoing," says Dan O'Neill, the organization's co-founder. "We need to provide constant relief to children and families and let them know that the world hasn't forgotten about them."

This year, you can make a commitment to helping poor children and families around the world. Joining one of Mercy Corps' monthly giving programs will ensure that lifesaving aid will continue to reach those who have lost everything but hope.

To learn more about how you can help transform lives around the world, call (800) 292-3355 (extension 250) or visit the Mercy Corps Web site at www.mercycorps.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content