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December 23, 2009 www.ourfamilyservices.org
 
 AZ Charitable Tax Credit
  

 

 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Dedicate your tax dollars directly     where you want
 

The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit allows you to receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your Arizona state income tax when you give to a qualifying charity that serves the working poor. Our Family is a qualifying charity.
 
For those filing a single tax return, your tax credit can be up to $200; for those filing jointly, it's up to $400.

 

This means the money you pay in taxes can benefit your community through an organization that you choose!

 

The amount you donate, up to these limits, will be deducted from the tax liability you owe the state, or added to your state refund if you don't owe taxes this year.

 

Here's what to do:


1. Donate to Our Family, either online or by sending a check.

2. Prepare your state tax return. You must itemize!
 

3. Complete Arizona Tax Form 321 and include it with your state return.
  
Any cash contribution to Our Family in 2009 through any method qualifies for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit.

 
 
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 Our Family faces
Thank you for helping
turn lives around -- every day of the year
 

This has been a year of tremendous challenge for Our Family, and for the people we serve. With need as great as we've ever seen it, our resources are stretched thin. We have responded with creativity and hard work, and we are still strong, providing professional, quality services to people who need us more than ever.

Every day, youth, adults, seniors and families come to us in crisis.  Thanks to our caring community, they receive the help, support and resources they need to live better lives: 

When she first came to us for counseling, Ellen's bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression made it nearly impossible for her to leave the house, let alone apply for a passport and travel overseas. Her son was getting married in England and wanted her to attend. Our Family's therapist worked with Ellen to help her control her anxiety and muster the resolve to go. Ellen called later to express her gratitude -- she had danced all night at the wedding and had the time of her life!

At 90 years of age, Donald had lost family, friends and his health. He often thought about traumatic events from his youth and felt depressed. Our Services to Older and Disabled Adults intern is helping Donald tape and transcribe his life story. This has given Donald a goal every week. Sharing his story has brought him joy and given him fresh insight into his life.

Our Community Services staff provided anger-management workshops this year at Mary Meredith, a TUSD school for children with severe cognitive and emotional disabilities. One boy said the workshops were the best part of his day.

Jose is 96 years old and blind. He lives on the Tohono O'odham reservation with his son and daughter, but they work long hours so Jose spends most of his days alone. Visits from his Senior Companion partner, Joyce, are the highlight of his week. Joyce reads Jose his mail and newspapers and keeps him up-to-date. They enjoy talking in the O'odham language and listening to the Nation's radio station together.

Mary had been on the street for two months. She was 17, with an 8-month-old baby, and she was on probation for drug charges. While her grandmother cared for the baby, Mary lived at our Reunion House shelter for three months. She completed her GED and broke her substance addictions with the help of regular counseling. She worked full-time at a fast-food restaurant, earning a promotion and saving more than $1,500.  At the end of her stay, Mary turned 18 and moved into a transitional living program, where she was reunited with her baby. Mary called a couple of weeks ago to say she is doing well and to thank staff for believing she could turn her life around.

Support of this community makes all of this happen, and we are beyond grateful.

 
From Our Family to yours this holiday season, thank you.
 Help Our Family make a difference