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CFT News
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CFT/NCF OFFER $2 MILLION MATCHING GRANT FOR LONG TERM HAITI RENEWAL EFFORTS
While emergency efforts bring immediate relief to Haiti, Craig Juntunen, founder of Chances for Children, launched the "Haiti Renewal Fund" January 19. The fund, designed to assist in a fresh renewal of the devastated nation of Haiti, opens with an initial matching grant of $2 million from Jackson Hole residents Lynn and Foster Friess and from Childhelp, drawn from donations specifically designated to the fund. The National Christian Foundation will receive contributions and distribute grants from the Fund.
"In a few weeks or months the enormous worldwide relief effort in Haiti will meet food, water and shelter needs, but what then?" said Juntunen, who will be raising additional monies for the fund.
Juntunen's Chances for Children foundation, operates an orphanage near Port-au-Prince and last year placed 30 Haitian orphans in adoptive families. It will expand to meet the soaring number of newly-orphaned children and also encourage Cure International, an organization that operates hospitals in the nearby Dominican Republic, Uganda, Malawi and Honduras, in its goal to open a new children's hospital in Haiti.
Water Mission International adds water purification units and Childhelp brings its 50 years of experience of serving five million abused children to the equation. Georgia-based The National Christian Foundation, the fund administrator, will be advised on allocation of funds by a diverse team of leaders including; Phoenix attorney, sculptor and Cure International board member Marilyn Quayle; her husband former Vice President Dan Quayle; "Charlie's Angel" star and Childhelp celebrity ambassador Cheryl Ladd; Childhelp Founders Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson; Childhelp Executive Vice President Jim Hebets; and Christian philanthropist Foster Friess.
"So much well-intentioned funding is wasted in corruption and institutional overhead," said Juntunen, who serves without salary. "We are grateful for the oversight of these compassionate individuals and for the long track records of success and fiscal responsibility of the charities involved."
Juntunen authored Both Ends Burning, chronicling his personal transformation from a self-serving life to adopting three young children from Haiti in 2006 with his wife Kathi: Espie, Quinn and Amelec.
To support the Haiti Renewel Fund administered by NCF, Click Here.
THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION ADN AFFILIATES REACH $2 BILLION GRANT MILESTONE
The National Christian Foundation (NCF) reached a major milestone in giving with the distribution of its two billionth grant dollar since 1982. This record illustrates the exponential growth of the non-profit as it took almost 25 years to reach their first $1 billion grant mark, while the $2 billion grant milestone came in just over three years. NCF President, David Wills said, “We attribute this growth to God at work in and through believers as they seek to be wise and faithful stewards, even in these difficult economic times. Additionally, our expanding network of over 37 Affiliates around the country has allowed us to work more closely with those whom we are privileged to serve.” Currently, NCF and its 37 Local Christian Foundation Affiliates, including The Christian Foundation of the Triangle, are ranked as the nation’s 22nd largest charity. Givers make contributions to their donor-advised funds at CFT/NCF and then recommend grants to organizations that are making a difference here and around the world.
The $1.5 million grant that made this milestone possible was recommended by “The Green Fund to Reach the Children,” a donor-advised fund of Hobby Lobby, one of America’s fastest growing arts and crafts retail chains. Their grant will go to help needy children.
David Green, C.E.O. of Hobby Lobby says, “At a time when our nation’s charities need help like never before, we are delighted to be a part of this new milestone in the history of American giving. With the help of NCF and their Kansas City Affiliate, Hobby Lobby is able to give more to the causes that are closest to our hearts, such as needy children.”
IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER EXTENDED
In the "Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008" of H.R. 1424, Congress extended an excellent charitable planning opportunity for both 2008 and 2009. This act permits an IRA owner age 70½ or older to make a direct transfer to charity up to $100,000 in one year. This extension is valid through 2008 & 2009.
You can make a gift from you IRA to a public charity, but not to a donor advised fund (such as your CFT Giving Fund) or a private foundation. However, CFT can help you establish a 'Designated Fund' that allows you to (a) contribute part of your IRA, (b) designate which charity you wish to receive the funds, and (c) advise CFT about the timing of grant checks to the charity – as well as the investment of the funds. CFT will take care of the rest.
Read more on how to donate from your IRA by clicking here.
FAMILY STEWARDSHIP POLICY
August 1, 2008
 Now you can download a simple guide to help your family develop a "Family Stewardship Policy". NCF's experts guide you through the acquisition, preservation, utilization, and disposition of financial/material resources. Click here to download the PDF of this brochure.
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