The Best Gift to Give
Hearts are especially full this time of year. Generosity and compassion tempt us on a daily basis as we are bombarded with charities and wor...
http://www.menifee247.com/2011/12/best-gift-to-give.html
Hearts are especially full this time of year. Generosity and compassion tempt us on a daily basis as we are bombarded with charities and worthy causes on nearly every corner.
The possibilities for giving are so infinite it often leaves the mind feeling overwhelmed with options. Far and wide there are so many organizations willing to collect your contribution that often times the nearby causes go unnoticed.
For your caring convenience Menifee 24/7 has rounded up some local nonprofits, right here in our own community, worthy of your kind donations.
Animal Friends of the Valleys
What they do: Animal Friends of the Valleys promotes the humane care of animals by providing a wide range of services to the cities of Menifee, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Temecula, and Wildomar. These programs include animal adoptions and fostering, educational programs for the public, facilitating low cost vaccination clinics, and animal control services.
How you can contribute: You can donate directly through their website, as well as donating necessary pet products such as food and blankets to their facility.
Status: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Info: 33751 Mission Trail
Wildomar, CA 92595
Phone: (951) 471-8344
Hours: Monday thru Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesdays, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
3rd Sunday of each month, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Children’s Corrective Surgery Society
What they do: Local doctors from around the Inland Empire started the Children’s Corrective Surgery Society to provide medical services for children whose families cannot afford treatment. These doctors donate their services and time to perform thousands of surgeries all over the globe each year.
How you can contribute: Donations are accepted through their website, via phone, and also mail.
Status: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Children's Corrective Surgery Society
Phone: (800) 803-9190
Hospice of the Valleys
What they do: Hospice of the Valleys operates within Murrieta and Temecula to provide loving care and compassion to individuals coping with life-threatening illnesses. They also offer support and assistance to the families of those experiencing the terminal illness.
How you can contribute: The organization accepts donations in the form of checks, cash, credit cards, stock, or in-kind contributions and can be made in someone’s name or in honor there of. Donations can conveniently be made through their website.
Status: 501(C)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Hospice of the Valleys
Info: 25240 Hancock Ave., Suite 120
Murrieta, CA 92562
Phone: (951) 200-7800
Menifee Valley Community Cupboard
What they do: Volunteers at the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard continually collect food donations throughout the year to give to those in need in the Menifee and surrounding area. Covered areas include zip codes; 92584, 92585, 92586 and the Quail Valley and Cottonwood Canyon portions of 92587.
How you can contribute: Non-perishable food items can be donated during business hours, or to designated marked bins at various locations throughout the community. Monetary donations are accepted during business hours and through their website.
Status: 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: MVCupboard.org
Info: 26808 Cherry Hills Blvd
Sun City, CA 92586
Phone: (951) 301-4414
Office hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Our Nicolas Foundation
What they do: The Nicholas Foundation strives to increase awareness of Autism and to help provide local financial support for education, therapies, research, and families affected by Autism. Through this they hope to help give each child with Autism the opportunity to thrive.
How you can contribute: They accept donations through their website and are always looking for auction items for their fundraising events.
Status: 501(c)(3) California Non-Profit Corporation
Link: Our Nicholas Foundation
Info: 31493 Rancho Pueblo Rd. #205
Temecula, CA 92592
Phone: (951) 303-873
Sun City K9 Adoptions
What they do: Sun City K9 Adoptions is a private, no-kill animal rescue dedicated to providing shelter and care for found and unwanted animals until they can be re-homed.
How you can contribute: Monetary donations can be made directly through their website. When eating at the Beer Hunter in Menifee you can mention “K9 Adopt” and 5% of your bill will be donated to SCK9.
Status: 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Sun City K9 Adoptions
Info: 26510 Murrieta Road
Sun City, CA 92586
Phone: (951) 679-6444
Hours: Monday thru Sunday, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Closed from 12:00 to 1:00 for lunch.
United Way
What they do: United Way is dedicated to helping build a better community by connecting people, resources, and ideas. They strive to make a difference in youth success, children’s health and welfare, and retired and senior volunteer programs.
How you can contribute: Monetary donations are accepted directly through their website.
Status: 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Menifee United Way
Info: 27070 Sun City Blvd
Menifee, CA 92586
Phone:(951) 282-5761
Wishes For Children
What they do: Wishes For Children Foundation works with local charities to raise money that will help to make a difference in a local child’s life. Wishes are awarded case by case for a variety of reasons ranging from children with disabilities or terminal illnesses, underprivileged families, and many more.
How you can contribute: Monetary donations are collected directly through their website.
Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Link: Wishes For Children
Info: 44749 Corte Sanchez
Temecula, CA 92592
Phone: (951) 302-2231
Suzanne Castino runs a local accounting company and knows a thing or two about nonprofit contributions and write-offs. In actuality she has been in the bookkeeping business for over twenty-five years and knows nearly everything there is to know about accurate accounting.
Aside from doing personal taxes and running the books for small businesses, she also works with approximately five non-profit organizations each year to help them get, and keep, their financial records in order. Because the parameters are different for each type of business, nonprofits require a special set of bookkeeping skills.
While Suzanne comes highly recommended by her adoring clients, she confides, “Crunching numbers is fine but that’s not my passion. Helping people grow their businesses, now that’s my passion.”
She keeps books for individuals, sole proprietors, and corporations in tiptop shape. But when it comes down to it, pushing people to succeed is why she loves what she does, and perhaps also why she does it so well.
In sharing her wealth of knowledge Suzanne has offered some helpful hints for individuals and businesses owners looking to make tax-deductible donations this holiday season.
Individuals:
1. Tax-deductible donations can be monetary or tangible but must be itemized per donation. When donating items such as toys, food, or furniture, the total fair market value should be documented.
2. Buying goods or services from a nonprofit organization for a fundraiser does not qualify as a tax write-off, the donation must be solely a contribution.
3. Individuals should obtain a letter or receipt from the organization stating the donation value, means, and date.
Small Businesses:
1. Small businesses can write-off items purchased through a non-profit if they are for the business. For instance, local businesses can support the New Life tree lot by buying a tree for their office and it will qualify as a tax deduction as well.
2. Monetary and itemized tangible donations from businesses show up in their personal taxes rather than their business financials, so making donations in return for a mention are better advised.
In giving back to help our community, together we can build a stronger city. Helping others really helps us all.
For further inquiries and questions concerning tax-deductible donations, please contact Suzanne for more information:
Temecula Valley Taxes
Contact: 951.579.4877
Email: Suzanne@temeculavalleytaxes.com
Champion Bookkeeping
Contact: 951.595.5416
Email: Suzanne@championbookkeeping.com
The possibilities for giving are so infinite it often leaves the mind feeling overwhelmed with options. Far and wide there are so many organizations willing to collect your contribution that often times the nearby causes go unnoticed.
For your caring convenience Menifee 24/7 has rounded up some local nonprofits, right here in our own community, worthy of your kind donations.
Animal Friends of the Valleys
What they do: Animal Friends of the Valleys promotes the humane care of animals by providing a wide range of services to the cities of Menifee, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Temecula, and Wildomar. These programs include animal adoptions and fostering, educational programs for the public, facilitating low cost vaccination clinics, and animal control services.
How you can contribute: You can donate directly through their website, as well as donating necessary pet products such as food and blankets to their facility.
Status: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Info: 33751 Mission Trail
Wildomar, CA 92595
Phone: (951) 471-8344
Hours: Monday thru Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesdays, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
3rd Sunday of each month, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Children’s Corrective Surgery Society
What they do: Local doctors from around the Inland Empire started the Children’s Corrective Surgery Society to provide medical services for children whose families cannot afford treatment. These doctors donate their services and time to perform thousands of surgeries all over the globe each year.
How you can contribute: Donations are accepted through their website, via phone, and also mail.
Status: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Children's Corrective Surgery Society
Phone: (800) 803-9190
Hospice of the Valleys
What they do: Hospice of the Valleys operates within Murrieta and Temecula to provide loving care and compassion to individuals coping with life-threatening illnesses. They also offer support and assistance to the families of those experiencing the terminal illness.
How you can contribute: The organization accepts donations in the form of checks, cash, credit cards, stock, or in-kind contributions and can be made in someone’s name or in honor there of. Donations can conveniently be made through their website.
Status: 501(C)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Hospice of the Valleys
Info: 25240 Hancock Ave., Suite 120
Murrieta, CA 92562
Phone: (951) 200-7800
Menifee Valley Community Cupboard
What they do: Volunteers at the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard continually collect food donations throughout the year to give to those in need in the Menifee and surrounding area. Covered areas include zip codes; 92584, 92585, 92586 and the Quail Valley and Cottonwood Canyon portions of 92587.
How you can contribute: Non-perishable food items can be donated during business hours, or to designated marked bins at various locations throughout the community. Monetary donations are accepted during business hours and through their website.
Status: 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: MVCupboard.org
Info: 26808 Cherry Hills Blvd
Sun City, CA 92586
Phone: (951) 301-4414
Office hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Our Nicolas Foundation
What they do: The Nicholas Foundation strives to increase awareness of Autism and to help provide local financial support for education, therapies, research, and families affected by Autism. Through this they hope to help give each child with Autism the opportunity to thrive.
How you can contribute: They accept donations through their website and are always looking for auction items for their fundraising events.
Status: 501(c)(3) California Non-Profit Corporation
Link: Our Nicholas Foundation
Info: 31493 Rancho Pueblo Rd. #205
Temecula, CA 92592
Phone: (951) 303-873
Sun City K9 Adoptions
What they do: Sun City K9 Adoptions is a private, no-kill animal rescue dedicated to providing shelter and care for found and unwanted animals until they can be re-homed.
How you can contribute: Monetary donations can be made directly through their website. When eating at the Beer Hunter in Menifee you can mention “K9 Adopt” and 5% of your bill will be donated to SCK9.
Status: 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Sun City K9 Adoptions
Info: 26510 Murrieta Road
Sun City, CA 92586
Phone: (951) 679-6444
Hours: Monday thru Sunday, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Closed from 12:00 to 1:00 for lunch.
United Way
What they do: United Way is dedicated to helping build a better community by connecting people, resources, and ideas. They strive to make a difference in youth success, children’s health and welfare, and retired and senior volunteer programs.
How you can contribute: Monetary donations are accepted directly through their website.
Status: 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit
Link: Menifee United Way
Info: 27070 Sun City Blvd
Menifee, CA 92586
Phone:(951) 282-5761
Wishes For Children
What they do: Wishes For Children Foundation works with local charities to raise money that will help to make a difference in a local child’s life. Wishes are awarded case by case for a variety of reasons ranging from children with disabilities or terminal illnesses, underprivileged families, and many more.
How you can contribute: Monetary donations are collected directly through their website.
Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Link: Wishes For Children
Info: 44749 Corte Sanchez
Temecula, CA 92592
Phone: (951) 302-2231
Suzanne Castino runs a local accounting company and knows a thing or two about nonprofit contributions and write-offs. In actuality she has been in the bookkeeping business for over twenty-five years and knows nearly everything there is to know about accurate accounting.
Aside from doing personal taxes and running the books for small businesses, she also works with approximately five non-profit organizations each year to help them get, and keep, their financial records in order. Because the parameters are different for each type of business, nonprofits require a special set of bookkeeping skills.
While Suzanne comes highly recommended by her adoring clients, she confides, “Crunching numbers is fine but that’s not my passion. Helping people grow their businesses, now that’s my passion.”
She keeps books for individuals, sole proprietors, and corporations in tiptop shape. But when it comes down to it, pushing people to succeed is why she loves what she does, and perhaps also why she does it so well.
In sharing her wealth of knowledge Suzanne has offered some helpful hints for individuals and businesses owners looking to make tax-deductible donations this holiday season.
Individuals:
1. Tax-deductible donations can be monetary or tangible but must be itemized per donation. When donating items such as toys, food, or furniture, the total fair market value should be documented.
2. Buying goods or services from a nonprofit organization for a fundraiser does not qualify as a tax write-off, the donation must be solely a contribution.
3. Individuals should obtain a letter or receipt from the organization stating the donation value, means, and date.
Small Businesses:
1. Small businesses can write-off items purchased through a non-profit if they are for the business. For instance, local businesses can support the New Life tree lot by buying a tree for their office and it will qualify as a tax deduction as well.
2. Monetary and itemized tangible donations from businesses show up in their personal taxes rather than their business financials, so making donations in return for a mention are better advised.
In giving back to help our community, together we can build a stronger city. Helping others really helps us all.
For further inquiries and questions concerning tax-deductible donations, please contact Suzanne for more information:
Temecula Valley Taxes
Contact: 951.579.4877
Email: Suzanne@temeculavalleytaxes.com
Champion Bookkeeping
Contact: 951.595.5416
Email: Suzanne@championbookkeeping.com
