Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Anonymous Donor Creates Endow Iowa Fund for GRMC

An anonymous donor has created an Endow Iowa endowment fund at the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation to benefit Grinnell Regional Medical Center. This endowed fund will have a maximum annual distribution of 5 percent. Going forward, additional donors may contribute to this newly established fund with a gift of $100 or greater and also take advantage of the tax benefit.

“GRMC is grateful to the donor who made this all possible,” says Todd Linden, GRMC President and CEO. “We are pleased to be a part of this collaboration between the donor and the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation. Interest earned from the endowment provides the medical center with funds for annual operating needs.”

“We are pleased to have the medical center included in this wonderful program,” says Tom Marshall, GPCF vice-president and founding board member. “This collaboration provides another opportunity for donors to give to a great organization.”

This partnership provides donors who wish to support the important work of GRMC with State of Iowa tax credits in addition to any federal tax benefits. This opportunity exists because of a program called the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program. Iowa citizens or businesses making a gift to a permanently endowed fund held by a qualified community foundation, such as GPCF, are eligible for a 25 percent State of Iowa tax credit.

The 25 percent Endow Iowa tax credit means that for every $100 contributed to this fund, the donor’s Iowa income tax bill is reduced by $25. The gift remains income tax-deductible for federal purposes, which produces additional savings for the donor consistent with their specific tax bracket.

The Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program was created to encourage individuals, businesses, and organizations to make lasting investments in their communities. To date, Iowans have donated $75 million by taking advantage of the Endow Iowa tax credit through endowments at community foundations across the state. Locally, donors have contributed more than $500,000 toward endowment funds through GPCF.  The foundation manages local funds for the Endow Iowa tax credit as the area’s community foundation. Endow Iowa tax credits are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about how to support Grinnell Regional Medical Center with the Endow Iowa program, please contact Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us. Donors with questions about Endow Iowa, may contact Delphina Baumann, GPCF gift planning coordinator, at 641-236-5518 or delphina@greaterpcf.org.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Annual GRMC Auxiliary Wreath Raffle Ushers in the Holiday

Welcome the holiday season with the annual wreath raffle sponsored by the Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. This year, the auxiliary will sell raffle tickets for 40 holiday and winter wreaths, more than ever before. Wreaths are 24 inches in diameter and decorated by area businesses and volunteers in a wide variety of themes – from traditional, whimsical and contemporary.

Ticket sales begin Monday, November 28 at The Glass Gift Box at GRMC. Wreaths will be displayed in the hospital hallways by The Glass Gift Box, laboratory waiting, and physical therapy. The drawing for wreaths will be Friday, December 16, at 1 p.m.

“We are thrilled to have so many wreaths for the raffle this year,” says Donna German, committee chair. “It’s a fun event to kick off the holiday season.”

This fundraiser for the GRMC Auxiliary will go toward the Auxiliary’s effort to help GRMC with a new mobile hospital van. Overall, the GRMC Auxiliary supports various medical center and health education programs, including $5,000 in scholarships, major equipment gifts to the medical center, books and gifts to newborns at the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center, and health education such as the Women’s Health Focus and Baby Fair.

Raffle tickets may be purchased at The Glass Gift Box, the Auxiliary’s gift shop inside the medical center, for $1 each or 6 for $5, beginning Monday, Nov. 28. While at The Glass Gift Box, shoppers can also purchase angels for the hospital angel tree in honor or memory of a loved one.

For more information on any of these events or to support the GRMC Auxiliary, call the GRMC volunteer coordinator at 236-2588.