For the Love of a Friend

"HEARTS FOR JAYLA" continues to garner lots of support but can always use more. Since her eye inquiry in 2009, Jayla has endured numerous surgury with the most recent one, April 13th. She is a phenomenal child with the spirit of a winner no matter what. You got to love her!!

There are a lot of people in her corner as demonstated by this most recent article. Her friend, Brett Hoffman (11 years old), is making a difference with his jewelry design for Jayla (10 years old). My marathon run could only have happened with the energy obtained from the charities I represented.

Contact us for your continued support of our charitable endeavors.

Marathon Update - First 10K EVER!!!

Yes, I ran my first 10k, ever. It was Labor Day when most folks relax and enjoy a cook out or two. But, not me, I was out there running through the neighborhood of Morrisville, Pennsylvania. I figured if I intend to do a Marathon, 26 miles, I should clearly start with some shorter races. So, the 10k (6.2 miles, my tag number for the run was 62, coincidence???), was my starting point. In my training schedule, I had run 6 miles a couple of times, so I knew I could do it.

BUT, running on your own and running an event is so different. The Pros: Folks cheering for you; Water breaks.....The Cons: The fast pace of all the runners. So what I did was just slow down to my own comfortable pace which meant I was soon all alone, just me, myself and I.

BUT the cheering carried me through to the end and I crossed the finished line completing my first 10k. A BAGEL and WATER never tasted soooo goood!!!

I run because Jonathan can't!!
I run because Jayla needs her full vision!!

Donate what you can!!!

Who is a Millionaire?

There are some stories that fill you with emotions. They touch our souls. I want to share this story of Grace Groner with you.


We ALL have something to give that will make a difference to someone. In the case of this very special story, a lot of people will benefit from the generosity of an unlikely millionaire. Leave your comments here or contact us at http://www.ythlaw.com/

Charitable Trusts

Charitable Trusts are another way to engage in charitable giving. The types of trusts discussed today have significant tax benefits and include the Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT), Charitable Reminder Unitrust (CRUT) and Charitable Leads Trust. The first two trusts, CRAT and CRUT, allow you to provide a remainder interest to a charitable organization while you continue to benefit during your lifetime from the asset to be transferred. These trusts are considered split interest trusts. They have both charitable and non-charitable beneficiaries.

The Charitable Leads Trust is also a split interest trust. However, it is the reverse of the CRAT and CRUT. The Charitable Leads Trust pays income first to the charity for a term of years and then the remainder amount is paid back to you or, if the trust is established after your death, to your beneficiaries. This means that the charity gets paid first and then the non-charitable recipient. Therefore, the charity leads the non-charitable recipient. That is why this particular trust is referred to as a Charitable Leads Trust.

The use of CRAT, CRUT and Charitable Leads Trust offer financial advantages to you during their lifetime. With the CRAT and CRUT, you, as the non-charitable beneficiary, have the right to receive, at least annually, an annuity or unitrust amount for life or for a term of years (not more than 20 years). At the end of the established term, the remaining assets of the trust are paid to or held for the benefit of charity. If the interest is an annuity interest, then the trust is considered a CRAT. When it is established, you choose the payout rate. The higher the payment to you, the lower the charitable deduction will be for tax purposes. If the interest is a unitrust interest, the trust is considered a CRUT. In the CRUT, the assets are revalued every year to determine the payout rate each year.

Whether you use a CRAT, CRUT, or a Charitable Leads Trust, you should choose appreciating assets to give and place in the trust. Since charities are not taxed, this will avoid a capital gain tax when the asset is sold by the charity. Therefore, for appreciating assets like real estate and stock, you get a charitable deduction during your lifetime and the charity avoids a capital gain tax.

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Ways to Make Charitable Gifts

Many people during their lifetime engage in charitable giving activities. They make gifts to cancer research, heart associations, educational institutions, or well water projects. Many give to hospitals, churches, or other religious and cultural institutions. Others have long term relationships with charities and want to continue charitable giving upon their death but they just do not know how. That is where estate planning comes into play.

There are many ways to engage in charitable estate planning. Today, I will address one of the most basic ways to make a charitable gift. That is through a bequest made in your will or trust. A bequest is appealing to many people because they can maintain control of their assets until they die, it is the easiest way to give, and it can also be changed at any time. The bequest is a statement in the will or trust identifying assets you want to leave and to which charitable institution you want to leave the assets.

Tomorrow, we will address other charitable estate planning methods. Stay tuned.

Leave your comments here or contact us at www.ythlaw.com

What is a Qualified Charity?

As I continue to talk about charitable estate planning, it is important to define a qualified charity so that you can make the appropriate choices for your charitable estate planning. A charity which qualifies for charitable gifts is one that is a charitable organization as described in the Internal Revenue Code 501 (c) (3). All nonprofit organizations are defined by the IRS as either "public charities" or "private foundation." Public charities include churches, schools, museum, hospitals, and medical research organizations. All public charities rely on public support. Contributions to a public charity are tax deductible.

Public charities also include community foundations. Community foundations are organized as a permanent collection of endowed funds and charitable donations for the advantage of a defined geographic area. The governing body of a community foundation is made up of representatives of the general community which operate the foundation as a grant-making organizations. The community foundation accept gifts of cash and other tangible and intangible assets. Giving to a community foundation allows you to leverage your contribution with others to help make a greater impact on the recipient of the grant given by the foundation.

Tomorrow's blog will explore the private foundation and how they can be a part of your charitable estate planning. Ask your questions regarding charitable estate planning and I will provide a response for all to benefit.