DO YOU STILL PLAN TO GIVE?
Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation fast approaching $1.3 million goal

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Dec. 06, 2007

DO YOU STILL PLAN TO GIVE?

Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation fast approaching $1.3 million goal

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor

With 100 percent of the dollars for local school designations raised, attention has turned toward raising money for the unrestricted portion of the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation.

Kevin Vickery, diocesan superintendent of schools, said, "Each school has done an extraordinary job." Calling it "a global effort," he credited the school development directors, school administrators, pastors and volunteers for the success in raising those funds. In all, $974,500 of the almost $1.3 million allowable was earmarked for the school designations.

He is pleased with the fact that even after the schools had met their own designations, the development directors have continued to encourage donations to the unrestricted fund.

As of press time, the unrestricted fund currently has just over $181,000 of its $324,658 goal. So there is about $143,000 remaining.

"We are at about 56 percent of our goal for the unrestricted dollars," said Vickery. Thus far about 89 percent or $1.155 million of the almost $1.3 million has been raised.

Kristie Arlt, diocesan director of communications and stewardship, stressed that the total dollars raised thus far would have more than likely changed by the time people receive this edition of The Globe in their homes.

"A lot of people like to wait until year-end to do their giving. I would advise that they do it sooner rather than later as the tax credits could be gone," she said.

This year student tuition organizations (STOs) throughout the state are allowed to raise $5 million. The diocesan share is $1.3 million. Last year, STOs statewide were allowed to raise $2.5 million and the diocesan share was just over $690,000.

With these organizations, those who give to the STOs receive a 65 percent tax credit on their contribution as long as they have an Iowa tax liability. With the availability of federal deductions in most cases, the tax benefits are even more enhanced.

Vickery pointed out that last year, the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation had raised its share and given its allowable tax credits by Dec. 6.

"Consistently through this year's campaign, the week to week percentage has been consistent with last year," he said. "We are definitely edging toward the completion of our campaign."

Arlt commended the development directors, administrators and all people who helped in this effort.

"They have not left one stone unturned and they have taken time to really explain the benefits to potential donors and that makes a big difference," she said. "Msgr. Lafferty is a wonderful program, but it can be complex, too."

Arlt mentioned that the development directors in particular have done a good job of helping other schools out as well because they wanted all schools to be successful in meeting their designations.

While this campaign started on Jan. 1 of last year, Vickery noted that the majority of the dollars were raised in six weeks.

"It's a great statement to the commitment that so many benefactors in Northwest Iowa have to the church and Catholic education," he said. "We are blessed with not only their gifts of money, but their prayers and other ways they support our schools. We will change lives because of the way in which people have supported the ministry of the church."

Those interested in making a contribution to the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation should contact Arlt immediately at (712) 233-7513 to check for availability of tax credits.

And if you miss the opportunity to contribute this year, next year the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation will be allowed to raise almost $2 million.