Charitable Gift Annuities Do Double Duty
Imagine helping find a cure for multiple sclerosis while receiving lifetime payments. A charitable gift annuity or CGA is a way to accomplish both.
With a CGA, you make a gift of cash, stocks, bonds or other assets to the National MS Society. In return, you and/or someone you designate can receive regular payments starting immediately or deferred to a future time. In addition, you are eligible for a charitable income tax deduction and can potentially avoid a portion of capital gains taxes—all while helping the National MS Society fulfill its important mission.
Protect Your Financial Future
- CGA payment rates are based on the ages of the beneficiaries at the time payments begin—and increase with age. The National MS Society like most U.S. charitable organizations adopts rates suggested by the American Council on Gift Annuities.
- An annuity rate may be higher than what your current investments offer, including certificates of deposit.
- Those who are at or near retirement age find CGAs add stability to their existing financial plans.
A CGA May Be Appropriate If You Are Considering:
- Creating a supplemental retirement plan, like the couple who opened a $10,000 charitable gift annuity with the Society, then another, and are now contemplating a third. “We were looking for someplace to put money where we could get a lifetime income stream out of it—the folks at the Society made us aware they had this program and it was a good fit for us.”
- Providing financial assistance to a family member, like the grandmother who found that a CGA gave her the power to support MS research and provide hope for her grandson, who lives with MS.
The minimum dollar amount required to establish a CGA with the National MS Society is $10,000. Payment rates are slightly lower when the CGA payments benefit two people.
To find out more, please contact us, or Gillian Smith and the MS Society gift planning team at giftplanning@nmss.org or 800-923-7727
Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway
The 2009 Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway, presented by EMD Serono and Pfizer, is complete and was a great success. More than 1,700 cyclists participated on the 150 ride from Marina Bay to Provincetown raising awareness and funds for MS.
This year we saw teams grow to new levels with the team of presenting sponsor EMD Serono exceeding 230 riders. The top friends and family team, Velox Rota, brought more than 70 riders. We also had a great representation from teams from local police and fire departments, including: Team MSP (Massachusetts State Police), Plymouth Fire & Police, Westborough Professional Firefighters, Local #3070, Miller High Life Peabody Fire Local 925, and Firefighters for MS (Auburn, Mass.). In total we had over 140 teams, bringing in over 70 percent of funds raised.
Finally, we could not have put on such a great event without the help and support from our generous sponsors, including: Presenting sponsor - EMD Serono and Pfizer, Poland Spring, South Shore Music Circus, Dynamic Bicycles, Liberty Mutual, Honest Tea, Chappaqua Crunch Granola, Fuze Beverages, Data Associates, Brightroom, The Premier Education Group, Wachusett Brewery, Cabot Cheese, and Road ID. Route support was provided by: Landry’s Bicycles, Wheelworks, Cycle Loft, Back Bay Bicycles and Quad Cycles.
Driving For Dollars – June 14
 Khala's Kuties at the MS Auto Rally |
The inaugural MS Auto Rally hosted 14 cars and raised nearly $25,000 while having a great time collecting scavenger hunt items and discovering the hidden treasures of Central Massachusetts. The drive started and finished in Hopkinton State Park, and featured prizes for top finishers, plus heart warming stories of people who have MS. Plan ahead to 2010 to drive for dollars! Contact Todd Krohne or visit http://main.nationalmssociety.org/msautorally.
CCG Family Ride for a Cure
Christopher Desilets had no interest in riding a bike, but at the age of 12 found himself learning and at 14, cycling 175 miles in two days for the Cape Cod Getaway.
Chris trained with his father, Barry, on the hilly roads of Upton, their home town. Barry started riding on a regular basis three years ago as a “green” way to get to Matt’s, his older son, baseball games, and was soon clocking in 30 mile rides. Along with his chiropractor, Barry started a cycling group and riding much further distances.
As a child, Barry had a caretaker who had MS. “I watched this vivacious person, who was full of life, succumb to the disease.” When Barry heard about the Cape Cod Getaway from his wife’s co-worker, he assembled his Upton riding buddies and the co-worker, and started the team, Riders on the Storm. Last year, Barry rode his fist CCG and became a VIP, raising over $2,500 for the National MS Society. “I was in great shape for the ride and found it to be very easy. Even the Cape.”
Christopher decided to ride with his father in the 2009 CCG and Violet, Barry’s wife, who started with one-mile rides, joined in. It became a family affair when Matt recruited himself as a volunteer. This year, Christopher is the VIP. He went door to door asking neighbors to log on to the Society’s website and contribute.
Barry and Violet are riding in the brand new New Hampshire Seacoast Escape on August 8. Christopher is away at camp.
The Desilets family is looking forward to the 2010 Cape Cod Getaway.