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Read Aloud WV Awarded NIP Tax Credits

by DonorsFundraising

You heard correctly, folks! Our NIP tax credits are in, and we are ready to take donations. With a donation of $500 or more, you can get a state tax break for half of the amount.

What does this mean for Read Aloud WV? Well, it means we receive more donations that help us put books in the hands of WV children, and we get to give something back to our donors (besides a heartfelt thank you!) that will help them with their state tax bill at the end of the year.

As the majority of our funding comes directly from individual donors, this can make a huge difference in the projects we’re able to implement in a year. The more our donors are able to help us now, the less we have to fundraise later in the year when our book distributions are in full-swing. This means more time spent directly coordinating with schools and volunteers to get kids the tools they need to grow their reading skills.

Interested in giving early, getting a tax break, and helping us to change the literacy climate in WV? You can donate by:

  • Mailing a check to Read Aloud WV, PO Box 1784, Charleston, WV 25326 (this is preferred, as there are no fees associated with your donation and we receive the full amount to put towards our programs).
  • Clicking the Donate button in our menu to make a secure donation through Square.
  • Going to paypal.me/readaloudwv to make a secure donation through PayPal.

Just be sure to donate $500 or more and put NIP in the memo or notes section, depending on your payment method. We don’t have an unlimited number of credits to give out, however, so it’s a good idea to donate early to ensure you get the tax credit.

Give us a call if you have any questions at (304) 345-5212.

We’re so grateful for the generosity of all of our donors over the years. You make Read Aloud’s work possible in your communities. You help children build a love of reading that will serve them their entire lives. Thank you.

Dan Foster

Join Team Read and WVU Coach Neal Brown: Read-A-Palooza 2019 on June 6

by EventsFundraisingNews

Join Read Aloud and WVU Football Coach Neal Brown in building excitement for books and reading at our annual fundraiser, Read-A-Palooza, at the University of Charleston Riggleman Rotunda on June 6!

Though we may be a little later than usual this year, Read-A-Palooza is sure to be bigger and better than ever with a new venue courtesy of our partnership with the University of Charleston Education Department, and our 2019 theme: “Join Team Read,” exploring how we can create a culture that values reading in the same way we do sports.

The event will open at 4:30 p.m., and Coach Brown will give his remarks at 5:15 p.m. As always, we’ll have appetizers, beer and wine, and a silent auction to augment the lively conversation and good company that’s a staple of Read-A-Palooza. As our largest fundraiser of the year, proceeds from the event help fund Read Aloud programs, which strive to engage all members of our communities in motivating children to want to read.

Tickets are $40 prior to June 6 or $50 at the door, but for those looking for a little more facetime with Coach Brown, we’re offering a special pre-event reception with him for sponsors of $1,000 or more. Sponsorships also come with tickets and public recognition, including logo displays at the event, depending on the level. To find out more about how to purchase tickets and sponsorships, visit the Donate tab, click here, or call the state Read Aloud office at 304-345-5212.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate Read Aloud’s progress and look forward to new reading adventures!

Our Annual Fund update: Why we ask

by DonorsFundraising

As we near the end of the year, Read Aloud West Virginia is grateful to the many donors, friends and volunteers who support our efforts that motivate children to want to read. We cannot do it without you.

Our Annual Fund drive continues. We are trying to reach goals for next year’s work. If you have not given and are considering, please know:

1. Read Aloud has Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits available. Those credits can be used any time over the next five years, starting with the donation year. They lower a West Virginia personal income tax bill or a corporate net income tax bill by as much as half the gift amount starting with donations of at least $500. Donors may receive no more than $100,000 a year in NIP credits, and credits cannot be used to reduced a tax bill by more than half. That means a $10,000 donation would cut a tax bill by $5,000. A $500 donation would reduce a tax bill by $250.

2. What we are doing is working. First, Read Aloud focuses on motivating children to want to read, not fussing at them to read.