How Can I Help?
Donate or gift funds! Anything helps.
What are my donations and gifts used for?
Medical expenses not covered by Alina's insurance, medical equipment, medications, additional child care for Alina and her siblings, travel expenses associated with long distance hospitals, and bona-fide mortgage & utility bill shortfalls caused by excessive absences from work.
What happens if you receive more than you need?
Excess funds will be donated to Kids Courage to help families facing similar challenges.
What's the difference between a donation and a gift?
Generally, as we are using the terms here:
- Gifted funds are payments made directly to Alina's family that do not create a tax liability, but are not a deduction for the giver.
- Donations are tax deductible payments made in honor of Alina Rae to a non-profit foundation.
What are the pros and cons between donations and gifts?
| Gifted Funds | Donated Funds |
|---|---|
| Limited to $14,000 per individual ($28,000 married) | Generally no limit to amount donated |
| Family controls funds | Non-profit controls funds |
| Family has direct cash to pay appropriate bills | Non-profit pays appropriate third party bills |
| Check payments preferred | Check payments preferred |
| Online credit card gift payments accepted | Online credit card donations not accepted |
| Not deductible, but no tax consequences either | Tax deductible |
| $100 gifted funds cost a typical giver $100 | $100 donation cost a typical donor $67* |
What's the best way to give?
| Gifted Funds | Donated Funds | |
|---|---|---|
| Best (Checks) |
Mail check paybale to:
Alina Rae Medical Care Gift Fund c/o Pay Junction PO Box 1235 Santa Barbara, CA 93102 |
Mail check paybale to:
Kids Courage Foundation Memo in honor of Alina Rae Coming Soon! |
| Great (Credit Card) |
Online credit card gifted payments:
Donate Now |
Online credit card donation payments:
-Coming Soon- Kids Courage in honor of Alina Rae |
Are online credit card donations still encouraged?
Yes, they are quick and easy. Click away!
Are my donations and gifted funds tax deductible?
Depends.
No it is not deductible... if you gift funds directly to Alina and her family. While directly gifted funds are not a deduction, you can gift up to $14,000 if you are single ($28,000 if you are married) without creating a tax liability for Alina's family or your own.* In a nutshell it's a tax free gift, but not a write off. Unlike the option to donate, gifted funds will be cash that Alina's family has direct access and control over; either way, the family has pledged to only use funds for items as described above (What are my donations and gifts used for?). Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be a related family member to gift funds to Alina Rae, anyone can gift funds.
Yes it is deductible... if you donate to the non-profit foundation Kids Courage. These donations qualify for a tax deduction in accordance with IRS rules like any other public charity. Kids Courage's EIN, or tax identification number is: 20-4625365. These donations will not be given as cash to Alina's family; rather Kids Courage will review families submitted expenses associated with child treatment and care, and pay those expenses directly to the third party who generated the bill (i.e. the hospital as an example). In most situations, there are no limits to the amount you can donate.
For more details, consult with your tax accountant.
I would like to help, but donating is difficult at this time, what can I do?
Raise awareness by sharing araeofsunshine.org or Alina's FaceBook page with others: facebook.com/araeofsunshine.org
Offering your skills, services, and time (i.e. tax advice and contacts, legal advice and contacts, mechanical services and repair contacts, or anything else you think might be helpful).
Keep Alina in your thoughts, well wishes, and prayers.
I have a question not answered here, who can I talk to?
Call Eric at (805) 453-2361. Yes, it's a real cell phone.