'Tis The Season

The week of Thanksgiving, I, along with others at our office, had the opportunity to visit KITH and help them with their fall mailings. KITH, which stands for Kirkland Inter-faith Transitional Housing, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (more about that later) that provides transitional and longer term housing, case management and practical support for individuals and families in East King County. They are a truly great organization who last year helped 126 individuals facing a crisis of homelessness. Sitting in their conference room, listening to the stories of the people they have helped, I was reminded how blessed I am. I have a job. I have a home and food to feed my family. And I have wonderful, supportive friends and family to help me along the way.

This time of the year, most people are thankful for these things too and are reminded of those who do not have as much. In fact, according to a 7 year study by Network for Good (www.networkforgood.org), up to 33% of annual giving occurs in the month of December compared to the rest of the year! Not only does this help out charitable organizations but there is also a tax benefit to donating as well. If you donate to a non-profit organization, like KITH, you can claim a deduction on your tax return! While this is limited by certain other items, such as your own income, it is still a great way to lower the amount of taxes you owe while at the same time helping people in need.

So, in the spirit of the season, Hersman Serles Almond will donate $1 to KITH for every new follower we get on Twitter or new ‘like’ we get on Facebook through the end of the year. To find the links for these social media pages visit our new website’s News page (http://www.cpahsa.com/news.php). We currently have 118 Twitter followers and 12 Facebook ‘likes.’

To find great organizations for your company or family to donate to during this holiday season, check the Network for Good website. Also, it is always a good idea to double check the IRS website to make sure that the money you are giving to an organization is deductible (http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/).


Happy Holidays! ~Andy Bauerle