Tony Virardi: Money that magically falls in your lap

So what to do with an extra $50,000 that magically falls into your lap? Free money, as my mom describes it. I can tell you one thing for sure. If that happened to me, it wouldn't last long - even if I didn't use it for that condo I've been trying to buy for the last 15 years or so.

For starters, my car is about 15 years old. Thank God I bought Japanese. The car has run flawlessly and only needed a few repairs (like brakes, tune-up, muffler and tires) for 150,000 miles now. She's been good to me. But I fear she's getting ready to quit. I'd probably give her to my nephew to get around in for a while. I would have traded her in when the cash for clunkers program was around, but the Feds only wanted your car if it got terrible mileage, like an old SUV, so you could get a new SUV with a little better mileage. Amazing, is all I can say about that. I guess a new car would run around $30,000. I would want to replace my old car with the model I currently own; that's how much I love my old car.

That would leave $20,000. I haven't had a vacation in a while. I would treat myself and my significant other to a stay in Europe for maybe 10 days or so. I'm sure France or Italy or both would light her up like a Christmas tree. I figure that would run another $10,000 to $15,000 for sure, especially with the exchange rate the way it is. But we love Europe, so we would go anyway.

That leaves around $5,000 to play with. I think I'd probably donate the rest to a charity - one that puts more of your money into the cause it represents than it takes out in salaries and other operating expenses. Dad always said, "Spread the wealth around so that one day, it would come back to you."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/impact_panel/2010/01/tony-virardi-money-that-magica.html#ixzz0di8EyJG6

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Ricky Byers Needs Your Help and He Needs It Now!

If you've been a follower of this blog for a while then you'll know who Ricky is, but if you are not and don't know about Ricky then let me tell you.

Ricky is a 2-time Cancer survivor - he has beaten this horrible disease twice and now he wants to beat it to the ground and stamp it out with your help.

You see Ricky is also a race car driver in the ARCA Series and he and Andy Belmont Racing have teamed up and put an awesome race package together. The package that they've put together is called 'Racing For a Cure' and all winnings made by the team will go straight into cancer research - the team and Ricky will never see one cent of their winnings. They've also set it up that anyone who sponsors the car for one race, multiple races, or for the season will be able to write off their sponsorship dollars because the racing program has become a Charity - hell Andy Belmont is even taking a hit on this because he is giving Ricky a competive car for half the price of a regular sponsored car because Andy believes in Ricky and his cause so much.

So that means a full-time sponsor would get a competive car at half the price and is able to write off their sponsorship money, while helping to find a cure for cancer. Ricky and Andy are also going to go Truck racing if they get a full-time sponsor, at no extra cost to the sponsor, to get more attention for his cause and for the sponsor.

Only problem is no one is coming forward to sponsor Ricky - they all think the deal is too good to be true, or they are more interested in the female racers. For the record, Ricky ran faster at the ARCA Daytona test than Danica Patrick in a car not even prepared by Andy Belmont, who just happens to put together some sweet rides in ARCA.

So here is the deal; Ricky and Andy firmly believe that if they can get to Daytona and race on Feb. 6th and finish in the top 10 a sponsor will come forward but they are about $30 000 short to run the full race. They only have enough money to get there, qualify, start, run one lap and then park the car for fear of damage and they absolutely refuse to do that! Its all or nothing! They aren't an 'also ran' team and they won't start acting like that now - they don't want to give the appearance of being something they're not so they will not start and park.

So here is how you can help: Ricky is going to create a 'fan car' in which you the fan can have your name put on the car for a donation as little as $5.00. Yep five greenbacks.

Here's how it works;

1. For a donation of $5.00 you get your name on the car and on Ricky's web site.

2. For a donation of $500.00 you get your name on the car in larger font and your name on the web site.

3. For a donation of $1000.00 you get your name or 'team name' if more of you go in together on the car, in even larger font and your team name along with your individual names on the web site.

Go to Ricky's site now to donate and thank-you for helping one man achieve his dream of Racing For a Cure.

Ricky's site address is http://www.rickybyersracing.com/

For more about Ricky please read this inspiring article by Karen Pistone of the Orlando Sentinal.

If you wish to sponsor Ricky for the full $30, 000 please contact him directly @ 1-205-229-0480 or email him atracingfouracure@aol.com.

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Where Can I Donate a Car in NJ

If you're asking yourself 'Where can I donate a car in New Jersey?" then you're ready for some quick advice about car donations, as well as specific suggestions of charities that can take your wheels and make good social use of the donation.

First, consider the pros and cons of selling your car, compared to donating it.  Remember that selling a car takes time and involves at least some degree of hassle.  You may also incur out of pocket expenses to have the car cleaned or to advertise the car for sale.  Weigh all of this against a realistic assumption about how much you might be able to get for the vehicle.  On the other hand, a donation is usually straight forward, can help a charitable organization finance it's social work, and can create a meaningful tax dediction for you at the end of the fiscal year.

Once you decide to donate a car or truck, it's time to get practical.  Be sure to have the title of your car ready.  If you've lost the original title, you can apply for a duplicate at your local DMV.  Clean out any of your personal posessions such as music or gear stored in glove compartments, under chairs, or in the trunk.  Next, select your charity and follow their instructions as to how to make the physical handoff.

When selecting a charity in the NJ area, consider the following:
- Only certain charities are set up to accept donations
- Select a charity with a mission that is meaningful to you.  For instance, if you're passionate about the environment, donate your car to an environmental organization.  If you'd prefer to support children's services, look for charities that operate in that arena.
- Verify that the charity is officially recognized and established with a track record of success.  Do a few web searches and ask a few questions to get comfortable with the org.


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Tax advantages of buying a new car

Lately, all the new car related news has centered on the "Cash for Clunkers" program. That incentive has now ended but it can still be a good time to buy a new car. The reason is that the deduction for the sales tax paid on a new car purchase continues until the end of this year. Here are the specifics:

You can deduct all the sales tax paid on a car costing up to $49,500.

The deduction can be used multiple times if you buy more than one car.

The deduction phases out for single filers with adjusted gross income (AGI) higher than $125,000 and married filers with AGIs over $250,000.

This deduction can be claimed even if you don't itemize your deductions -- simply add the amount of taxes paid to your standard deduction.

And while we are on the topic of cars, remember that in most cases, if you are considering donating your old car to charity, the amount of your deduction is limited to what the charity can sell your car for. (The exception to this rule is if the charity is going to keep your car and use it themselves.)

Years ago, you used to be able to deduct the blue book value of your car but now, the deduction could be significantly less. Under the new rules, which went into effect with the 2005 tax year, the charity will send you a recepit for the amount they were able to receive at an auction. It might take a while to get the receipt and you can't be sure what your deduction will be until you get the receipt. Keep that fact in mind when trying to decide to trade in or donate your old car and if you do donate your car, be sure to file Form 8283 when you file your taxes.


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Jackson cheerleaders’ charity car wash huge success

The Jackson cheerleaders held a charity car wash this past Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Goddard School on Fulton to raise money for a baby’s heart transplant.
Twins, Quintino and Giada were born in July. Quintino has been diagnosed with Downs Syndrome and needs a heart transplant. He was scheduled to receive his new heart later this year, but he is losing time. As a result, his transplant has been moved to the first week of October.
The team decided to raise money for the baby because the twins’ aunt is the Austintown cheerleading coach, and a personal family friend of Deanna Theodore, the Jackson cheerleading coach.
The team sold presale tickets the week before the event, and also took donations from people who knew they wouldn’t be able to attend. The Jackson soccer team was amongst the many who donated.
The car wash was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and Theodore thinks about 100 people attended the actual event. The event made $1,895 total to donate to Quintino.
“It blew my mind when I counted the money,” said Theodore. “Almost $2,000 from a little corner car wash.”


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See Dale Earnhardt's car at fall fest car show

For organizer Bryant Haniszewski, Huntley's Fall Fest Car Show combines two passions of his life: classic cars and working to help others.

"Last year we got rained out," he says. "This time we're expecting about 300 (cars), if the weather cooperates."

Registration for the "classic car" competition opens at 7 a.m. Saturday on the east side of Deicke Park, with a $10 entry fee and free goody bags for the first 100 exhibitors. The car show runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free to the public with any paid fest admission.

"We show anything that's 1981 and older," said Haniszewski, who has run the show for the past four years. "The categories run from antiques to hot rods, or even race cars. We've had people come in from Wisconsin and Chicago, (with) lots of really nice cars."

New this year are two professional NASCAR cars - Dale Earnhardt, Sr.'s iconic black "#3", and an M & M-sponsored simulator that allows visitors to experience the thrill of a NASCAR race.

"Anyone can drive it," Haniszewski said. "It's not often that you can get behind the wheel of a real race car like this."

The Earnhardt car is expected to draw crowds of fans, he added.

"I think people will be really excited to see that."

Both NASCAR cars will remain on display until the park closes at 5 p.m.

The event also includes D.J. entertainment, door prizes, and raffles, but that's just part of the story. All profits from the show will benefit charities and nonprofit organizations, Haniszewski said. Entry fees will be donated to the Huntley Park District Foundation, and a charity "panel auction" of decorated metal panels done by professional pinstripe's will benefit Chicago's Ronald McDonald House. Car show visitors can also donate used pop-tops to help McDonald House charities.

"We'll also have a 50/50 raffle to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation," said Haniszewski, a South Barrington police officer whose 4-year-old daughter has battled brain cancer for most of her life. "That's why I'm doing this," he says. "Tegan is doing fine now. She just had her latest MRI and everything looks clear."

The 50/50 raffle and panel auction will be held at 2 p.m., just before the awarding of show trophies for winners in each of 12 categories. Judging will be done by JB Specialized Auto of South Barrington.


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Donating your car may be smarter option than trade-in

TOLEDO (WTOL) - Rose and Thomas Lewandowski can tell you everything about their 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva. "It was blue with slate green interior. It had semi-bucket seats in it," they said.

But when the repair bill got too high, old reliable had to go. "Kind of got a lump in our throat when we went to get rid of it," they said, "but it needed a lot of work to it."

The Lewandowskis checked into trading their car. "With the used car dealers, we would only get maybe $200 for it."

They decided the price of helping others was more valuable than money, so the couple turned to the Goodwill. "There is a special place in my heart for people that need help."

They say the process is easy. To donate, just call Goodwill, who will send a tow truck.

"After the auction, they get notified for how much it sold for," said Casey Holmes with the Goodwill Auto Auction Division. "If it sells for over $500, they get a 1098c in the mail, and they can deduct that amount also."

Your donation is also helping someone in need. "About 80 cents to every dollar goes to support our mission, which is helping people with barriers to employment. We do job training and job placement," said Holmes.

People say when you do a good deed, it comes back tenfold. Instead of getting $200 worth of trade in value for their car. The Lewandowskis car auctioned for $565 -- $300 more than the trade-in value.

"We haven't filed it yet, but it will help us out a whole lot," they said.


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We need car recycling rules

Politicians love to give away money and in the United States and Germany they're giving away billions of dollars and euros to people who buy a new car to replace an older less efficient one.

The U.S. government's $1-billion (U.S.) Cash for Clunkers program is so popular it has burned through all the money allocated and politicians are scrambling to add more money to the budget. Germany planned to spend €1.5-billion ($2.3-billion Canadian) to get clunkers off their roads, but with an election coming in September the government quickly increased the dough available to €5-billion.

It's an irresistible political combination - replace older polluting cars with up-to-date clean ones and stimulate the economy at the same time. In the United States, a buyer can receive up to $4,500 (U.S.); in Germany, it maxes out at €2,500 ($3,800 Canadian).

In Canada, the feds have a miserly program called Retire Your Ride that provides a free bus pass or a discount on a bicycle which can be worth the princely sum of $300 for putting your old wreck out of its misery. But this is a possible election year in Canada, too, and Environment Minister Jim Prentice has said he's thinking about boosting the free money available to U.S. or German standards.


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Cash for clunkers' slows car donations to charities

You used to hear it all the time. Whenever someone raised the question of what to do with a near-worthless rust bucket, the answer almost always came back the same -- donate it to charity.

Since the arrival of "cash for clunkers," however, donations have dropped off. It's not hard to imagine why -- a $3,500 or $4,500 voucher is certainly more appetizing to the cash-strapped recession-era new car shopper than a tax writeoff come year's end.

The damage has not been insignificant. According to the Associated Press, a Texas-based charity estimates that the cash for clunkers program has already cost it $75,000 in missed vehicle donations. Unfortunately, instead of being sold for charity funds or turned over to needy families, formerly donation-worthy cars will be sent to the crusher with seized engines, per the program's stringent guidelines.

Despite a slowdown since its inception, the federal program has succeeded in sending consumers to dealerships. According to a survey of 517 in-market shoppers by Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the cash for clunkers program has persuaded 1 in 10 shoppers to purchase a new vehicle sooner. Taking into account that many trade-ins don't qualify for the cash for clunkers voucher, charities may see some relief yet. But when you consider that owners of particularly rundown vehicles will be looking at either a low-value tax writeoff or a $4,500 discount on a new car, the decision-making process becomes pretty clear.


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Bike shop’s Cash for Clunkers program now includes car trade-in

On Tuesday, we shared the story of a local bike shop that created its own, Portland-style version of the Obama Administration’s Cash for Clunkers program. In a nutshell, Southeast Portland’s Joe Bike will accept an old, clunker bike, donate it to charity, and then give customers a discount on purchase of a new bike.

Now, Joe Bike owner Joe Doebele has extended the program to include car donations.

Doebele has worked out a special a deal with the American Lung Association and car-sharing company Zipcar. Here’s how it works:

Donate your old car to the American Lung Association. The ALA will tow your car (running or not) for free, and you’ll also get the tax deduction.

Then, bring the receipt into Joe Bike and they’ll give you a 10% discount on any bike they sell. In addition to the bike discount, Joe Bike will also give you a unique coupon code for a Zipcar membership. With a bike purchase, you’ll be able to become a Zipcar member for $25 (instead of $75), your annual renewal fee will be just $25 (instead of $50) and you’ll get $150 driving credit.

It’s kind of a nifty little program. In one fell swoop, you can trade in your old car, help out the ALA, get a tax deduction, a discount on a new bike, and a discount on Zipcar.


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Airmen donate time, gas to reduce drunk driving in Japan

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — So I was walking down the street late last Saturday night, checking out the bar scene with some friends, when I uttered the following: "Dude, did anyone else just see two gorillas walk around that corner?"

Mentally calculating how much beer I’d already consumed, I was glad to know I wasn’t the only one who spotted the gorillas, clad in shorts.

After posing for pictures, they explained that they were offering free rides to help keep people from drinking and driving.

They said they would even provide free daiko — the Japanese word used to describe a service in which you drive the drunken person’s car home.

In an interview later in the week — sans gorilla costumes — the 35th Maintenance Squadron airmen behind the volunteer effort explained why they decided on the project.

They’re all members of the squadron’s "Accessories Flight."

They said that after 35th Fighter Wing commander Col. David Stilwell aired a special TV and radio broadcast in mid-July to warn the community about a recent spike in alcohol-related incidents, they gathered to talk about what they could do.

"We wanted to perform a nice service for the community and also have a little fun ourselves," said Staff Sgt. John Rorie, who came up with the idea of the costumes. "Basically to grab everyone’s attention."

They ordered the costumes — two gorilla suits and one giant banana suit — and printed a batch of fliers announcing Monkeys Against Drunk Driving. They hit the bars Aug. 1, handing out the fliers and making sure people knew they would offer the free service on Aug. 8.

Between 10 p.m. and 4:30 a.m., they safely transported 76 people to their homes — people who could have gotten behind the wheel of a car or gotten into trouble walking home.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Dlugiewicz, Rorie’s supervisor and a volunteer driver that night, said he thinks they made a difference.

"A couple of people had walked past their cars a couple times like they were thinking about driving, and they saw us just sitting there," he said. They ended up in his car instead.

Flight chief Senior Master Sgt. Steven Tuggle lauded his troops for their "self-initiated" action, pointing out that they bought the costumes themselves and used their own cars and gas money, not to mention giving up their free time.

Given the seriousness of the drinking and driving problem — with members of his own squadron as well as other squadrons — the volunteer project is important, he said.

"These guys are actually going to the customer and handing out the fliers, and what better way than dressed up as a primate from the zoo," Tuggle said.

Stilwell said he appreciates Misawa airmen looking for ways to solve the problem.

"It’s proof again that the best ideas come from the people closest to the subject," he wrote in an e-mail to Stripes late Thursday.

"Like Patton said — never tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and they’ll surprise you with their ingenuity."

Rorie said they’d like to recruit enough volunteers to run the service every weekend, but with only nine people, they have to limit it to once a month for now.

However, they plan on getting in one more night, Aug. 22, before an upcoming exercise.

They’re also hoping that other flights or squadrons see what they’ve done and take the challenge of developing their own programs.

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