A Season of Giving

From Eddie Pelto, Director of Development

Each December, many of us prepare for holiday festivities with family and friends. Sometimes this includes shopping for gifts – it is, after all, the traditional ‘season of giving.’

In keeping with that sentiment, it is also at this time of year that millions of people choose to make their charitable contributions. At PDF, year-end giving accounts for 20 percent of our overall annual revenue. As we have mentioned previously, much of this support comes from individual supporters around the country.

We rely on the generosity of new and returning supporters during the holiday season to make our plans for the coming year. This year alone we were able to give away $5.5 million dollars to researchers in the US and around the world who are searching for a cure for Parkinson’s disease. We could not have done that without the thousands of individual gifts we receive from you.

So at this time of year, we express thanks to those of you who made our programs possible. We also hope that you will remember PDF at this time of year.

If you want your donation to count for 2010 tax-returns, you must act before December 31st. Some last-minute actions you can take to invest today:

• Charge the donation by credit card. Even though you don't pay the credit card bill until next year, the donation by December 31, 2010, is good for 2010 – you can make your donation securely online at PDF’s website http://support.pdf.org or by simply calling us at (800) 457-6676.
• Mail a check by Friday, December 31. As long as you put it in the mail, the donation is treated as made in 2010 even though the charity doesn't receive the check or cash it until 2011.
• Make a gift of stock. If you wish to make a gift of securities please have your broker contact us at (800) 457-6676 to let us know of your contribution – it’s a fast and simple way to make a big difference.
• Don’t forget matching gifts. Does your employer match contributions? Be sure to check with your human resources department and fill out the simple paperwork which could as much as double or triple your gift to PDF. You can also search for your company on PDF's website.

We consider your gift an investment in the programs that will bring us closer to the goal we all share: to understand and find the cure to Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders; and, for as long as this search continues, to ensure that those individuals and families who live with Parkinson's are able to achieve and maintain the best possible quality of life.

That is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

Happy Holidays!