A Tax Credit that Helps the Community: Wellstar Foundation and Kenya Connection
In the past few weeks we have talked about various ways for your taxes to have an impact on your local community. On today’s episode, we have several guests joining us to continue that discussion. We are joined by Jordan Sute, CPA from Sute CPAs, and Kathleen Smith, Regional Development Officer for the Wellstar Foundation to talk about the Wellstar Foundation and the Georgia Heart Program. We are also joined by Humphrey Kanga and McGee Spencer to talk about Kenya Connection and their impact globally.
Listen on Apple Podcasts or watch on YouTube:
SUMMARY:
What is the Georgia Heart Program?
The Georgia Rural Hospital State Tax Program is a way that individuals and businesses can divert their state income tax to go to rural hospitals in Georgia. Georgia is in the top 5 states in the US to lose their rural hospitals due to lack of funding. The state created this program to support the rural communities. To be considered a rural hospital it must be in a county that has under 26,000 people.
Wellstar Foundation
Wellstar Foundation is a not-for-profit, so why are these funds needed? Any money that comes into the hospital must go back into the hospital by law. Because medical technology is always evolving, there us always a need to stay current. Wellstar Foundation provides the funds to purchase new equipment and trainings to hospitals in order to better care for their communities. Not all communities are the same. For example, some areas need expertise in behavioral health or expertise in telemedicine.
How to Help the Georgia Heart Program
You simply apply through the Georgia Heart website, write a check to Georgia Heart, and tell them which hospital you’d like to send it to. There is a cap on how much funding each area can receive. The state tax is 60 Million and each hospital can get no more than 4 million. Unfortunately, 2021 is already closed, but 2022 is going to open soon.
Tax Deduction for Businesses
You can elect to be taxed at the business level in Georgia. If you choose to do that, you can give up to 75% of your Georgia tax liability to HEART. It is a federal tax deduction and a credit on you return. It would probably be best to get a CPA’s help with this.
What is Kenya Connection?
Kenya Connection is a ministry whose mission is to improve the life of orphan and destitute children in Kenya. In Kenya, 700,000 people are dying of AIDS each year. Kenya Connection supports children getting into to schools, school supplies, mentorship, and medical care. They have seen so many children shed the shell of poverty because they have been able to get educated. Many children have even gone on to become technicians, engineers, teachers, and lawyers.
How Kenya Connection Began
One day, a young man walked through the doors of Mars Hill Prespyterian Church to begin seminary. He had a dream to bring his education back to Kenya and create a bible college. Once he finished his schooling he went back to Kenya with that goal in minds and realized that the children we really the ones that needed the most help. Now that same young man, Humphrey Kanga, travels throughout the US to raise awareness and gain sponsorships for the kids.
How to Help Kenya Connection
On average, the typical person in Kenya lives on $2 a day. The unemployment rate is 60%. Most people are in poverty and unable to pay school costs. Students in this program are able to get all the way through college and then to be able to share their hope, joy, and education with others in the country.
TIMESTAMPS:
1:48 What is the Georgia Heart Program?
6:21 The Wellstar Foundation
10:40 How to Help the Georgia Heart Program
13:30 Tax Deduction for Businesses
15:39 What is Kenya Connection?
28:00 How Kenya Connection Began
32:30 How to Help Kenya Connection
LINKS:
Learn more about Casey Smith and connect with him on Twitter.
Learn more about Brad Lyons.
Learn more about Matthews Barnett.
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Learn more about the Wiser Wealth Management Roundtable podcast and access previous episodes.
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