The UCH Foundation: Working Together,
Making a Difference in the Health of our Community
The University Community Hospital Foundation (UCH Foundation) was established to address the varied needs of the Hospital and the community through fund raising and friend-raising programs. The Board of Trustees is comprised of a committed group of community and business leaders, physicians and staff who volunteer their time to guide the plans and projects it will undertake. Our cause is quality health care. Health care cannot be taken for granted; nor can we rely on our government, managed care companies or private insurers to fund the health care needs of our community. It is philanthropy that is going to make the difference. Philanthropic funds are used in support of our Centers of Excellence and to support important community-based programs, provide for charity care and build an endowment to secure a healthy future for University Community Hospital.
Your Gift Makes a Difference...
Funds raised through the UCH Foundation provide for programs and services that would not be possible without the support of a caring community. We want to continue providing you with the highest quality health care.
Every Gift is Special...
We recognize our donors are special partners in the healing mission of University Community Hospital. As an expression of gratitude, donors are recognized in the UCH Foundation's Annual Report. A beautiful donor wall permanently recognizes cumulative gifts of more than $5,000 to the UCH Foundation. Housed in the lobby of the hospital, the donor wall stands as a symbol of caring and commitment.
More and more people are finding both joy and peace by remembering someone they love through a commemorative gift. Your gift can be made in memory of a loved one, or in honor of a meaningful event, such as a birthday, anniversary, birth, graduation or a holiday such as Mother's or Father's Day, Christmas or Easter. When you make this thoughtful, lasting tribute, your loved one or loved one's family member will receive a special card in the mail (within 48 hours) that acknowledges a donation has been made in their honor or memory.
Foundation Events
The Starlight Ball
The University Community Hospital Foundation recently hosted the Sixteenth Annual Starlight Ball on Saturday, November 11, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Tampa. This year’s gala, themed "Espana," celebrated Tampa’s rich Spanish heritage through decoration, entertainment and culinary presentations. Through the support of over 700 guests, $280,000 was raised to provide funding for the expansion and renovation of the Emergency Department. Under the leadership, oversight and direction of volunteer chairs, Angie Ferlita and Francey Oliva, the committee helped to create a very successful, elegant and memorable evening for all who attended.
Co-Chairs Patricia Garcia and Marilyn McPhail are already making plans for the 2007 Ball. If you are interested in helping plan this fabulous event, please contact Nikki Powers at 615-7663.
Diabetes Golf Classic
The University Community Hospital Foundation will host the 21st Annual Diabetes Golf Classic on Friday, April 20, 2007 at Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort. Each year the tournament raises over $50,000 for the Diabetes Care Institute at University Community Hospital. This day of fun benefits patients with diabetes at University Community Hospital by providing funds to support education, equipment and scholarships. Please join us as a sponsor or player in next year's Diabetes Golf Classic. You can form your own team or we can place you in a compatible foursome; either way, we guarantee you will have a great time knowing you are helping in the fight against diabetes. Remember that space is limited so register now by contacting the UCH Foundation office at (813) 615-7663.
Foundation Gifts
Double your Money-Matching Gifts
Many donors are taking advantage of their company's matching gifts program. When an employee makes a donation to the charity of their choice, the company makes a gift to the same charity. Most companies match dollar for dollar, but some will match two for one. In the two for one match, every dollar the employee donates, the company donates two. That turns every $1 gift into $3, tripling the initial gift!
Many people do not realize that retirees also may be eligible to participate in the matching gifts program. How do you find out if your company has a matching gifts program? Ask the Human Resources Department. If your company has a charitable foundation, you can ask them. Most companies give their employees a form to complete and enclose with their gift to the UCH Foundation. We complete our part of the form and return it to the company. Once the company makes the matching gift, the funds are twice as effective in meeting health care needs.
Gifts of Cash
For all concerned, an outright gift of cash is certainly the simplest method of giving. It is not subject to gift or estate taxes, and you can deduct the gift amount on your federal income tax return, up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. Should the gift total exceed the gift ceiling for one year, you can carry over the remaining deduction to succeeding tax years until it's exhausted, or for up to five additional years beyond the year of the gift, whichever comes first. So with careful planning, nearly every outright gift to UCH Foundation can be fully deducted.
Gift of Securities and Other Appreciated Assets
If you own stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other assets that have increased in value since the time of purchase, you may find it advantageous to give them to the UCH Foundation. Your outright gift of long-term, appreciated securities is exempt from capital gains taxes and, if you itemize, you may claim a charitable income tax deduction equal to the full fair market value of the property at the time of transfer. For gifts of property, your gift is fully deductible for up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income, and like gifts of cash, may be carried forward for up to five years.
Preparing for your Future-Planned Giving
Planned gifts may come in the form of money, property, an investment or a percentage of an estate. In addition, tax benefits may accompany a charitable gift.
Endowment Gifts
An endowment gift establishes a fund that is invested by the UCH Foundation. Only the income earned by the fund will be expended for a purpose designated by the donor, ensuring that the fund will exist in perpetuity. The endowment fund may be named for the donor or another individual, thus establishing a lasting symbol of that individual's commitment to health care.
Bequests
One of the easiest and most common ways to make a gift to the UCH Foundation is through a bequest in your will. The tax laws encourage bequests; consequently, a bequest is an excellent way to support the programs at University Community Hospital. Bequests work particularly well for those who are unable to make an immediate outright gift, but would to aid UCH in the future. There are three basic categories of bequests:
Specific Bequests are outright gifts of specific securities, a specific fund of money, or other property. In your will, you describe one item and you give that particular item to an individual, or perhaps, UCH. Specific bequests are honored after debts and expenses of your estate and paid before other bequests are distributed.
General Bequests do not provide for the source of payment of the bequest. With a general bequest, you would simply state, "I give the sum of $25,000 to the UHC Foundation."
With a Residuary Bequest, you take care of what remains of your estate after all expenses, debts, and taxes have been paid and specific and general bequests have been honored. If you don't make arrangements for your residuary estate, any asset not mentioned specifically in the will is treated as if you had died intestate (without a will).
Life Income Gifts
Donors may make a gift to the UCHF and receive direct financial benefits including an income for life for the donor and/or the donor's spouse, and a charitable income tax deduction. There are several options including the charitable gift annuity, the charitable remainder annuity trust and the charitable remainder unitrust. These options require a minimum gift and the gift may or may not be designated to benefit any department or program at University Community Hospital.
A Charitable Gift Annuity is, essentially, an annuity contract. You transfer assets to the UCH Foundation; in return we agree to make regular, fixed payments to you for the rest of your life. The transaction is both a purchase of an annuity and a charitable contribution. Your benefits include guaranteed, specified, regular income, part of which may be tax-free; an immediate income tax deduction; possible estate tax savings and, if appreciated property is given, favorable tax treatment on the gain. The amount of the income tax deduction depends on the amount of the gift, the age of the donor or donors when the gift annuity is purchased, life expectancy, and whether the annuity is for one life or two.
A Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust is a personalized life income gift that provides a donor with a lifetime income and a charitable income tax deduction. The donor selects the payout rate, usually between 5 and 7 percent providing the donor, and the donor's spouse, with an income every year for life. The higher the payout rate, the lower the charitable tax deduction. If the donor funds the trust with appreciated securities, the donor will avoid capital gains taxes. The donor selects the trustee who may invest in almost any investment including tax free bonds. Donors may designate the remainder of their trust to benefit any program or department.
A Charitable Remainder Unitrust is a trust that is established when you transfer assets to a trustee for UCH's benefit. As with other life income plans, you retain an income interest in the property and continue to receive the income from it for your lifetime and/or that of another beneficiary, or for a fixed term of up to 20 years. Because UCH is given the remainder interest, you become eligible for substantial tax benefits.
Whereas a charitable remainder annuity trust provides a fixed amount of income determined at the creation of the trust, the unitrust pays a percentage of the trust assets, as revalued annually.
The amount of the deduction depends upon the ages of the beneficiaries, the percentage to be paid, and the fair market value of the assets used to fund the trust. If the trust is funded with cash, you may deduct up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income annually; if it is funded with appreciated securities, you may deduct up to 30 percent. Of course, the five-year carry-over provisions apply with this trust program.
A unitrust provides an excellent hedge against inflation; moreover, you may make additional transfers of cash, securities or property after the unitrust has been established, assuming the trust agreement permits such additions.
With a Charitable Lead Trust , you transfer property such as real estate, securities, bonds, partnership interests, oil and gas properties, and the like, to a trust. The trust pays an annual amount (a fixed amount or a percentage of the trust principal as revalued annually) to a charity for a specified period. After this time, the property returns to you or a non-charitable beneficiary, usually a family member in the next or a succeeding generation. The property is generally appreciated and transferred with significantly reduced gift or estate taxes.
UCH Foundation Staff
To contact the UCH Foundation, please call us at (813) 615-7886 or send a fax to (813) 615-7826.
Lorna L. Miller
Associate Executive Director
Nikki Powers
Special Event Coordinator
Jayne Kloss
Manager, Business Operations
Terra Hall
Administrative Assistant
Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital
For information about the Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital Foundation, please click
here
.