Pepsi launched its "Refresh Project" campaign, which Pepsi will give away $1.3 million each month to fuel the work of great organizations across the nation. The great news! Teach For America won the challenge and will be one of the very first recipients of a $250,000 grant to provide more excellent teachers to students in low-income communities! For mor information click on the following link: www.refresheverything.com/TFA.

Enter now to see your little idea turned into a BIG Idea! Clifford The Big Red Dog® is looking for individuals and/or community groups doing great things to make a difference in their community.

The BE BIG!™ Campaign is designed to communicate that small, simple actions can make a BIG difference. The campaign invites everyone, big and small, to take action and raise awareness for how Clifford The Big Red Dog's BIG IDEAS (Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe in Yourself, Be a Good Friend, Help Others) can make the world a better place.

What: Learn About Funding and Resources to Help Your Organization Feed Hungry Children This Summer
Target Audience: Corporation for National and Community Service
Grantee Organizations, State Commissions, CNCS Staff, VISTA Sponsors, Educational Institutions and Interested Non-Profit and Faith-Based Organizations
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Time: 11:00am-12:00pm EST
Registration Link: http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g426e9

Description: Each summer, 18 million students are at risk of going hungry when the school year ends and school lunches are no longer available. For many children, school meals are the only complete and nutritious meals they eat, and in the summer they go without. This summer, the need will likely increase. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) can help to fill the summer meal gap for low-income children. Faith-based, community and private non-profit organizations can make a difference in the lives of hungry children by serving meals with SFSP, a federally funded program administered by states that reimburses organizations for meals served to children during the summer. Schools, churches, recreation centers, playgrounds, parks and camps can serve meals in neighborhoods with high percentages of low-income families. These venues are safe and familiar locations where children naturally congregate during the summer. There are two ways to get involved with SFSP. Your organization may become a SFSP site where meals are served, or a SFSP sponsor that both serves meals and keeps track of the accounting and paperwork. Sponsors are reimbursed for all meals served that meet USDA’s nutrition standards.

The HandsOn Network are supporting a Family Volunteering Recognition program with the potential for a family to win a trip. We are identifying families with children between 6 and 14 who volunteer together from all 50 United States. Download the nomination form. If you know of a family or families in New Mexico that you could nominate, please download the form and submit to the HandsOn Network.

A little over two years ago I wrote two newsletters that outlined the rules regarding the acknowledgments of charitable donations. Because there is so much confusion in this area, readers have requested that we revisit the topic. Donor acknowledgement rules are complicated and it is the responsibility of both parties to know the law. A donor must obtain a written acknowledgment by the earlier of the date on which the tax return is filed or the due date of the return (including extensions). Donee organizations typically provide them no later than January 31 of the year following the donation.

Who is responsible for making sure that everything is done correctly? The answer is both the donor and the donee. In certain situations, charitable organizations must provide written acknowledgments (for pure donations) or written disclosures (for quid pro quo contributions). If a donor does not have the proper acknowledgments or forms, the IRS will deny the deduction even if there is overwhelming alternative evidence that the donation was legitimate.