News Through August 2009

Acton Up With Downs Reps go to D.C.

Acton Up With Downs reps in DC

FL Rep. Ander Crenshaw (center) who sponsored the tax-free accounts bill, referred to now as ABLE, AUWDI Member Angie Mills (right) and Self-Advocate Jessica Green from Indiana.
The Affiliates in Action Conference held in Washington D.C. this past February personally changed the lives of AUWDI’s three attending board members. More importantly though is the positive effect the conference had on our group as a whole. We now realize we are not alone in our effort to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome 85 Down syndrome support groups representing some 400,000 Americans with the condition got together and shared best practices, mistakes made and hopes for the future. AUWDI now has tangible resources we can use to improve our service delivery, new friends to call and a national support network dedicated to helping us help our loved ones with Down syndrome.

The conference also organized an AMAZING Advocacy Day on the Hill! 300+ attendees from 85 organizations representing 34 states made the first-ever, full-scale Down syndrome Advocacy Day on the Hill an amazing success. Nearly 200 meetings were held with members and staffers, helping us advance legislative priorities impacting the members we serve.

We learned about the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act of 2008 which has already passed. Effective implementation of the new law will require Congress to enact separate appropriations of $5 million a year.

We also learned about the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE Act) which allows for the creation of disability savings accounts for individuals with Down syndrome. This lifelong tool is of substantial importance to the entire disability community .
AUWDI receives 501 (c) (3)

Acton Up With Downs, Inc. (AUWDI) is proud to announce they have been awarded tax exempt status. AUWDI is now exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to AUWDI are tax deductible.

For Joyce Long President and founding member, it is a gratifying accomplishment to have the relatively young organization reach an important milestone. AUWDI takes it place among good company. According to the IRS code, “generally, the organization may qualify if it is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, scientific,
or literary purposes.”

Attaining 501(c) (3) can be an exhausting process. It can take several attempts for nonprofits to get the paperwork right and receive their 501(c) (3). It is a detailed and lengthy process. To apply, AUWDI submitted the appropriate IRS forms. It took months to complete the paperwork and documentation. “It’s great that we received on our first try. I think plain old hard work and diligence were key in our success,” says Noel West, vice president and facilitator for the project.

501(c) (3) status refers to the section of the IRS code that stipulates tax exempt status to organizations meeting the criteria established in 1986. Only 501(c) (3) groups with a letter of determination issued by the IRS are qualified to receive tax-deductible donations.

A 501(c) (3) provides additional benefits including discounted postal rates, exclusion from property tax and paying sales taxes. Another important benefit is with the 501(c) (3) the organization can apply for foundation and government grants.