Gifts made to Schowalter Villa impacts lives of residents and may be directed to a particular fund of choice.
Schowalter Villa Receives $250,000 in Community Service Tax Credits
The Kansas Department of Commerce has awarded $4.13 million in Community service Tax Credits to 20 nonprofit organizations around the state. “We’re excited to award tax credits to these deserving organizations,” said KS Department of Commerce Secretary David D. Kerr. “These tax credits are a great way to spur investment in community improvement projects across the state.”
Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities of Kansas, Inc. (d.b.a. Schowalter Villa) was awarded $250,000 for their project “My Garden, My Home.” Schowalter Villa will use the $357,100 in donations, generated by the Community Service Tax Credits for the project titled “My Garden, My Home.” This award will fund facility upgrades in healthcare, including modernizing resident rooms and creating a secured & beautiful garden where residents and children from the connected childcare program can be outdoors together.
“When this project is completed, the people who live at Schowalter Villa will enjoy safe and easy access to outdoor areas for relaxation, gardening or walking. Resident room updates in the 300 and 400 halls will result in brighter and more spacious rooms with improved personal storage. Residents and their families, the children who visit daily and members of the community will enjoy new and memorable experiences as a result of these improvements. We are thrilled to have this opportunity!” stated Treva Greaser, VP Health Services.
Judy Friesen, Director of the Hesston Intergenerational Child Development Center, said “We are always looking at ways that we can expand our interactions with the residents of Schowalter Villa. One of the areas of emphasis at the center is helping reconnect young children with the out-of-doors and the world of nature. This new project will give us a new avenue to help children learn about growing plants in the company of, and with the help of, the grandmas and grandpas from the villa. This will also be a new and welcome format for our interactions.”
Businesses and individuals that contribute to this approved project in 2009 and 2010 will be eligible to receive a 70 percent Kansas Income Tax Credit.
For example, qualified donors who give $1,000 to this approved project would receive 70% (or $700) tax credit against their Kansas income tax liability in addition, the donors would receive federal tax benefits if they itemize, which would again decrease their tax liability. For tax years 2009 and 2010, donors receive 90% of the normal credit value which results in a 63% credit, due to a budget-balancing effort by the legislature in May 2009.
For more details about this project or about the Community Service Tax Credit Program, please contact Cindy Wierwille or Al Penner at Schowalter Villa Development Depart at 705 S. Main, Suite 206, Hesston 620-327-2007.
“I have been a member of the Hesston Wellness Center for almost a year now. I had coronary bypass surgery last April, after which I went to cardiac rehab and then continued my fitness program here. I love it! Oh, don't get me wrong there are days I am too busy or I don't feel like going, but I make myself go and feel much better for it. I don't think I would be doing as well as I am without this program. We are very lucky to have the Wellness Center here. It's a fun place to be.”
Billie Barker
Hesston Wellness Center Member