KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwired - February 09, 2016) - More than $3 million. That's the amount of money for local charities if just 10 percent was donated by winners of the 1,000 Win $1,000 Daily Sweepstakes at H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), the world's largest consumer tax preparation company. If many of the winners who have shared their stories are any indication, that number could be much, much higher.
"Understandably, many of our sweepstakes winners needed to use their extra $1,000 to take care of their families, and H&R Block is happy to be a part of that," said Kathy Collins, H&R Block's chief marketing officer. "The winners who have been in a position to share their winnings with strangers are a fortunate and generous group. It's good to see the sweepstakes winnings being invested in communities and helping improve the lives of many."
Making charitable donations tops some winners' to-do listsH&R Block Newsroom poll indicated they would save parts of their winnings or pay off bills, there also was a strong sentiment among winners to pay it forward and help others.
- Bob and Sheila Dias, in Fall River, Mass., are donating their winnings to Best Buddies Massachusetts, which is "dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)." The Dias' younger son was diagnosed with autism, making this charity very special to them as its services are geared toward, but not limited to, people with autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities.
- A winner in Arizona, who wishes to remain anonymous, is donating his winnings to MAZON: A Jewish Response to World Hunger. As a world traveler who worked in the airlines and travel industries, this winner felt a connection to MAZON when he learned about it through a project a relative was completing as part of preparations for her bat mitzvah. Another charity this winner frequently gives to is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
- Making sure people are fed is an everyday duty for Michael Paske, who is a chef in Oklahoma City. He is giving half of his winnings to the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank. The food bank has a backpack program that sends kids in need home with a backpack full of food to share with their families over the weekend. The other half of his winnings will be in his daughter's savings account. Michael's daughter is only 8, but she is already learning about helping others by participating in charitable fundraising events with her dad, including helping make sure 300 turkeys got cooked for Thanksgiving dinner for those in need.
Benefits of donating winnings include opportunity to help others and tax savings charitable donation if they itemize their deductions.
For cash donations, taxpayers must have either a bank record, such as a cancelled check or credit card statement, or a receipt from the charity. For cash contributions of $250 or more, the taxpayer must obtain a written acknowledgement from the charity or have certain payroll deduction records.
For non-cash donations, taxpayers must have receipts, acknowledgments, appraisals and even pictures depending on the value of the donation. Taxpayers who make non-cash contributions and claim charitable deductions in excess of $500 must complete Form 8283 and submit it with Form 1040.
A week remaining to enter sweepstakes www.hrblock.com/grandH&R Block tax professionalwww.hrblock.com or calling 800-HRBLOCK.
About H&R Blockhttp://newsroom.hrblock.com/.
Abbreviated Rules click here. Open to legal U.S. residents (50 states + DC & PR) age 18+. Entry Period: 1/4/16 - 2/15/16. One entry per taxpayer with paid federal tax return. Daily drawings 1/16/16 - 2/15/16 + final drawing on 2/19/16. 1,000 winners per drawing; 32,000 winners total. Total ARV: $32,000,000. Void where prohibited.
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