AFNA Foundation Support

Hope all are well and staying safe during this trying time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had an effect on the fundraising activities of the AFNA Foundation. Several events scheduled for this year have been postponed and/or sent into 2021. The Foundation benefits from these events to cover costs of scholarships and other areas of need within the DEA family. Six months ago I sent a letter to every member soliciting donations to help build the resources of the Foundations. I thank all who made a contribution. We will not be having a fundraiser in New York during May nor will be able to benefit from the yearly efforts of Ernie Batista and J.D. Miller from funds raised during the IDEC [1] conference. As the conference was scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C. and now cancelled, the Foundation has lost a substantial contribution. In addition, the status of several of the golf tournaments previously held by the DEA Survivor’s Benefit Found and now conducted by the AFNA Foundation, as fundraisers, are in doubt. As a result of these events I am writing to ask our members to step up again and contribute to the Foundation. We are striving to keep the Foundation viable so it can meet the needs of AFNA members and the DEA family. This year we have already expended $15,000 in scholarships, the winners being previously posted on the AFNA Foundation website
and AFNA website. As the year goes on I hope that there is no need for Foundation support however events do occur and will require our help.

I am asking each of the 1200 AFNA members to donate $100.00 so that we can continue to maintain an operating reserve balance thus keeping the Foundation viable and allowing us to continue to help all those in DEA with individual hardships as they arise. If you cannot afford to donate $100.00, please donate whatever you can afford.
For those that have a business, we would ask that you donate as appropriate in the name of your business.

That said, we cannot do all that needs to be done with just the limited donations and monies being received. Unfortunately, the AFNA Foundation had to turn down some requests in the past for lack of funding. The AFNA Foundation would like to assist all families in need, but current financial constraints may not allow this.

In the course of our careers in DEA, we came to rely on each other every day. We knew then that our backs were always covered. So too must we, in retirement, continue to rely on each other and cover each other’s backs. I am counting on your honor and respect for that code.

Thank you in advance for your generosity. With warmest personal regards,

John A. Costanzo
AFNA Foundation President
jcostanzo@afnafoundation.org
www.afnafoundation.org
3059752208

Click to donate to the AFNA Foundation.

[1] The IDEC vendors expo is a small trade show that accompanies the International Drug Enforcement Conference of which DEA is a permanent Co-President. AFNA members Ernie Batista and J.D. Miller organize this annual event. 

The New CARES Act Could Benefit Non-profits

Did you know the New CARES Act could help Nonprofit organizations like us?
We learned from Kiplinger: 11 Ways the Stimulus Package and Other Government Measures Could Help You in 2020

that the new CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) includes two tax provisions that reward people who donate to charity, like the AFNA Foundation.
First, a new “above-the-line” deduction of up to $300 is allowed for cash donations to charity in 2020. Donations to donor advised funds and certain organizations that support charities are not deductible.  You can’t claim this deduction if you itemize deductions on your 2020 tax return (i.e., you must claim the standard deduction). For taxpayers who do itemize on their 2020 return, the 60% of  adjusted gross income limit that normally applies to cash contributions is waived. That means you can deduct MORE of your
charitable cash contributions this year. As with the new above-the-line deduction, donations to donor advised funds and
supporting organizations don’t count. Click here for an overview of how the Stimulus package may affect you.

And, good news for our seniors! Required minimum distributions (RMDs) have been suspended for 2020.

John A. Costanzo
President