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January 30, 2004/Shevat 7 5764, Vol. 56, No. 19
STO tops $1.2 million
Donations represent 18 percent increase from 2002
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
The Jewish Community Day School Scholarship Fund generated $1,209,840 in donations in 2003.
The donations provide scholarships to students attending Jewish day schools in the Valley.
The donations to the scholarship tuition organization (STO) represent an 18 percent increase over the 2002 donations of $1,043,679.
"We are thrilled about reaching so many new households," said Robin Meyerson, marketing chairwoman for the STO. "Our community should be so proud to be able to give so many scholarships to the children."
The increase comes on the heels of an effort to improve marketing of the STO, including partnering with Jewish preschools, synagogues and other Jewish organizations to publicize the fund in sermons, newsletters, e-mail bulletins and on Web sites.
"We're really ecstatic that the community worked together - all the shuls and the schools, all the Jewish groups and Hadassah," said Meyerson. "All of the groups were so willing to get the word out."
Other changes are planned for 2004. The STO now has the ability to accept monthly payments, rather than a lump-sum donation. Additionally, several CPAs in the community have volunteered their time to serve as "virtual CPAs" to answer tax questions regarding the tax credit by e-mail.
Workshops will also be held at each of the day schools this spring, to help answer questions about the STO.
The STO was created to take advantage of an Arizona tax credit that allows taxpayers to donate up to $625 per year to a qualifying tuition organization in lieu of paying the same amount in state income tax. It is administered by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and serves seven participating schools: Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School, The King David School, Pardes Jewish Day School, Phoenix Hebrew Academy, Tri-City Jewish Community Center Day School, Beth El Kindergarten and Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center Kindergarten.
The 2003 donations will be distributed for the 2004-2005 school year.
For information about the STO, monthly payments or the virtual CPAs, call Heath Blumstein at 480-634-4900, ext. 1134. Donations can be made at www.jewishtaxcredit.org.
Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com.
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