WASHINGTON — People who give to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti can claim these donations on the tax return they are completing this season, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Taxpayers who itemize deductions on their 2009 return qualify for this special tax relief provision, enacted Jan. 22. Only cash contributions made to these charities after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, are eligible. This includes contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card.
“Americans have opened their hearts to help those affected by the Haiti earthquake,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.” This new law provides an immediate tax benefit for the many taxpayers who have made generous donations.”
Gary London decided to learn to fly. He knew if he had a plane that would motivate him so he bought one on Ebay!He then began learning to fly and decided to upgrade to a DA-40 through the services of John Armstrong, Bahamas Habitat’s President and Premier Aircraft Sales representative.Gary and John’s relationship developed to more than a business deal when John invited Gary to take part in Bahamas Habitat.
Gary was unable to come for the last Fly-In and Help Out but soon developed a new plan to come by boat since he has not yet completed his private pilot training. They departed from Stuart Florida and made the run over to Eleuthera taking their time in two days.
Gary and his wife, Marleta, docked their boat in Hatchet Bay with materials on board on November 22. They brought to us everything from step ladders, to bathroom mirrors, fixtures, and even some new toilets. It was an amazingly generous delivery!
Abraham (left), Marleta (center), Gary (left)
They worked on the remodeling for the guys and girls bathrooms at camp until leaving on December First. We were blessed to have them join us for Thanksgiving Dinner. Gary and Marleta even treated the staff to a day on their boat. We look forward to seeing them again in February!
Gary decided after visiting the camp to not only get involved in the Christmas at Camp Campaign with further generous donations but even has a plan to come back in February to rewire the camp facilities!
Thank you Gary and Marleta for all your generous support!!!
Beechcraft Baron Donated for Bahamas Mission Support
October 25th, 2009 — Bahamas Habitat announced today the donation of a Beechcraft Baron to the organization by Dr. John Quinn of Charleston SC for use by the organization in its Bahamas mission work.
Dr. Quinn is a native of Shreveport LA and is a practicing pediatrician in the Charleston SC area. He and his family have made numerous trips to the Bahamas over the years. He became aware of the mission work of the Bahamas Habitat through notices delivered through the AOPA (www.aopa.org) website. Dr. Quinn is aware of the needs in the Bahamas and the value of the mission and decided that his Baron would be best used to support the work of Bahamas Habitat.
“I had considered donating my aircraft to a good cause and realized that the best fit for my Baron would be in a region of the world where a twin would be valued and where access to avgas would not be an issue” stated Dr. Quinn. “Bahamas Habitat was the ideal choice where it will bring significant value to the ministry work there.”
Dr. Quinn comes from a family of long time flyers. His grandfather began teaching him to fly when he was only ten years old in Shreveport LA in a T34 military training aircraft. He reports that his mother and grandmother are both pilots too. Dr. Quinn’s most recent aircraft before the Baron was a J3 Cub on floats that he put over 500 hours on. He said he might go back to a similar grass roots aircraft for awhile and looks forward to being a volunteer pilot for Bahamas Habitat so he can participate in missions in his beloved Baron.
The aircraft is a six place twin engine 1969 Beechcraft B55 Baron Colemill 600 conversion with upgraded engine horsepower and Garmin 430 GPS Nav/Comm, 330 transponder with traffic, Garmin GDL69 XM weather and WX500 Stormscope. Performance is 200 knots which will make transport missions to and among the islands very efficient.
“The work of our mission will be dramatically benefited by this generous donation”, stated John Armstrong, President of Bahamas Habitat. “Dr. Quinn’s aircraft is the ideal tool for the needs of Bahamas Habitat and it will help to achieve and elevate the vision we have for the mission. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Quinn and look forward to his continued involvement in the work of the ministry and what God has in store.”
Steve Merritt, the Treasurer and Chief Pilot for Bahamas Habitat stated, “We often say the inaccessibility of some of the Bahamian Islands is their blessing and their curse. It can take all day to go 50 miles between islands via commercial plane or boat. This can be a real challenge in managing the mission’s multiple camps. We needed an aircraft that could make the trip quickly back and forth to the islands and then provide the lift and support needed between our camps there. The Baron is the perfect tool for the mission. We are extremely grateful to have this blessing and will put the plane in service immediately and look forward to Dr. Quinn’s on-going involvement in the mission’s work.”
The Baron will make its maiden flight for the organization for the upcoming Fly-In and Help Out Event being held October 29th, 2009 where aviators will fly from the US to the mission’s base camp on Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
Pilots and aviation organizations interested in the mission and learning how to fly to the Bahamas with us should sign up for updates at: www.bahamashabitat.org and select Fly-In and Help Out Event to receive further info. Online event registration is also available on the website.
Bahamas Habitat has established a support fund for the ongoing maintenance of the aircraft and is requesting donations via their website at www.bahamashabitat.org.
This gift was from Dr. Jeff Horowitz of Conway South Carolina. Dr. Horowitz is a pilot and owner of a Diamond DA40 aircraft. He is excited about the dental mission work being launched by Bahamas Habitat and he is looking forward to flying down to participate in the missions this year.
We continue to be amazed at the work God is doing through our teams and are very blessed to have the support of so many. Thank you Dr. Horowitz!
It’s not too late to move your aircraft this year and get a tax deduction.
If you’ve advertised your airplane for months and it has not sold and the calls have dwindled to just a few, most aircraft sales experts will tell you to lower the price…again and again until it moves. On an older airplane this can ultimately get you a very unimpressive net price for your beloved bird.
There is another solution that moves your aircraft now, saves you the cost of continued advertising, hanger rent, talking to prospects, showing the aircraft or further maintenance (like an upcoming annual). When you choose this route you’ll move your aircraft with no fuss no muss and the best part is you” make a profound impact on thousands of people and feel good in the process. (more…)
This post is of special Interest to aircraft owners that are trying to sell their aircraft. We can provide you a way to dispose of your aircraft and obtain a full tax write off in this tax year. This approach may be the ideal way to move an older aircraft in the current market because the net tax deduction value may be almost as good as the market value less the expenses of continuing to hold the aircraft. Please give it your sincere consideration.
Bahamas Habitat is making an impact for the missions on the island of Eleuthera where our base camp is on Eleuthera…this is true. However, there are over 700 islands in the country and virtually all of the “out islands” have needs the mission wishes to try and address. Moving between islands in a general aviation aircraft is extremely quick and easy whereas by boat or airliner it is difficult, costly and time consuming.
With aviation as a cornerstone of Bahamas Habitat’s focus we have the potential of making a very unique and profound impact upon our mission work there. Our vision is to build a sustainable aviation wing with aircraft at our base camp airport of Governor’s Harbour (MYEM) that will serve the transportation needs of the mission, provide hurricane relief, support missionary pilot training in collaboration with aviation universities and flying missionary non-profit groups, and help solve the challenges involved in the unique logistics of moving volunteers and supplies between the islands and from the US.
The success of our Fly-In & Help Out Events are one illustration of the pontential impact aircraft can make. Another perfect example of this need was during our attempts to respond in the aftermath of Hurricane IKE. The backbone of our response came as the result of a single volunteer with a Piper Aztec that flew many missions back and forth to Inagua. With out access to that aircraft our response would have been hampered.
We have been donated our first aircraft, a Piper Cherokee project that is now in process of rebuild at Broughton High School. See this video. This project will require at least a year to complete.
We are boldly asking aircraft owners to prayerfully consider donating their aircraft to our mission. The donation is fully deductible and we will supply all the necessary reciepts and 501(c)3 documentation. We are asking EVERY Aircraft owner to do the following:
1. Prayerfully consider donating your aircraft either now or in your will for future use.
2. Help us promote this request by presenting it on our behalf to aviation groups you participate in or to other aircraft owners you think might be interested.
3. Join in our nextFly-In & Help Out Event. This is designed to introduce you to flying to the Bahamas and our mission work there so you can engage further.
4. Volunteer to fly to our base camp and offer your transportation services between islands for a week during the year. You’ll have the time of your life!
God is good…and through Him, so is Rev. Dr. Gene Zimmerman!
The picture you see here is an example of the 1990′s 20-Passenger bus First UMC Orlando would like to donate to BMH and send over in mid-January.
We are very thankful for Gene’s and UMC’s of Orlando unending dedication to the BCMC and BMH.
Thank You Gene!!
Gene asked that BMH/BH take care of Shipping costs and duty so we are including herein a request to all that read this…
Please make a donation before the end of 2008 of any amount so you can deduct this from your 2008 return and so we can get this great bus over and in service as soon as possible!
It is truly amazing the way God continues to touch people for our cause, open their hearts and they in turn make significant contributions to the ministry. We recently were donated a late model Plymouth Voyager mini van for use at Camp Symonette. The donation originated from a friend of the Rotary in the Tampa area that prefered to remain anonymous. That’s now two vans and a car along with two airplane projects donated in the last year! Praise God!
The online news outlet MyNC.com featured this video today on their website telling the story of the Bahamas Habitat donated aircraft project. Take a look…
It’s all coming together!
I was getting a little frustrated today because I am not down in Inagua right now up on the roofs but our plans and coordination is paying off.
The island of the Inagua has received a $100,000 anonymous donation of building materials that left Nassau on Friday afternoon! BMH had nothing to do with the solicitation of the donation but I can guarantee you that we will have a lot to do with the “putting it where it needs to go” starting on Monday….on the ROOFS!
The past few days I have been busy doing my best to solicit and coordinate materials and volunteers here in Nassau. There are few organizations and ministries trying to do the same to relieve as much of the pain in Inagua as possible, however, my fear is that because of the nature of the situation, there is potential for (more…)
WASHINGTON — People who give to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti can claim these donations on the tax return they are completing this season, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
