Marsha ’ s story is an excellent example of how you can make an impact in multiple ways . Read on to find out more about CAI ’ s new donor recognition levels that make it easier than ever to support our work . •
NEW WAYS TO
Give
By Marianne Monoc
Marsha Williams first heard about CAI from her son , an avid mountaineer who had read a magazine article about CAI founder Greg Mortenson ’ s climbing adventures and the harsh , often unforgiving living conditions experienced by the communities he visited in his travels .
As a high school counselor for many years who was passionate about the field of education , Marsha was immediately drawn to the story and was touched by Greg ’ s inexhaustible determination to build a school in the region . A lover of exotic travel who is heading to Nepal this fall , Marsha had visited many Asian and Central Asian countries and felt drawn to assist in some way . On February 1 , 2011 , she became a CAI donor , and has generously supported our mission and programs since that day with a monthly sustaining gift .
A few years ago , Marsha began making an extra annual donation to CAI through her retirement account ’ s required minimum distribution ( RMD ). An RMD is the amount of money that individuals with pre-tax retirement accounts must withdraw from their accounts each year once they reach age 73 . RMDs are designed as a government safeguard against people using a retirement account to avoid paying taxes . If you are over age 72 and elect not to take your RMD , you can be penalized by the IRS , with the amount not withdrawn subject to a 25 % tax . Making a charitable contribution with your RMD can help you avoid tax liabilities , while at the same time supporting a cause that is close to your heart .
Marsha credits her decision to become more deeply engaged with charitable work to her sister ’ s husband , Dave , who passed away suddenly last year . Dave , an accountant , was helping her with some financial matters and asked her a couple of questions she had never considered before , “ What is your philosophy of giving ? What do you care a lot about ?” That conversation made her really assess what was important to her and what kind of legacy she wanted to pass on to others . Her top interests and passions immediately rose to the surface : education , reproductive rights , environmental protection , and end-of-life care .
Marsha said that Dave ’ s question about her philosophy of giving changed her life and she is eager to share that experience with others :
" It caused me to reflect deeply , and I ask you to do the same . For me , I realized that I have plenty in my life and so giving of my own time , talent , or finances would not detract at all from my prosperity . I became much more thoughtful about my giving and increased it in support of the causes I care about . Those causes are going to vary from person to person , but I encourage you to ask yourself that same question and then discover where you can assist others in a way that is meaningful to you , whether big or small ."
Marsha has become an important member of our global community by continuing her monthly giving and helping fund special projects with her RMD . We are immensely grateful for her ongoing belief in our mission to advance education and livelihood skills for women and girls in Afghanistan , Pakistan , and Tajikistan .
Marsha ’ s story is an excellent example of how you can make an impact in multiple ways . Read on to find out more about CAI ’ s new donor recognition levels that make it easier than ever to support our work . •
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