Mercy Education Project celebrated its twentieth birthday in high style last evening, May 10, at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Rochelle Riley, a favorite Free Press columnist of mine, was in attendance and will no doubt do an excellent write-up of the event, but this is my own vote of appreciation for all that MEP, as the Mercy Education Project is affectionately known, has done and is doing. Their particular focus is on opening doors of opportunity to young women in Detroit through education. The people whose lives they touch included two honorees last night: a high school student and a 42 year old working mother, just one indication of the scope of the program.

To learn more about MEP, look them up on the web at http://mercyed.net/ and consider doing what you can do to get involved. Theirs is a most worthwhile program.

And speaking of charities more broadly, you may interested to know that Raymond James helps our clients to organize their charitable giving by means of the Raymond James Charitable Endowment, or "My Family Foundation," as it is known. I would be happy to help you understand the ways in which you can make use of this resource in a variety of ways: to keep your gifts private but receive immediate tax deductions, for example, and to earn lifetime income from a charitable annuity. You choose the charity or charities to whom donations are made from your fund and can change them from time to time and from year to year. This is a new concept to many and useful even if you intend to donate no more than $10,000.00 Bes ure to ask me about it if you would like to simplify and yet magnify the effect of your charitable giving. Raymond James and I can help you do that!

For more information, check this out on the web at  http://www.myfamilyfoundation.org/ 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Fran
 Fran 

Fran Twiddy, CFP® Branch Manager Contact Us