Offers pour in to help Cleveland women freed from captivity

[bigtree]

(Reuters) - Offers of help are pouring in from around the world for three Cleveland women who were kidnapped and held in captivity for a decade, with people offering cash, furniture and even use of a vacation home to help them rebuild their lives.

Three members of the Cleveland City Council have set up a fund to provide financial assistance to Amanda Berry, 27, Gina DeJesus, 23, and Michelle Knight, 32.

Since it was established earlier this week, the fund has raised more than $50,000, said Cleveland Councilman Brian Cummins, who helped arrange the Cleveland Courage Fund, which is administered by a non-profit organization.

Cummins said the fund for the three women had received donations from people across the United States, as well as Canada, France and Australia.

The money will not go directly to the victims, but be distributed to organizations to help the women pay for therapy, doctor's visits, housing and other expenses, Cummins said.


read: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/11/us-usa-missing-ohio-idUSBRE94A0GQ20130511?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

[boston bean]

1. Give the money to the women. Let them spend it they

Way they want/need to.

[Politicalboi]

3. Exactly

The money will not go directly to the victims, but be distributed to organizations to help the women pay for therapy, doctor's visits, housing and other expenses, Cummins said.

We all know the disaster of Red Cross funds for 9/11 victims. Let these women spend that money how they see fit.

[appacom]

2. Treat them with dignity and respect by giving them control of their money.

The money will not go directly to the victims, but be distributed to organizations to help the women pay for therapy, doctor's visits, housing and other expenses, Cummins said.

[Auntie Bush]

4. That's great people are helping but

I wish the donations were much greater...they will need it to get into a successful life for three people or families.

[alittlelark]

5. Curious as to what the 'overhead' will be for this fund.....

These types of 'funds' tend to benefit the ones who initiate them.

[Sheldon Cooper]

6. I read in an article that if the money is given directly to the women,

the IRS will treat it as taxable income and demand their share. I think it's okay for a qualified non-profit to administer it at first, and the gradually turn it over to the women themselves.

[bigtree]

8. good info

thanks, Sheldon

[Travis_0004]

9. That doesn't sound right

Gifts generally are not taxable. If the amount of a single donation is under 14k, then there is no tax involved.

Even on amounts over 14k, the tax must be paid by the person making the donation, not the person receiving.

So if a lot of people make small donations, then even if the women receive well over 14k, no taxes should be involved.

[bigtree]

10. +

[wellstone dem]

11. It might be the issue of having it be tax deductible for the

donor, not taxable to the recipient. Giving it to the women directly, would affect their ability to get SSI disability benefits, which it seems that at least one of the women may need.

[sabrina 1]

7. Disaster Capitalism at work again. They can't miss an opportunity to take advantage of any

disaster which good people are more than willing to donate to. Then they bring in their 'managers' and the victims see very little of those funds.

After Haiti, when the Bush gang got involved, with Clinton's help and to this day no one knows how or where those millions of dollars actually went, I swore never again to donate to any 'charity' organization.

I will try to find a way to send whatever I can afford directly to those I want it to go to. Lots of people profited from the disasters of the past decade or so, Katrina, Haiti etc. but few of the actual victims seem to have benefited much at all.

I am certain that those women can handle their own affairs without paying, and that is what this means, 'money managers' to do it for them.

[riverwalker]

12. nothing goes to managing

http://www.clevelandfoundation.org/about/cleveland-courage-fund/

All money raised – 100 percent – will benefit the survivors and their families through nonprofit organizations.The Cleveland Foundation will not assess fees on this fund and will issue a tax receipt for all donations received.

[riverwalker]

13. only 1000 people so far? C'mon America.

https://m.facebook.com/ClevelandCourageFund/posts/506038009449657

Cleveland Courage Fund
IMPORTANT UPDATE

As of Friday more than $50,000 has been generously donated from over 1,000 people. Donors have given amounts from $3.00 to $1,000.00 and represent 34 states, and 3 foreign countries, Canada, Australia, and France.

All donations made to the fund will go to a nonprofit organization, which will disburse the funding to benefit the survivors and their families.

Examples of the broad range of assistance and services anticipated to be provided include but are not limited to: clothing, food, housing, house wares, equipment, appliances, transportation,­ fuel, utilities, mental, physical health and beauty services, travel, recreation (including hotels) education, training, etc...

The fund is expected to be working with the women and their families through a designated representative of their choosing in identifying their needs and having them addressed equitably given the abilities of the funding that becomes available. No needs have yet been communicated to the fund and we are working with the Office of the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law Section who is also in contact with victim's services and the FBI.

The Cleveland Foundation will not assess fees on this fund, so all money raised will go to help survivors and their families. Fund Advisors receive no compensation nor will funds be used to pay any salaries.

NOTE: Under IRS rules, when funds are donated directly to individuals, the recipients must pay taxes on that money. When donors give through the Cleveland Foundation, the tax liability is removed from the families.

IN-KIND GOODS AND SERVICE OFFERS:
An Announcement will be forthcoming regarding an address of the location where in-kind gifts, goods etc... can be delivered as well as well wishes, letters and cards. Anyone wishing to donate goods or services can email the details and any questions to: clevelandcourag­[e-mail]