Strengthen the Power of Our Commitment
by Continuing to Help Our Own…
Debra R. Leonard-Porch, Past CLSC 2009-2010 RTF Chairman,
Past Illinois Division President
While November and March are normally the months that IAAP members have been asked to provide financial support to the Retirement Trust Foundation, donations and contributions to the RTF are welcomed and accepted throughout the ENTIRE association year.
All funds contributed to the Trust will be used to support its overall programs consistent with the mission and strategic plan of the Trust: provide housing assistance grants to administrative professionals in need maintain Vista Grande Retirement Center and maintain the Trust's web site.
This month concludes the series on RTF by briefly sharing an overview on the Family of Givers Program (FOG), Housing Subsidies for Admins in Need (HSAN) and how you can further your personal, chapter and our division’s commitment to ‘helping our own.’
Housing Subsidies for Admins in Need Program
In 2003, IAAP created the Financial Assistance Program. To remain consistent with the IAAP Mission Statement, “To provide assistance for housing to Administrative Professionals, age 55 and older, who are in need,” the Financial Assistance Program was renamed Housing Subsidies for Admins in Need (HSAN) in 2009. The program applies only to rental assistance and the monthly payments are paid directly to the retirement facility.
This program provides financial assistance limited to individuals/members of IAAP living in a retirement center in the United States and/or Canada. This allows all IAAP members to request financial assistance for retirement housing, with the option of staying in their own communities near their family or relocating to Vista Grande, if space is available. If you become a resident of Vista Grande, you can still apply for retirement housing assistance.
To qualify, applicants must meet HUD financial guidelines. Assistance can be a part of or all of rent (depending on funds available and need). All requests for financial assistance are mailed to the Controller at IAAP Headquarters financial assistance needs must be assessed each year. The Controller will compile the information, assign a number to the application and forward to the Board of Trustees for approval or disapproval. The Board of Trustees does not receive the names of the applicants. IAAP Headquarters notifies applicants of approval or disapproval.
In a February 2009 survey of IAAP members, 51% of the respondents stated that, “The Housing Program was the most valuable aspect of the Trust.”
The Family of Givers Program
To provide an easy way for IAAP members to provide financial support to the Trust, the Family of Givers Program was created in 2008 by the Trust and give value and recognition to the donations made by individual IAAP members.
In the earlier mentioned February 2009 survey of IAAP members, “56% of respondents stated that they had made a donation to RTF, 19% of respondents couldn’t afford to, and while donation options had been changed to making giving easier that 66% of respondents weren’t aware of the Family of Givers Program.”
100% of all funds raised go directly into Retirement Trust Foundation assistance programs. Many companies provide matching funds, so by checking with your company you could easily increase your total RTF donation! The Family of Givers Program has three levels of donor participation: Sustaining: donors of $100 to $499 per year will receive an RTF pin, Leadership: donors of $500 to $999 per year will receive an RTF pin and Vista Grande patio paver, and and Pacesetter: donors of $1,000 or more will receive an RTF pin, Vista Grande patio paver, a plaque and special recognition.
All donations are recognized by a letter from IAAP Headquarters, and the Trust will recognize a contribution whose lifetime cumulative giving levels reaches or exceeds $5,000 by adding the donor’s name to a Vista Grande donor wall. Payments can be made by personal or company check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover cards. Any member who contributes to the Family of Givers Campaign will automatically have their gift credited to both the chapter and the Illinois Division RTF fundraising totals.
Simple Ways to Support the RTF…
Your support of the Retirement Trust Foundation can also be easily done by honoring a special member, our chapter, your supervisor or company by purchasing a patio paver. For each $100 donation you make, the Retirement Trust Foundation will engrave your paver with the name of your choice, as well as our Chapter name or City and State. The original site of patio pavers has been filled and now the walkway to the Della Herring Gazebo will be filled with completed patio pavers.
If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation or contribution to the Retirement Trust e Foundation, please print, complete and submit either the RTF Donor or Patio Paver Form.
Looking For More Information?
Visit the Retirement Trust Foundation website.