How Your 2011 State Taxes Can Benefit the Wood Acres Scholarship Fund

Dear Wood Acres Friends and Families,

A new law has been passed that provides exciting possibilities for Wood Acres and its families. Under the new Georgia Private School Tax Credit, all tax payers are now eligible to receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit in exchange for their contribution to a state-approved Student Scholarship Organization, or SSO. This allows for every taxpayer to divert some or all of their state tax payment for 2009 to scholarships at no cost to you. This fund benefits families in need of scholarships. In addition to a state tax credit, your contribution can be utilized as a charitable contribution deduction on your federal return.

After careful research, we have opted to partner with the Apogee Georgia School Choice Scholarship Fund, a Georgia 501(c)3 Student Scholarship Organization, to administer the program on our behalf. Maximum contributions are $2,500 for married filing jointly and $1,000 for individuals. C-Corporations can contribute up to 75% of their corporate tax liability and receive that amount as a dollar-for-dollar credit on Georgia taxes.

These credits are not indefinitely available. The state has placed a cap on the maximum amount of funds that can be contributed during the 2009 tax year. We are now in a race to obtain contributions and receive pre-approval before that cap is reached and the December 15th deadline. We urgently need your participation.

We are looking to the Wood Acres community to support this program and help make it the success we know it can be. This program applies to all individuals or corporations paying GA state taxes, so you can also help by providing this information to others who might be interested in diverting some of their tax payments to Wood Acres.

Please visit our Georgia Private School Tax Credit page for details and step-by-step instructions to participate.

If you have any questions about this program, do not hesitate to contact John Thigpen, Wood Acres CFO, or our representative at Apogee, John Panessa, at 404.419.7123 or via email at jpanessa@apogeescholarships.org.

Thank you for your continued support of and commitment to The Wood Acres School.

Sincerely,

Head of School

Brian, Jr. and Isabelle Young Memorial Scholarship Program

The Brian, Jr. and Isabelle Young Memorial Scholarship program was borne out of tragedy but has brought such honor to both the memory of these two wonderful Wood Acres children and the families who annually become recipients of the scholarship awards through the program. 

The beautiful bronze sculptures that welcome visitors and families to the school office on the Wood Acres campus were donated to the school in 2002 through the generosity of Wood Acres families in celebration of the lives of Brian and Isabelle.Families with students in grades Kindergarten through Upper School may apply if they have matriculated at Wood Acres for at least one academic year prior to application.  Awards are based on a combination of financial need of the family and academic excellence of the student/s as reflected in submitted applications.  Families may reapply each year. 

Scholarship program evaluators from the community review anonymous applications and supporting documentation to suggest award rankings and amounts of scholarship money.  Awards are announced at the beginning of August each year.  While the Scholarship program has been generously funded through the loving donations of Wood Acres benefactors, Jim and Joann Ryan, families and relatives are encouraged to contribute to the program so that it might grow and continue to support deserving Wood Acres families for many decades to come. 

For further information, an application, or to make a donation, please contact Jenny Tischer, Accounts Manager, at jtischer@woodacresschool.org.