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Giving with an IRA

With the growth of boating and tourism, night time navigation in and out of the Muskegon channel was becoming a serious safety issue. It was often too dark or too foggy to detect the south breakwall between the pier light and the beach and boating accidents were increasing.

Lou and Ann Eklund made a significant difference when they took advantage of a gifting option approved by Congress that allows a direct rollover from an IRA to a community foundation without first having to recognize the distribution as taxable income. For those who are 70 1/2 years of age and over and required to take Required Minimum Distributions from an IRA, this direct charitable rollover makes it very easy to support something you love in the community.

Not only did the Eklund’s gift fund the installation of lights along the south Muskegon pier, it also included life rings, signs, new equipment for the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Marine Division and lights on the Mona Lake channel that reaches into Lake Michigan.

“My hope is that this story gets others interested in giving to the foundation,” said Lou Eklund in a 2012 interview with The Muskegon Chronicle. “It’s important to let them know just how easy it is…and how much good it does.”

Thank you, Lou and Ann.

If you’d like more information about the IRA Charitable Rollover, contact Heidi Sytsema, 231.332.4107 or via email.