Urban Views Weekly 7-30-14

JULY 30, 2014

Next Week: Jack Gravely questions 16th District Candidates

www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com July 30, 2014 Urban Views Weekly

1

THE DEAL

The Ins and Outs of 529 College Savings Plans

By Jason Alderman

F

or many people, their biggest expenses in life are funding retirement, buying a home and paying for their children’s college education – or a portion of it, anyway. Setting aside money for these and other financial goals is difficult, especially when you’re trying to save for them all simultaneously and from a young age.

One of the more popular college savings vehicles is the 529 College Savings Plan.

Every state and Washington, D.C. offers at least one 529 plan option, although most offer several. Key features include:

• You make contributions using aftertax dollars; their investment earnings grow tax-free.

• Withdrawals aren’t taxed if they’re used to pay for qualified higher-education expenses (e.g., tuition, room and board, fees, books, supplies and equipment).

• If you withdraw the money for non-qualified expenses, you’ll have to pay income tax and a 10 percent penalty tax on the earnings portion of the withdrawal – plus possible state penalties, depending on where you live.

• If the original beneficiary decides not to attend college or gets a scholarship, you can reallocate the account to another of his or her family members at any time.

• You can rollover funds to a different 529 plan or change investment strategies once a year. If you want to do more than one rollover within a 12-month period, you’ll need to change the beneficiary in order to avoid taxes and penalties. (You can always change it back later.)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR If you would like to respond to Viewpoints, your submission should contain your name, a full valid address and a daytime phone number.

We cannot acknowledge submitted letters. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity, legality and taste.

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VOL.7, ISSUE 31

• Contributions up to $14,000 a year, per recipient, are exempt from Urban Views Weekly, llc gift taxes ($28,000 for married couples).

6802 Paragon Place, Suite 410 • You can also make a lump-sum contribution of up to $70,000 ($140,000/married couples) per beneficiary and then average the contribution over a five-year period without triggering the gift tax – provided you make no other gifts to that beneficiary for the next five years.

Richmond, va 23230 Office: 804.441.6255 Fax: 888.439.2534

Ervin B. Clarke

Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com

• These plans are treated as an asset of the account owner (vs. the student) when calculating the expected family contribution toward col- Flora C. Clarke lege costs, so they have a comparatively low impact on financial aid Administrative Assistant flora@urbanviewsweekly.com eligibility.

Shelia O. Spurlock-Shaw Most financial experts recommend looking first at your own state’s plan to Advertising see what tax advantages, if any, are offered to residents. They may be signifi- shelia@urbanviewsweekly.com cant enough to offset lower fees or better fund performance in other states’ plans.

Brittany R. Hughes Art Director

• Many states that have a state income tax give accountholders a full or partial tax deduction for contributions made to their own state’s plan. Three states (Indiana, Utah and Vermont) also offer tax credits for contributions.

Carefully examine the fee structure. Common fees include those for opening an account, annual maintenance, administration costs, and most importantly, sales commissions if you’re buying from a brokerage – which could CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE be up to 5.75 percent of your contribution. Buying directly from the plan FOR THE LATEST ARTICLES eliminates sales fees but puts the onus on you to research the best option AND INFORMATION. for your needs.

• Each state’s plan offers different investment options, both in investment style (age-based, risk-based, principal protection, managed or indexed funds, etc.) and in actual investment performance.

Bottom line: The sooner you can start saving for college, the less your kids will have to rely on expensive loans.

• Contributions to other state’s plans generally are not tax-deductible in your home state; however, five states do offer tax breaks for investing in any state’s plan (Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Missouri and Pennsylvania).

• You can choose anyone as beneficiary – your child, other relative or friend.

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And finally, examine the investment performance of the funds, both when you enroll and periodically thereafter. Morningstar (www.morningstar.com), College Savings Plans Network (www.collegesavings.org) and FinAid (www. finaid.org) all have helpful comparison tools.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

Advertising with Urban Views Weekly Supports the Non-Profit of The Month Project.

Contact us today, call 804.441-6255.

2 Urban Views Weekly July 30, 2014 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

COMMUNITY

In

the August 6, 2014 edition of Urban Views Weekly, we will give space to a gentleman that I hold in high regard, Jack W. Gravely. Jack, as he likes to be called, is the host of The Jack Gravely Show on WLEE 990 AM. Jack will pose questions to the candidates for the 16th District Democratic primary that will be held on August 9, 2014. Each candidate will be provided the same questions. Urban Views Weekly will print their unedited, 150 word response to each question.

It is the desire of Urban Views Weekly to give our citizens unvarnished, direct words from the candidates

that will help them decide their choice in this primary election.

The candidates will be provided five questions and asked to respond by 5 p.m. on August 1, 2014. Urban Views Weekly will print the responses next week, August 6, 2014.

We thank The Jack Gravely Show for partnering with Urban Views Weekly to educate and inform our community in this important election.

Ervin B. Clarke Publisher

This School Year, Raise Grades with Online Learning Tools StatePoint

U

nfortunately, the pace of classroom learning can’t be tailored to every student’s individual needs -- particularly these days, as class sizes are growing and funding for special enrichment programs becomes limited.

In fact, at least 35 states provided less funding per student for the 2013-14 school year than they did before the recession.

Many children will need to spend some time outside the classroom going beyond their regular homework to keep up or get ahead in school. No matter what your child’s education goals are, there are great ways you can help make this school year the best one yet •

Math practice: Square roots, polynomials, quadrilaterals. Learning these terms and concepts can get dicey quickly. Keeping up at home is important, and sometimes requires more than just doing the day’s take-home assignment.

Consider supplementing homework with online tools. For example, Shmoop, an online learning and test prep provider, provides free study guides for review and courses for remedial work in many academic topics, including social science, arts and music, science and English.

Their math tutorials cover everything from Pre-Algebra to Calculus and the step by-step explanations that the program offers can be helpful to any student looking for an extra edge.

•

Read the classics: Kids who read for pleasure can improve their grades. Not only will the exposure to literary giants like John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, and Harriet Beecher Stowe build vocabulary and improve reading comprehension, there is much to be learned about history and culture from picking up a great book, such as “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”

Be sure to use tools that can help clarify some of the denser material. Online learning guides can be a great place to get synopses and analysis.

• •

Use flashcards: It may sound quaint, but there is really no substitute for quizzing yourself with a flash card. Even the act of creating the flashcard can help reinforce concepts and facts.

Extra Help: A little extra academic help after school can sometimes mean the difference between struggle and success. But between school and soccer practice, ballet les-

sons and getting dinner on the table, adding a tutor or after school class to the list might be a logistical impossibility.

Consider online courses that can be completed from the comfort of home and are common core aligned. For example, Shmoop’s offerings are diverse, ranging from 7th grade math to second semester 12th grade British Literature. For those students taking Advanced Placement courses this fall, check out their AP test prep courses. These courses help students nail the important, for-credit, year-end exam.

More information can be found at www.Shmoop.com.

With a bit of extra effort and the use of savvy learning tools, kids can gain a competitive edge this school year.

August 1-3, 2014: School Supplies and Clothing What’s Exempt: During this three-day period, purchases of qualifying school supplies selling for $20 or less per item, and purchases of qualifying clothing and footwear selling for $100 or less per item will be exempt from sales tax. Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items during the holiday period, but they are responsible for paying the tax on those items to the Department of Taxation.

www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com July 30, 2014 Urban Views Weekly

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CIVIC BEAT

FUNdraising Good Times Reader Success!

An Interview with Judy Davis – Part One

W

e eat, drink, and sleep fundraising. It’s what we love. We truly enjoy and embrace the people and organizations we work with.

We get excited when clients take the tools we develop for them and put them to work. We cherish their successes, and most importantly, we celebrate their work. At the end of the day, fundraising is all about attracting resources for nonprofit organizations and institutions that make a difference in people’s lives. While not every organization is in a position to hire fundraising counsel, there are so many people doing wonderful things who need just a few suggestions or some new information, so they can do a better job and raise more money. These are the people we write FUNdraising Good Times for.

We cherish our readers, though most are unknown to us. As writers, you don’t always “meet” your audience. But, we did recently meet a reader who embraced us sharing, “I read your column all the time.” We were conducting a workshop for the ArtsMemphis community engagement fellows when Judy Davis came up to us and shared that she raised $45,000 using suggestions from our column. That caught our attention and we had to learn more!

We learned that Davis, the membership outreach manager at the Metal Museum in Memphis, played an important role in The 10th Anniversary Gates Campaign. The museum was celebrating the 25th anniversary of the most beloved part of their permanent collection – the 10th Anniversary Gates.

These are metal gates adorned with 331 unique rosettes that were contribThis column is our way of giving back and sharing information about funduted by over 200 metalsmiths from around the world. After 25 years of exporaising, fund development, and the important roles of nonprofit board memsure to the elements, the gates and rosettes desperately needed restoration.

Judy Davis bers, staff and volunteers. It was almost nine years ago that FUNdraising Good This required removing, repairing and cleaning each rosette, and then sandTimes debuted in The Globe Newspaper in Oakland, CA. There are now 30 papers and two blasting and repainting the gates. magazines from around the country that publish this column. This commitment on the part of publishers and editors demonstrates their commitment to growing the nonprofit sector and The campaign raised $45,000 by inviting museum members and visitors to “sponsor a rosette” with individual donations ranging from $100 - $500. Each rosette sponsor received supporting the people who give their time and energy to serving others. a credit line in a catalog published to commemorate the rededication of the newly restored gates on Mother’s Day, 2014.

This was Davis’ first professional fundraising project, and she was armed with inspiration and information from our columns.

Next week: The details!

Copyright 2014 – Mel and Pearl Shaw

Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your campaign, visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

4 Urban Views Weekly July 30, 2014 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

VIEWPOINTS

The Forgotten Ones #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS

By Dr. T

I

t’s only been a few short weeks ago that #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS was trending all over social media and world news outlets.

Since that time there has been little coverage, commentary, or interest in the topic. The kidnapped Nigerian school girls and the plight of their suffering families and community are no longer titillating fodder for the “lead” story or even human interest tagline. How quickly we forget. Out of sight out of mind, and we’re on to the next thing. Be it the next big tragic event or update on never-ending wars and rumors of wars, invasions or missile launches that fills the airways and mass media interests, all newsworthy without question, but what about the forgotten ones? There are those whose unresolved situation, tragic event, or condition, once leading the headlines and igniting the righteous outrage of the world community, have slipped to the back pages of the press and finally out of any conscious consideration at all, and that cannot be right.

tions or remembers that they have been taken, are being held somewhere suffering at the hands of a terrorist organization, and being used by men in whatever ways those men want to use them. These young girls of 11, 12, 13 and 14 years of age have been captured and enslaved. Sex trafficking is big business, and it is more likely than not that the girls are victims of the unthinkable. And yet, no one is talking about this horrific situation! Just like the thousands of other missing and exploited women and children worldwide, it has become so common that the once fervent outrage has melted into a faded hashtag on twitter. We cannot allow this to be. Life must become more important to us than that.

I see people gathered outside of abortion clinics daily to stand in protest for the rights and lives of the unborn? What about the BORN? What about their right to life? Do they not have at least the same right to protection as the unborn? What about the forgotten ones?

Where is the outrage and the fervent outcry? What about their suffering and the suffering of countless others? Where are the signs, placards and protests? How can we continue to The general public allows themselves to be manipulated by the media conversation of the forget them and their plight, to consciously press them from our memory and do nothing moment and the generated “memes” of the day, instead of recognizing that just because while we choose so many “other causes” to channel our resources or time and treasure? an important and compelling story disappears from the pages of public discourse or the What about the ones that have been forgotten? techno tablets of social media does not mean they have been resolved or become less urgent, important or tragic. I imagine the indescribable suffering that those stolen girls are Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. going through right now and how their loved ones are just hanging on any word, any piece DrT@margins2thecenter.com of news or information about them and then there is nothing. Silence. No one even men-

Artistic Director and Founder of The Conciliation Project www. theconciliationproject.org and a Professor of Theatre at VCU Up Next Week: Live and Let Live

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Preparing for School Days T

ime flies when you’re having fun and summertime is no exception. Retail stores are constantly reminding parents that the school year is right around the corner, and it’s never too early to start preparing for the transition back to school. From clothing and school supplies to registration and college travels, there is plenty for parents to do, and getting started early is the key to success.

Elementary-Aged Children

For parents of elementary-aged kids, schools tend to offer a variety of resources to assist with the back-to-school process. Supply lists are generally available by the beginning of August, giving you plenty of time to complete your shopping. You can download one from the school’s website or stop by the school during summer office hours for a copy. Many of the local office supply stores also provide supply lists for convenient shopping. Once you have your list, start shopping early.

Check the local flyers regularly for weekly specials, which often include deals for as low as a quarter. Shop according to the deals and before long you will find that your whole list is checked off, with money to spare. Remember to store the new supplies out of reach from little hands. Your children may see them as an opportunity for summertime play.

For elementary-aged children who are new to the school, anxieties are sometimes high.

With some preparation, parents can help lower those fears and make the transition a happy one.

Ensure that registrations are completed well in advance of the first day of school. The first day is hectic, especially in the main office. Shield your child from the confusion by finalizing classroom assignments and bus schedules in advance. Once your child is assigned a teacher, make an appointment to meet him or

6 Urban Views Weekly July 30, 2014 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

By Erika Wins

her, and take your student a

It’s also helpful to start the to the start of the school mornings and ensure tha days. All of these strateg scary and more successfu

Tweens and Te

Middle and high schools a transition into an environm freedom comes along with c perience class changes and m school freshman is about to limited supervision.

While many of ents to use, m high schoo the year. if particu

According to tally importa and high scho level of indepen peer pressure and p importance of making come along with poor their students about expec dren are older, they still need about household chores, hom Tell your child when you expe students the tools they need

If your high school student p conversations. Discuss the im Schedule a meeting with your class selection is adequate for college admissions. Par college admission tests, like the SAT and ACT. Identif ensure that registration deadlines are met.

ston

along to see the new classroom.

e school year bedtime routine at least one week prior l year. This will get your student ready for the early at he or she is sufficiently rested for the long school gies can help make your child’s return to school less ul.

eens

are the destinations for pre-teens and teenagers. The ment with higher expectations and increased personal challenges of its own. New middle schoolers will exmultiple teachers for the first time, while your high o embark on a world filled with older students and

the middle schools offer school supply lists for parmost of the high schools do not. Make sure that your ol student has enough paper, pens and pencils to start Their individual teachers will quickly let them know ular supplies are necessary for their specific classes.

o the parental resource site, education.com, it is viant for parents to communicate with their middle ool students. Talk with your child about the increased ndence he or she will experience. Advise them about provide strategies for your student to use. Discuss the g smart choices and the negative consequences that decisions. Parents should clearly communicate with ctations and responsibilities. Even though these child structure and parameters. Communicate your rules mework assignments, and riding in cars with peers. ect them to call you. Give your middle and high school d for success.

plans on attending college, include the topic in your mportance of grade point averages and test scores. child’s guidance counselor to ensure that his or her rents should also pro-actively prepare the student for fy available prep courses and practice tests early to

Off to College If your child is off to college this year, the preparation list is long. Tuition payments, class scheduling, and stocking the dorm room are all necessary tasks. Beatrice Jackson is a Richmond resident whose daughter was a college freshman during the 2013-2014 academic year. According to Jackson, she and her daughter began shopping at the beginning of the summer, right after high school graduation.

“Being a single parent, money was an issue,” she explained. “So I started early with a lot of items while they were on sale. If I had it to do over again I would save, save, and save some more.”

As with school supplies, many of the department stores offer weekly sales that target the necessities of college dorm life. Some schools send parents a list of suggested dorm items, which is extremely helpful in the preparation process. However, Jackson warns that some schools offer little assistance. She said it was a “challenge figuring out what you needed to bring.” If this is your situation, there are numerous dorm room checklists available on the Internet. Many home merchandise stores also offer purchase suggestions to customers.

Paying for college is generally the biggest parental concern about college. By this time, you’ve probably completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so you know how much financial aid your student will receive.

You may also have scholarships and family gifts secured to cover tuition. At this point in the game, ensure that the school’s financial aid office has accounted for all of your payment sources. There is no greater joy than to see a zero balance on your child’s tuition bill. If you are facing a pending tuition balance, talk with the school’s business office about possible payment plans or financing options. Remember that it is never too early to start preparing for college. The United States Department of Education provides parents with informational checklists to guide you in your endeavors, whether your child is a first grader or college freshman.

www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com July 30, 2014 Urban Views Weekly

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Central Virginia African American Chamber of Commerce Do Busines s w i t h o u r C h a m b e r M e m b e r s ! | w w w.C va a C C . o r g ACCounting

• Anchor Financial Group • Harris Tax and Business Services, LLC • Kirby & Associates, CPA • MLH Asset Management • Nedra L. Blizzard, CPA, PLLC • Virginia First Financial Services, LLC

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Art & design

• Black Cat Design • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Arts & entertAinment

• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts • American Civil War Center • James Management Group, LLC • Jeremiah Enterprises • KG Productions, LLC • Micah White Enterprises, LLC • Richmond Region Tourism

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CAtering

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Clothing

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CommuniCAtions • Anthony Wright • Comcast Cable

ConstruCtion

• Commonwealth Construction Company of VA, Inc. • Davis Brothers Construction Company • Dwight Snead Construction Company • Jireh Construction Inc • Moseley & Sons Home Improvement and Repair • Prestige Construction Group, Inc. • Pryor Hauling Inc • RMT Construction & Development Group • United Unlimited Construction, Inc. • Urban Development Corporation • Viro-Technology

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• An Elegant Event • Atelier Ego/J. Hilburn • Exclusive Travel & Cruises • G T T Enterprises, Inc • Green-Leaf Solutions, LLC • Inlight Impressions, LLC • Kollege and Kareer 4 Youth, LLC • Parris Gainer Consulting Services • S.H. Leverett Educational Consulting, LLC • Transformation Consulting, LLC • Urban Development Corporation • Viro-Technology

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dAnCe studio & lessons

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doCtors

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Business Consulting & PlAns

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eduCAtion

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eleCtroniCs

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heAlth

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entertAinment

heAlth & BeAuty

entertAiner

• Laydsing Productions • Jeremiah Enterprises • Mr. G’s Entertainment Co., LLC • Smooth Groove Center for Dance & Entertainment

eVent PlAnner

• An Elegant Event • Balloons and Things • James Management Group, LLC • Jeremiah Enterprises • Majestic Milestones

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home heAlth CAre

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home imProVement

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humAn serViCes

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insurAnCe

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Food

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goVernmentAl AgenCy

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gym & Fitness

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hAir

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8 Urban Views Weekly July 30, 2014 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

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legAl serViCes

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liFe - CoAChing Counseling mentoring • Inspiring Beauty LLC • NDUTIME Youth & Family Services, Inc.

mArketing & money

• Genesis Athletic Funding, Inc. • OPT4TEXT • Radio One, Inc. Richmond • U.S. Small Business Administration

mediCAl CAre

• Dominion Medical Associates • Premiere Care Givers & Medical Career Educators

mediCAl serViCes

• A Plus Home Health Care • Boomer3 Solutions, LLC • Gallery of Weave & Wigs • Virginia Blood Services

merChAnt serViCes

• TouchSuite.com • TRL Essential Services • Versatile Merchant Solutions

minority Business deVeloPment • AdviCoach • Chesterfield County Economic Development • City of Richmond

moVers • Quality Moving Services

oFFiCe ProduCts & suPPlies • Ropho Sales

PAinting

• D&K Painting, LLC • Sustainable Facility Solutions

Pest Control

• Integrity Pest Solutions • Ross Termite Inspections

PhArmACy • Appomattox Drugs

PhotogrAPhy • Harrington’s Photography

Printing

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reAl estAte

• Amiralyn Properties • Angela McNeal, Realtor • Credit Restoration/Financial Education Service • ERA Woody Hogg & Associates • Monarch Mortgage • Pat’s World Staging & Re-Design, LLC • Practical Real Estate Services • RE/MAX Commonwealth • River City Realty & Investments, LLC • RMT Construction & Development Group • Southern Trust Mortgage, LLC

restAurAnt • American Tap Room

retAil

• Atelier Ego/J. Hilburn • Better Menswear Of Richmond • D & W Fashions • HPDS Sports, LLC • J.Elay • Midlothian Jewelry Exchange and Repair • Shay’s Shoe Haven

seCurity systems

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soCiAl work • Liberation Family Services

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trAnsPortAtion/CAr rentAl • Exquisite Rentals • RideFinders • Total Praise Transport

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youth & FAmily serViCes

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9

INSPIRATION

The Special Needs Community IS a Community Second Baptist Church, 1400 Idlewood Avenue, hosts the 3rd Special Needs Worship Service organized by Monica Lucas in partnership with the non-profit, JP JumPers Foundation founded by Pam Mines.

Grace Borne has special needs and with her beautiful piano skills played, “How Great Thou Art”.

Brittany Sweet and her family traveled from Maryland so she could perform. Brittany has Down Syndrome and sang her favorite gospel song, “I’m gonna be ready”

by Yolanda Adams.

Sydnee Baker is miming and has special needs. She has ADHD and Neurofibromatosis. She is blind in her left eye but that doesn’t stop her from “Praising Him In Advance”.

Cory Todd who has special needs delivered a powerful word preaching on the topic, “Look at God”.

JP wears his headphones to decrease his noise sensitivities. He’s also wearing his “JP’s Law” shirt for the law named after him that passed through the VA General Assembly and became effective 7-1-14. JP was the first person in the state of VA to get a specialized “JP’s Law” identification card. Find out more about JP’s Law and how it will help individuals with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities by going to www.

JPJumPersFoundation.org Photos by Ayasha Sledge, Photographer, DivineByDesignImage.com

10 Urban Views Weekly July 30, 2014 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

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