Campus News In Brief

New Charity Create Programs for Current, Future Military Members

Task Force G.I., a non-profit military charity developed for the benefit of current and future members of the Armed Forces, is offering newsletters for those interested in the progress of its donor and volunteer programs.

Ongoing projects include education, overseas environment, tools of the trade, emergency assistance and patriot revival.

Donations can be made by individuals or businesses, and the non-profit welcomes “all involvement, allowing the largest voice possible, so they can effectively contribute toward the betterment of [a] military service member’s education and environment.”

For additional information and to sign up for the emailing list, “Task Force Today,” visit http://www.taskforcegi.org.

Box-O-Box Offers New Care Package for Valentine’s Day: Box-O-Love

Box-O-Box, an independently owned and operated company founded by former students, has added a new Valentine’s Day option to its list of 20 unique theme-based care packages. Like the other care packages, Box-O-Love is intended for purchase by parents who want to show their children they are thinking about them no matter their distance from home.

The care package, “love and delicious goodies,” includes a Box-O-Box Make-Your-Own-Valentine Kit, Bloomsberry & Company Smooch Chocolate Bar, Happy Herbert’s Sweet ‘n’ Crunchy Popcorn and Necco Sweethearts. A “how-to” guide is also included that “will help even the shyest student charm the cute dorm-mate down the hall.”

For more information on how to purchase a Box-O-Love or to learn more about partnering with Box-O-Box for fundraising within a student organization, visit http://www.boxobox.com.

State Encourages Filing Income Tax Returns Electronically

The Virginia state government is encouraging those filing income tax returns to do so online this year. The push comes after the Virginia Department of Taxation made moves to cut costs by hiring fewer seasonal workers to open, sort and process tax returns filed on paper.

Priority will be given to returns filed electronically and refunds are expected to be issued twice as fast as those filed on paper.

Last year a record 57 percent of individual taxpayers, or more than two million, filed their Virginia tax returns electronically.

The Tax Department has information on its website about all the electronic filing options available to taxpayers and can be accessed at http://tax.virginia.gov.

Governor Highlights #1 Ranking for Historic Districts

Earlier this month, Gov. Timothy Kaine highlighted Virginia’s ranking as first among states and territories for the number of historic districts added to the National Register of Historic Places during federal fiscal year 2008.

Twenty-nine districts and 61 individual properties were added, and it is the fourth consecutive year in which Virginia has achieved the top ranking for districts listed.
A National Register listing allows property owners to pursue federal rehabilitation tax credits to restore older buildings for income-producing uses.

When paired with state rehabilitation tax credits, property owners may be eligible to receive a 45 percent return on eligible expenses for the one-time cost of rehabilitating a historic property.

Districts have been included from the counties of Arlington, Clarke, Fauquier, Henry, Loudoun and Northampton and the cities of Alexandria, Charlottesville, Emporia, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Petersburg, Richmond and Suffolk.

Sodexo Foundation Accepting Applications for 2009 STOP Hunger Scholarships

The Sodexo Foundation, the charitable branch of Sodexo, Inc., is now accepting applications for its annual STOP Hunger Scholarships. The awards recognize and reward young Americans who are committed to “improving their communities in the area of hunger, and also to encourage this next generation to become activists in the fight against hunger.”

Up to five students will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and a $5,000 grant in their name for the hunger-related charity of their choice. The scholarships will be presented on June 4 at the Sodexo Foundation Dinner in Washington.
The deadline for applications is Feb. 27.

Applications and details on eligibility can be found at the Sodexo Foundation’s website.
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