Iowa Lutheran School Tuitian Organization

Iowa Lutheran School Tuition Organization


What is the Iowa Lutheran School Tuition Organization (STO)? During the 2006 Iowa Legislative Session a new program to benefit Iowa Non-public Accredited School Families was put in place. It a program designed to help parents who desire a non-public education for their children, but are unable to afford it. For the calendar year 2007, $5,000,000 was allocated for Tuition Tax Credits. For the 2008 calendar year $7.5 million dollars have been allocated for Tuition Tax Credits.

In January 2007 the State Accredited Lutheran Schools of Iowa went together to form a Lutheran School Tuition Organization. During this school year we can raise $346,000 for our tuition organization. We have $224,928 in tuition tax credits to distribute. During the 2007 calendar year we are raising money to be distributed during the 2008-09 school year. How does this benefit Iowa East Lutheran Schools? There are two ways.

First of all, for those of you who donate to the Lutheran Tuition Organization you will receive a 65% tax credit. For example, if you donate $1000 to the Lutheran STO you will receive a voucher for $650 tax credit on your Iowa State Income Tax. That means you will be able to subtract $650 from the dollar amount owed the state of Iowa. In addition, you can use the amount as a deduction on you Federal Income Tax as a charitable contribution. Wouldn’t it be great to help a student attend an Iowa District East Lutheran School instead of paying taxes?

Second of all, families whose income is up to 4 times the national poverty rate are eligible for tuition assistance from this program. We would be able to more fully fund students attending Iowa East Lutheran Schools. We would be able to provide our school ministry and share the Gospel with more children and their families. By so doing, increase enrollment. Now that’s something to think about.

Our goal is to fully fund the Lutheran STO this year. I am asking you to consider a donation. Not only will you help students attend Iowa East Lutheran schools in the state, you will also benefit from a tax credit. Not only that, but Thrivent will match up to $400 of your contribution.

Please share this information with your friends. Any person who pays Iowa State Income Tax is eligible for the tuition tax credit. Please consult your tax advisor, to see how this program can benefit you.

If you would like more information spend some time at iowalutheransto.org or contact Mrs. Buescher at 319-233-3967.

To receive tax credit for the 2007 tax year, your donation must be made by December 31, 2007. Remember, we only have $224,928 in tax credits to give out. Once that amount is gone, there can be no more tax credits given. So donate early, you don’t want to be left out! We are now able to accept non-cash donations also.
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The Iowa Lutheran
School Tuition Organization (STO)
Donation Form
Gifts to the STO must be paid and received by December 31, 2007 to be eligible for the tax credit. Total credits available are limited and will be provided to donors on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive a tax credit certificate from the STO in January, 2008 to attach to your Iowa income tax return. If you choose to designate funds to a specific school, we will direct funds to the designated school. Once the identified needs of qualifying students attending the designated school have been met, any unused restricted donations will be made available to satisfy the needs of qualifying students at other schools within the STO.

Name: __________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________
City: ____________________ State: ______ ZIP: _______________
Phone: (______)________-___________
Email Address: _______________________________________________
Church Name & City/State: ______________________________________________
Total gift amount: $____________ SSN: _____________________________________
Signature: ________________________________________
Gift Fulfillment:
􀁒 My gift payment is included
􀁒 Please contact me for a gift in 2008.
Please make checks payable to Iowa Lutheran STO

Please apply my donation to: (check one)
􀁒 Iowa Lutheran STO General Fund: Distribute where needed most
􀁒 Trinity Lutheran School, Boone
􀁒 Central Lutheran School, Newhall
􀁒 Trinity Lutheran School, Cedar Rapids
􀁒 Zion-St. John Lutheran School, Paullina
􀁒 Clarinda Lutheran School, Clarinda
􀁒 Community Lutheran School, Readlyn
􀁒 Clemons Lutheran School, Clemons
􀁒 St. Paul Lutheran School, Sioux City
􀁒 Trinity Lutheran School, Council Bluffs
􀁒 Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School, Spencer
􀁒 Trinity Lutheran School, Davenport
􀁒 Concordia Lutheran School, Storm Lake
􀁒 Zion Lutheran School, Denison
􀁒 Immanuel Lutheran School, Waterloo
􀁒 Dubuque Lutheran School, Dubuque
􀁒 Lutheran Interparish School, Williamsburg
􀁒 St. Paul Lutheran School, Fort Dodge
􀁒 Zion Lutheran School, Wilton
􀁒 St. Paul Lutheran School, Latimer

Please mail completed Donation Form and payment to:
Iowa Lutheran STO
1122 W. Central Park
Davenport, IA 52804

The deadline for 2008-09 school year donations will be December 31st, 2007.
Donations received in 2008 will be applied to the 2009-2010 school year.

IDE - Parish Nurse Report

Iowa District East is made up of: 13 circuits, 119 congregations, 10 elementary schools, 38 preschools, two high schools, 99 pastors, 95 teachers, 7 DCEs and 21 parish nurses! I am the district parish nurse representative for the eastern half of Iowa. On a larger scale, the synod has 35 districts with about 950 parish nurses across the country. The “average” LCMS parish nurse is a 57 year old, married female, with a baccalaureate degree. She has served 6.5 years in her Mid-west parish.

I was privileged to attend the 15th Annual Concordia Conference for Parish Nurses and Congregational Health Ministries in Mequon, WI at the end of May and was able to meet many other parish nurses. The LCMS Health Ministry is well organized with Carol Broemmer RN, Manager of Health Ministries, LCMS World Relief and Human Care in St. Louis and Dr. Marcia Schnorr, National Coordinator, LCMS Parish Nursing in Rochelle, IL.

Twenty five of the 35 districts had representatives present at a gathering prior to this conference. In attendance at the District Representative meeting was a parish nurse from Bethlehem, Palestine, she is studying in the states for a month. We traveled to Finland via live teleconference, and had a report about work being done in Kenya with volunteer Mercy Medical Teams. There was time for district updates, networking and lots of learning! Our keynote speaker was Dr. Lou Jander from the Texas District; he spoke on Effective Team Ministry. I attended breakout sessions on Forgiveness & Healing, Health and Humor, Church Workers and Wellness, Community Ministries, Obesity Epidemic, Being an End of Life Advocate, and National Health Care & the Presidential Candidates.

As a District Rep I strive to promote, educate, and support health ministry and parish nursing in our district. Please contact me if I can be of assistance to you and your congregation! Ronda Anderson RN, Parish Nurse, Bethany Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids. ronda.anderson@bethanycr.org 319-364-6026

Grace Lutheran Church in DeWitt - Memorial Day

Grace, DeWitt Prayer Warrior's held a special Memorial Day Service May 24th to honor all veterans that are serving or have served our country in the Armed Services. Special guests were Ron and LaVonne Jurgersen, parents of Sgt Major Brent Jurgersen, US Army. Brent was injured critically twice in Iraq, has had a leg amputated, spent many months at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC and is currently serving with the Army in Texas.