Stop in and meet Challenged America volunteers and participants at the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show this weekend
Meet Challenged America at the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show
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Tag Archives: education
Did you know? 1 in 5 Americans live with a disability
54 million Americans live with a disability, that’s 19% of the population
- 5 percent of children 5 to 17 have disabilities.
- 10 percent of people 18 to 64 have disabilities.
- 38 percent of adults 65 and older have disabilities.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey
- 12.4% are female
- 11.7% are male
Source: 2008 American Community Survey
- 11 million Americans are using or need assistance with everyday activities. These activities include such tasks as getting around inside the home, taking a bath or shower, preparing meals and performing light housework.
- 3.3 million Americans 15 and older use a wheelchair, another 10 million use a walking aid, such as a cane, crutches or walker.
- 1.8 million Americans 15 and older who report being unable to see printed words.
- 1 million Americans 15 and older are unable to hear conversations.
- 2.5 million Americans 15 and older have difficulty having their speech understood. Of these, 431,000 were unable to have their speech understood.
- 16.1 million Americans have limitations in cognitive functioning or have a mental or emotional illness that interferes with daily activities. That’s 7 percent of the population 15 and older, including 8 million with one or more problems that interfere with daily activities, such as frequently being depressed or anxious, trouble getting along with others, trouble concentrating and trouble coping with stress.
The 2012 Sailing Calendar
As always, planning a sailing calendar at Challenged America tends to be dependent upon funding and other resources, to include what boats we have, and the volunteers available. Under consideration for the 2012 calendar are:
- San Diego to Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas ocean race (March, 2012).
- Martin 16 (Two-Day) Race to Chula Vista Yacht Club/Marina (April 21/22, 2012).
- Monthly or bi-Monthly Martin 16 Race Training and Races.
- Local Big Bay Races in “Casual” – the Santana 25.
- Newport-Ensenada, Border Run, and other offshore/coastal races.
- Multi-day cruise to Catalina.
- Class for sailing instructors: “Martin 16 Certification.”
- Captain (Basics 101) Training on Grand Banks 42 and Donzi, by The Maritime Institute.
- Power Squadron, Offshore Sailing Safety and First Aid Educational Programs.
- Sailing Camps for those with disabilities and/or having: Diabetes; Spinal Cord Injury/Disease, Epilepsy, mobility and communications challenges, Learning Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, and youth with disabilities.
- Day-On-The-Big-Bay cruises, whale watching and other educational excursions aboard the motor yacht “Challenged America”- a Grand Banks 42.
Is there another special program you’d like to see and can participate in and help? Let us know.
Urban’s Corner
It seems like most people don’t really pay attention to a disease or disability until it strikes them or someone they love. Yet, many who are not (yet) disabled dot suppor and donate to organizations and programs that support the disabled, for various reasons, but fully committing themselves and their resources to a cause tends not to appear the norm . . . until that dreaded illness or injury hits.
Believe me, everyone in the charitable sector appreciates all – and in any amount – that contributors provide, be it resources, talent, assets, time, and/or cash and regardless of their reason behind the gift – whether personal, tax mitigation, emotional, or another self-serving intention. Such gifts are (mostly) welcome and most needed by all trying to do a charitable good in the community and for society.
We’re now at that “Holiday Gift Giving Time” and we’re all getting bombarded with emotionally-driven appeals to support a charity or cause, and you’ll be getting such a message from us at Challenged America and the Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA) as well. This is the time of year most make donations and gifts; and the time which most charities, like us, do rely on to support the coming months of operations and plan expanded services and programs.
So when you receive our request for financial and other support, along with the flood of other pleas for help, we hope our message hits your heartstrings and you will consider Challenged America and the DBA too.
We also hope you will investigate the organizations, programs and causes you plan to give to, making sure they are really using your generosity to fulfill their mission and serve those they are authorized by the IRS to help … and your generous gift is being spent or allocated where you want it to go.
I recently called a donor and asked why he and his wife decided to make a donation to the DBA? His response was:
“We want to make sure our gift goes for the right purpose, and we do this by first asking how much in salary and benefits the Executive Director, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board make.
“From the response, we can quickly narrow the field of those we will donate to, as it gives us a measurement of where funds are being prioritized and allocated. ”
It’s surprising how many charities don’t directly answer our question, and of those who do, the majority only refer us to their latest tax return, and how to get it online. At the DBA, your response was quick and to the point … and that’s why we sent you our check.”
Thank You,
Urban Miyares
Challenged America, co-founder
Disabled Businesspersons Association, volunteer president
Fall schedule
It being September, Challenged America will now shift to a Fall-Winter Sailing Scheduling – not due to the weather, but due to vacations ending and work schedules of our many volunteers.
Special training, meetings and events will only be listed on the monthly calendar, with the following Sailing Schedule becoming the norm.
- Open Martin 16 Sailing: Each and every Friday, noon, except Holidays. Reservations required 4 days (by Monday of that week) in advance so qualified volunteers can be arranged for vessel preparation and companion/instructor assistance.
- Capri 22 Sailing: Request reservations at least 4 days in advance.
- Special Sailing: Learn-to-sail, companion and instructor sailor training, and Martin 16 certification can be arranged 7-days per week, given a qualified volunteer(s) is/are available.
Please contact the Challenged America office for more information and to make your request.
Why should I consider donating my vessel to Challenged America?
“Why should I donate my vessel to Challenged America?” This is a question often asked when we or others suggest donating their vessel (or vehicle) to the Challenged America program, of the charitable Disabled Businesspersons Association.
There are two basic reasons why someone will donate their vessel.
1. It makes sound financial sense.
2. They can’t afford or do not want to continue spending money to maintain and keep their vessel, even if its currently listed for sale.
Those who pay taxes each year and/or are in the upper income-tax brackets often will donate their vessel to an IRS-qualified 501(c)3 “user” charity, to maximize their possible return on their vessel investment.
And many professional yacht brokers have discovered that, asking if their client has discussed – with their accountant/CPA, legal counsel or financial advisor — the many financial advantages of donating their vessel, versus trying to sell it on the open market, makes better financial sense.
As one yacht broker who works with Challenged America said:
“In some cases, a customer may be serious about purchasing another, larger vessel, if they can sell their existing boat. And if they donate today, they can not only move up quickly, but probably also get more in financial gain, due to tax savings or even refunds. It’s my professional obligation to help the client market their vessel as quickly as possible, and at the highest possible financial return. And, in some instances, donating to a qualified charity like the DBA’s Challenged America program is the best option, and offers the highest return possible.”
Note: In the above scenario, the client received a 100% tax-deduction of their (donated) vessel’s full appraised price, versus waiting months for the eventual sale of their offered yacht at a drastically reduced price, if donated to Challenged America and the vessel is used in the program.
If you are now thinking of selling or purchasing a new or used vessel, we strongly suggest that you contact one of the following professional yacht brokers, friends and supporters of Challenged America.
Steve Rock, Stephen Rock Brokerage – (619) 857-9297 cell
Don Ross, Heritage Yachts – (949) 274-6595 cell
Paul Daubner, Northrop & Johnson – (619) 228-1942 cell
Barrett Canfield, South Coast Yachts San Diego – (619) 517-4736
Gary Stevens, McKinna Yachts, (949) 673-4879 cell
For the name of a yacht broker, nationwide, who has worked with Challenged America, contact Urban Miyares or Dave Hopkins at Challenged America.
Note: Challenged America is currently seeking (donated) sail and power vessels, especially an offshore race or race-cruiser sailboat, newer or older vintage, able to accommodate a crew of 10 or more for extended periods of time at sea.
TAXABLE AND NONTAXABLE – In 2009, Americans filed 140.5 million individual tax returns. 58% of those returns (81.9 million returns) paid 100% of the federal income tax paid by all taxpayers ($866 billion of tax was paid). 42% of those returns (58.6 million returns) legally paid zero federal income tax (source: IRS).
IRS Publication 526, Charitable Donations (see exemptions: p8, column 2)
IRS Publication 526 Charitable donations
View more documents from Challenged America
Day 1: Challenged America and the 2011 Veterans National Summer Sports Clinic Team Poseidon vs Team Mercury
The NVSSC is back in San Diego for the fourth time. Today, at the Challenged America sailing venue, Team Poseidon and Team Mercury took to the water sailing on Stars and Stripes USA11 and the Martin 16s of Challenged America
Blind war vet shares vision of hope
NBC’s Mike Leonard profiles Urban Miyares, a blind California Vietnam War veteran who has made it his mission is to encourage other disabled people to test the tricky waters of entrepreneurship — and themselves.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
WORSA (Women’s Offshore Racing Sailing Association) Regatta Fundraiser
August 20, Dana Point. Come join us (participants and volunteers alike) and the Women’s Offshore Racing Sailing Association on August 20 in Dana Point for this yearly fun event to benefit Challenged America. You’ll be able to hop on a boat and get a first-hand experience of racing offshore in a large sailboat as crew with WORSA members and friend in their vessels. Sign up today so we can arrange car pooling to and from Dana Point on August
July 6 to 8, Challenged America welcomed blind children from the San Diego Braille Institute
It was a fantastic week for our volunteers, Challenged America welcomed blind children from the San Diego Braille Institute. the children learned to sail our specially designed Martin 16s under the supervision of our companion sailors. Great and sharp kids who had such a positive attitude and dreams of changing the world, really inspiring. Looking at their smiles when they sailed back to the docks, they enjoyed their time on the water. Who knows, we might see some of them in our racing or offshore program one of these days.