Give PeaceJam a chance.
On March 8, a handful of celebs — including Nate Corddly and Martin Sheen — will launch Refunds for Good, which aims to take $20 billion collected over the past 108 years through a federal telephone tax — the "War Tax" — and redirect it to three worthy non-profits. "We've scoured the planet for some of the most compelling charities around," Sheen says. "This is a unique, one-time opportunity to help the planet and to make a powerful statement at the same time."
Arvada-based PeaceJam is one of the beneficiaries, along with the Solar Electric Light Fund and Physicians for Social Responsibility. "It has gained an incredible kind of momentum and has made a huge, huge difference in the lives of many young people in giving them hope and direction," says Archbishop Desmond Tutu of PeaceJam, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in Denver last fall.
According to RFG, a recent court ruling determined that the IRS owes $10 billion to American businesses, and another $10 billion to individuals — but the refunds, an average of $30 to $60 per person, are only available this tax season. "It's all on the up-and-up," says PeaceJam founder Ivan Suvanjieff. "We only have a six-week window to work this."
To find out how to direct your refund to one of the three charities, go to www.refundsforgood.org. To find out more about PeaceJam, go to www.peacejam.org. — Patricia Calhoun
