When President Bush signed the $700 billion financial rescue package last week, it included a two-year extension of the Pension Protection Act (a.k.a. IRA Rollover Provision), which expired at the end of 2007.

This provision allows taxpayers to make tax-free contributions from their Individual Retirement Accounts to qualified charitable organizations. However, the following limitations apply:

• The donor must be age 70½ or older.
• The maximum annual IRA rollover is $100,000.
• The contribution must be a direct gift to a charity (no planned gifts).

The provision will apply to gifts made from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009.

To learn more about the Pension Protection Act please contact Alesia Hanners at (636) 549-1247 or alesia.hanners@wymancenter.org. It is recommended that you speak with your financial advisor before making any final decisions regarding your IRA.

The Five Star After-School Program, a unique public-private partnership, has begun to show positive results among students in St. Louis area public middle schools.

An evaluation of the program during its pilot period, by the Public Policy Research Center at University of Missouri - St. Louis has shown an improvement in report card grades of participating students as well as teacher reports of positive results in academic achievement and behavior. The Five Star After-School Program is reaching the most needy and academically at-risk students and truly making a difference. Demographically, the program targets those students in high poverty areas who attend low performing schools.

The purpose of the Five Star After-School Program is to enhance school success for enrolled students, and provide them with the key supports and opportunities necessary for healthy development. This unique collaborative is built upon the strengths of its partners, with a focus on outcomes for the youth it serves:

• Wyman leads the site teams in providing quality programs that have significant impact on overall development and academic achievement, including the Wyman Teen Outreach Program;

• ARCHS brings expertise in partnerships and after-school management;

• St. Louis City Department of Parks and Recreation has the resources to support healthy recreational opportunities;

• St. Louis Public Schools possesses the knowledge of its students’ needs and openness to community resources.

Five Star launched in February 2008, enrolling more than 400 students at five area middle schools - Compton-Drew Investigative Learning Center, Gateway Middle School, Langston Middle School, Long Middle CEC Academy and Stevens Middle Community Education Center.

Working in a community struggling to meet the educational needs of its young people, the Five Star After-School Program represents a real solution, a real community collaborative, and a real effort to successfully build and strengthen the assets of St. Louis’ youth.

The Five Star Program is made possible by the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.