As a long-time expat resident of Guanajuato, I often think about how lucky I am to be able to live in this beautiful, friendly town. And then I think—and what have I done for Guanajuato to express my gratitude? If you have also been fortunate enough to live here and fortunate enough that financial concerns are no longer quite so pressing, maybe you have also asked yourself this question. If so, you are in luck: I am going to offer you an excellent answer: Become a Querido Amigo (major donor) to Amigos de los Animales de Guanajuato!
Why Amigos? Of course, there are other worthy charities that serve this city, and I support more than just Amigos. You might ask, why worry about dogs and cats when there are so many other good causes? For some of us, the fact that these animals are so generous and uncritical with their affection and so dependent on human kindness for their survival is more than enough reason to help.
But the wellbeing of companion animals has a ripple effect that extends far beyond the individual animals. People who mistreat animals are far more likely to mistreat people—especially women and children. Contributing to a culture of respect for all living beings is one of the best ways to better social conditions generally. It’s a virtuous circle that takes time, persistence, and effort.
Amigos de los Animales has sterilized over 24,000 dogs and cats during its 21-year history. The benefits include not just a better quality of life for these animals and the avoidance of untold suffering for the unwanted offspring, but also a growing public awareness that sterilization is a basic part of responsible pet ownership.
Twenty years ago, there was still a lot of reluctance to spay and neuter; now virtually all our sterilization campaigns are oversubscribed. In addition, we sponsor television interviews, billboards, and educational activities for children, all with the aim of instilling respect for these animals and commitment to their wellbeing.
Amigos gratefully accepts donations of any amount, but we especially would love to welcome you to our Queridos Amigos group: those who can donate $100 per month (or one donation of $1200). Information for ways to make your donation can be found at: https://donorbox.org/amigos-de-los-animales-de-guanajuato.
Donating through your retirement account is the equivalent of getting a full charitable deduction even if you don’t itemize.
However, the most astute way to make this donation if you are currently subject to a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) in your retirement account is to make your donation through that account. Donating this way uses pre-tax dollars—it is the equivalent of getting a full charitable deduction even if you don’t itemize. It’s called a QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution). Usually you can do this through the website of your retirement account custodian (for example, Fidelity), and the only information you will need to provide is:
| Name of Charity: | Amigos de los Animales de Guanajuato, Inc. (a 501(c)3 charitable corporation based in New York, federal tax I.D. No. 20-4820854) |
| Amount: | |
| Attention (our address): | Amigos de los animales de Guanajuato, Inc. 256 West 10th Street New York, NY 10014 |
Thank you for considering this worthy cause! If you have any question about the mechanics or anything else, please contact me at tom@amigosanimalesgto.org.
