The American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Background
Each year the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc. receives requests
for contributions to worthy projects but without a tax exempt status it
cannot solicit tax deductible funds. A need for an independent organization
to fund projects beneficial to the German Shepherd Dog was recognized and,
thanks to some dedicated GSD enthusiasts, The American German Shepherd Dog
Charitable Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1982. The Foundation is an exempt
organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and thus
gifts are tax deductible. Your help is needed now to continue funding
valuable research studies on various medical problems that affect the German
Shepherd Dog.

Objectives
Our goal is to reduce the incidence of many types of adverse medical
conditions and increase the education of treatments. The medical conditions
the Foundation is interested in include: cardiac defects, esophageal
defects, pancreatic insufficiency, toxic gut syndrome, bloat, spinal
cord/degenerative myelopathy, hypothyroidism and others.  We believe gene
research (including gene "markers" to identify "carriers") will be extremely
rewarding in the years ahead and we are working closely with the AKC Canine
Health Foundation on this type and other research projects.  Your help is
urgently needed now. Enter in the fight by contributing generously and
follow your initial gift by annual donations. Please show your support for
the goals of the Foundation and take pride in its charitable purposes.

Second (Main) Web Page

If you go to our second (main) web page at www.agsdcf.org , there is
additional, current information that includes the Foundation's Purpose,
History, Grants, Annual Reports, Events, Lists of Contributors, Financial
Reports and Health Survey.   Donations can be sent to the Foundation's
Treasurer, Eugene E. Tenges, 775 Janacek Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin
53045-6054, phone number 262-786-5290. The Foundation recognizes that
charitable gifts can be structured in many different ways and would like to
talk to you or your advisors on various possibilities; please call or email
Peter T. Cacioppo, 925-377-6416, EagleGSD@aol.com  .  The Foundation's email
address is AGSDChFoundation@aol.com .

Management
The Foundation's officers and board members are: President Sue Godek, Vice
President Ginny Altman, Secretary Debra Hokkanen, Treasurer Eugene Tenges;
other board members,  Peter Cacioppo, Van Dukeman, Helen Fisher, Ralph
Roberts,  and Ken Downing (ex officio).


Bequests and wills

Many German Shepherd Dog people include The American German Shepherd Dog
Charitable Foundation, Inc. in their wills. You may make a specific bequest,
giving a fixed dollar amount or a specific piece of personal or real
property. You may also leave a residuary bequest, naming The American German
Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Inc. to receive all or a percentage of
the remainder of your estate after specific bequests have been fulfilled.

When planning your will, remember that the full value of your estate
(including pension funds, individual retirement accounts, life insurance,
and the value of real estate) is considered when determining whether estate
and other taxes will apply.  Estate and other taxes can reach 45 to 55% in
some circumstances, meaning around half of some of your assets may go to a
government.  Gifts to the Foundation, however, are deductible in determining
the value of your estate and reduce your estate tax liability. For example,
if a donor in part of his  estate is subject to tax at the 50% rate $250,000
can be saved in  taxes by making a $500,000 bequest to the Foundation.

How to include the Foundation in your will

You may include the Foundation in your will in a variety of ways. Keep in
mind the provisions of wills are fulfilled in this order: 1) a specific
bequest of a specific item or items, or piece of property; 2) a cash bequest
of a specific sum of money, and; 3) a residuary bequest, which is taken from
the remainder of your estate after specific and cash bequests are fulfilled.

To make a bequest to the Foundation, you may use the following sample
language (please note that this is an example only; you should work with
your attorney to find language that is right for your purposes and
appropriate for your state):

I give (describe the assets, specific sum of money, or percentage of estate
remainder) to The American German Shepherd Dog Charitable Foundation, Inc.,
a Wisconsin not-for-profit corporation with offices at 775 Janacek Road,
Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045-6054. This gift is made to help further the
objectives and purposes of the Foundation.

For more information about including the Foundation in your will, contact
your attorney or legal advisor, or call the Foundation directly at
925-377-6416.  Please also notify the Foundation if you have included the
Foundation in your will so that you will be listed in our annual report.

web updated 7-4-03