Many of you are familiar with the current Georgia program that allows you to redirect state tax dollars to Georgia independent schools for financial aid. The Tax Credit Scholarship Program allows Georgia taxpayers to redirect a portion of their state tax liability - $2,500 for couples and $1,000 for individuals - to an independent school of their choice each year that the program is in existence.

Holy Innocents’ is participating in this program for 2010.

The funds are restricted to need-based financial aid for eligible students entering HIES this year from Georgia public schools.

To participate in this program, you must make a donation to financial aid through Apogee, a Georgia School Choice Scholarship Fund. That donation qualifies as a charitable tax deduction on your Federal tax return and will generate a tax credit on your Georgia state tax return. You may donate $2,500 if you file jointly and $1,000 for single tax filers.

To participate in the program, you need to follow these four simple steps:

• Print and complete the Apogee Donation Form (Click here to download the form)

• Print and sign Section C, Page 2 of GA Form IT-QEE-TP1. The remainder of the form will be filled in by Apogee for you. (Click here to download Form IT-QEE-TP1)

• Write a check to “Apogee Scholarship Fund” for the amount of your donation

• Mail these three items to: Apogee Scholarship Fund, attn: HIES Donation, 3330 Cumberland Blvd. Suite 400, Atlanta GA 30339

Once your donation has been processed, you will receive your tax receipt from Apogee and a thank you letter from Holy Innocents’.

If you have any questions, you can find additional information at www.apogeescholarships.org. You may also contact John Panessa, at 404-419-7123 or scholarships@apogeescholarships.org to answer questions and for assistance in submitting your application information.

Although this program provides additional funding for financial aid, HIES’s other ‎‎operating needs continue to be supported by the school’s Annual Fund. Participation in this program will not be credited to the Holy Innocents’ Annual Fund.

With an increasing number of participating independent schools, funding from this program is almost guaranteed to be used up before December 31. Therefore, we recommend that you send your completed forms and check soon to be sure to get the tax credit for this calendar year.

Thank you for your continued support of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School.

The HIES Business Office