Eases Burdens For Organization, Donors

Aero-News has learned the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) -- a national non-profit which provides free air transportation for cancer patients by using the empty seats on corporate and fractional aircraft -- has received official classification as a "public charity" by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS issued a determination letter on June 5, 2006 making permanent CAN's status as a public charity, retroactive to January 1, 2001.

As a public charity, CAN now enjoys the following advantages:

• it is not subject to the two percent tax on net investment income and various other regulatory excise taxes, which means more funds to be used for CAN’s charitable operations;
• as a so-called "50 percent charity," donors will receive the most favorable income tax treatment for their donations;
• less onerous paperwork is required in filing CAN’s annual tax returns;
• CAN now can receive grants and other funding from private foundations seeking to support CAN’s work.

Corporate Angel Network (CAN) arranges free flights for cancer patients using the empty seats on corporate business flights. Since its founding 25 years ago, CAN has grown to include 530 participating corporations, five paid staff, and a team of 50 part-time volunteers who work with patients, physicians, corporate flight departments, and leading treatment centers to coordinate medical travel needs of cancer patients with the scheduled flight activity of participating corporations.

To date, CAN has arranged nearly 25,000 flights and currently provides about 200 patient flights a month. CAN has received numerous awards in recognition of its service to cancer patients, including The Volunteer Action Award, the highest volunteer award from the President of the United States.

FMI: www.corpangelnetwork.org