ACR Foundation Launches Haiti Radiology Relief Fund

Reston, VA — In response to the vast medical needs and human suffering resulting from the recent, devastating earthquake in Haiti, the ACR Foundation has launched the Haiti Radiology Relief Fund. The Fund will help supply health care facilities in Haiti with necessary radiological support – including radiology equipment, supplies, materials as well as physician and medical physicist volunteers (1).

“We urge all of those in the radiology community to give what they can to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Haiti. The ACR recognizes both the immediate and longer term radiological needs in Haiti and we hope this fund will provide relief as the people of Haiti seek to recover from the devastation” said James H. Thrall, MD, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors.

Much of the health care infrastructure in Haiti’s capital and largest city, Port-Au-Prince, was destroyed by the earthquake - including radiology equipment, supplies, teaching materials and other materials that help support day-to-day care. The Haiti Radiology Relief Fund will seek funding to provide radiological equipment, materials and supplies as well as fulfill volunteer opportunities to support radiology services in the country.

All contributions are tax deductible with contributions made before March 1, 2010 eligible for 2009 or 2010 tax returns (2). The ACR Foundation asks for contributions from radiologists, radiologic technologists and other ancillary health care personnel, radiology organizations, patients, radiology and non-radiology corporations, radiology practices, radiology business managers and other interested individuals.

“We strongly urge all of those in the radiology community to help us provide an organized effort to help those who desperately need access to the care that we provide. Whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated,” said Thrall.

To donate or for more information, please visit the Haiti Radiology Relief Fund site at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/442954.

To learn more about the ACR Foundation International Outreach Committee and its work, please visit https://internationalservice.acr.org.

For more information or to speak to an ACR spokesperson, please contact ACR Director of Public Affairs Shawn Farley at 703-869-0292 or sfarley@acr-arrs.org.

1-Proceeds from the ACR Foundation Haiti Radiology Relief Fund will be used to purchase radiology equipment, materials, supplies, or will be used to assist volunteer efforts in Haiti. If the judgment of the ACR Foundation is that such a purpose becomes unnecessary, impractical or impossible to fulfill, the ACR Foundation will use such funds for other medical relief efforts to assist the people of Haiti.

2-On January 22, 2010, President Obama signed into law H.R. 4462—the Haiti Assistance Income Tax Incentive Act—allowing donors to accelerate the income-tax benefits for charitable cash contributions toward the relief of victims of the January 12 Haiti earthquake. This provision applies to monetary donations, not goods, services or other non-cash contributions. The new law permits individuals who make charitable contributions to aid Haitian earthquake victims to elect to claim an itemized charitable deduction on their 2009 tax return, rather than wait until next year to claim the deductions on their 2010 tax return. The election would apply only to Haitian relief contributions made in cash after January 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010. If the election is made, Haiti relief donations would be deductible on the 2009 return, not on the 2010 return. Taxpayers can choose to take the deduction in 2009 or 2010. The contributions must be made to a domestic charity that is assisting Haiti.