About #WorldTEAMSports Face of America-Photos, background and charity

For eleven years, thousands of Americans and riders from throughout the world have participated in the Face of America ride from World T.E.A.M. Sports. From its launch as a cross-country ride in the summer of 2000, through two years of serving as the official 9/11 commemorative ride from Ground Zero in New York to Washington, to the current Washington to Gettysburg route, the Face of America ride has brought together civilians, active duty military, first responders and adaptive veterans in an inclusive bicycle ride. This April 26 through 28, the Face of America bicycle ride returns.

This will be my 4th year cycling from the Pentagon near Washington, DC to the historic battlefields of Gettysburg, PA. This is a unique opportunity to honor America’s servicemen and women who have been wounded or injured, as they set and make new goals.  It is also a wonderful charity organization that helps disabled athletes like myself, succeed through athletics and challenges.  World TEAM Sports has changed my life for the better.

Created by World T.E.A.M Sports, the 2013 Face of America is not just a bike ride. It is an opportunity to share stories and build camaraderie with 500 participants while honoring America’s disabled veterans and the American spirit.  Please enjoy some photos that I took on my Cannon and iPhone in the Face of America 2012.  Please also donate to support our heroes and civilians who benefit greatly from the events that World TEAM Sports sponsors.

To support World TEAM Sports please click here:

Beautiful PA field…..

Cows were laying down, and yes, it rained….

The horses always come out to greet us….I love this farm….

A farm house…

Washington monument (from MD)

US Capital (from MD)

My bike, some flowers I picked, a fire truck and a great day……

This is AMERICA……..

To donate to World TEAM Sports click here:

#Sky #photos- #ShareurArt

Massachusetts-A bike ride view….

Flying to the Bahamas…….above the clouds..

Massachusetts-Heavenly sky

Wicked cool looking sun on a very nice New England summer day….

Pink sky at night, sailors’ delight-MA

Trees framing the sunset….MA

Flight to Colorado…..

Sachem Bridge at twilight…..

This is Boston….looks tropical…nice blues…

Icon in the sky…Boston

Calm and tranquil…….

 

Photos taken by me with Cannon or iPhone. Enjoy the view….and don’t forget to slow down, look up, take a sigh of happiness, and see a fabulous sky…..

#Fidelity Donor Advised Fund #DAF -Easy & Fabulous #tax benefit for YOU… #PanMassChallenge #charity

Donate from a Fidelity Donor Advised Fund to The Pan Mass Challenge

Hello. I am cycling the Pan Mass Challenge and am looking for donors and support.  A great way you can support this great charity, fight cancer and get tax benefit is outlined below. Our friends at Fidelity have made the process of donating through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) quick and easy.  So, thanks Fidelity!

Please read and share this with friends and co-workers.  Sponsoring a PMC cyclist and setting up a DAF through Fidelity gets us all one pedal stroke closer to find that cure for cancer!

What is a donor advised fund?

A donor advised fund (DAF) is a type of giving program that allows you to combine the most favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to easily support your favorite charities. An increasingly popular charitable vehicle, DAFs are an excellent way to both simplify your charitable giving and facilitate your strategic philanthropic goals.

How does it work?

1. Establish your DAF by making an irrevocable, tax-deductible donation to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program
2. Advise the investment allocation of the donated assets (any investment growth is tax-free)
3. Recommend grants to qualified public charities of your choice

If I have a DAF, how do I use it to support a PMC rider?

1. Go to the links below, or to  www2.pmc.org/profile/GU0004
2. You can also go to www.pmc.org and enter “Gina Utegg”.
3. Enter the amount (in dollars) you would like to recommend in the “Amount:” field.
4. Click on the Designate this as a gift from a Donor Advised Fund “CONTINUE” button to proceed to the sponsoring organization’s website to complete yourDAF transaction.
5. The secure donation links below are for your donation convenience.

Click here to make $100 donation

Click here to make a $250 donation

Click here to make a $500 donation

Click here to make a $1,000 donation

Click here to enter any other amount to donate.

Every donation brings us closer by the mile.

Thank you

What are the main advantages of a donor advised fund?

• Simplicity – The DAF sponsor handles all record-keeping, disbursements, and tax receipts.
• Flexibility – Timing of your tax deduction can be separate from your charitable decision making.
• Tax-efficiency– Contributions are tax-deductible and any investment growth in the DAF is tax-free. It is also easy to donate long term appreciated securities, eliminating capital gains taxes and allowing you to support multiple charities from one block of stock.
• Family legacy – A DAF is a powerful way to build or continue a tradition of family philanthropy.
• No start-up costs – There is no cost to establish a donor advised fund. However, there are often minimum initial charitable contributions to establish the DAF (typically $5,000 or more).**
• No transaction fees – Once approved, 100% of your recommended grant goes to your qualified public charity of choice.**
• Privacy if desired – Donors may choose to be acknowledged or remain anonymous.

** Sponsoring organizations generally assess an administrative fee on the assets in a DAF. These fees vary by sponsoring organization.

How it works (Detail):

1. An individual or entity makes an irrevocable contribution to a sponsoring charitable organization to establish a donor advised fund. This person becomes a donor-advisor.
2. The sponsoring organization allocates the charitable contribution to the particular donor-advisor’s DAF. The donor-advisor has the opportunity to name the DAF (e.g. The John Doe Fund).
3. The donor-advisor retains advisory privileges over the investment allocation for the DAF. Since the assets in the DAF belong to the sponsoring organization, any investment growth is tax free. The investment options available vary by sponsoring organization.
4. The donor-advisor has advisory privileges over the disbursements made from the DAF. The disbursements are recommended by the donor-advisor, but must meet the grantmaking criteria of the sponsoring organization. Typically, disbursements may only be recommended to IRS-qualified public charities exclusively for charitable purposes.  Additionally, the donor may not receive any more than incidental benefits as a result of the disbursement.
5. Once the sponsoring organization approves the recommended disbursement, the grant is made to the qualified charitable organization.

Whom should I contact with questions regarding giving to the PMC through a DAF?

If you have questions about making a gift to the PMC through a DAF, please call us at 781-449-5300 or email panmass@pmc.org and mention that you would like the donation allocated to rider Gina Utegg.

Thank you!

A lovely #New #England day….. #Nature #Shareurart

The sun shone through the trees……..

This is Breakheart Reservation….Nice conifers….

Rock climbing and looking at a frozen lake……

A path less travelled….

I see a rock…..I see an island……..

Photos on iPhone.  They are my own to share with you….

Enjoy…..

#Tax Benefits of donating to the Pan Mass Challenge ( #PMC13 ) from a #Donor #Advised #Fund

Donate from a Donor Advised Fund to The Pan Mass Challenge

Hello. I am cycling the Pan Mass Challenge and am looking for donors and support.  A great way you can support this great charity, fight cancer and get tax benefit is outlined below. Please read and share this with friends and co-workers.  Sponsoring a PMC cyclist gets us all one pedal stroke closer to find that cure for cancer!

What is a donor advised fund?

A donor advised fund (DAF) is a type of giving program that allows you to combine the most favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to easily support your favorite charities. An increasingly popular charitable vehicle, DAFs are an excellent way to both simplify your charitable giving and facilitate your strategic philanthropic goals.

How does it work?

1. Establish your DAF by making an irrevocable, tax-deductible donation to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program
2. Advise the investment allocation of the donated assets (any investment growth is tax-free)
3. Recommend grants to qualified public charities of your choice

If I have a DAF, how do I use it to support a PMC rider?

1. Go to the links below, or to  www2.pmc.org/profile/GU0004
2. You can also go to www.pmc.org and enter “Gina Utegg”.
3. Enter the amount (in dollars) you would like to recommend in the “Amount:” field.
4. Click on the Designate this as a gift from a Donor Advised Fund “CONTINUE” button to proceed to the sponsoring organization’s website to complete yourDAF transaction.
5. The secure donation links below are for your donation convenience.

Click here to make $100 donation

Click here to make a $250 donation

Click here to make a $500 donation

Click here to make a $1,000 donation

Click here to enter any other amount to donate.

Every donation brings us closer by the mile.

Thank you

What are the main advantages of a donor advised fund?

• Simplicity – The DAF sponsor handles all record-keeping, disbursements, and tax receipts.
• Flexibility – Timing of your tax deduction can be separate from your charitable decision making.
• Tax-efficiency– Contributions are tax-deductible and any investment growth in the DAF is tax-free. It is also easy to donate long term appreciated securities, eliminating capital gains taxes and allowing you to support multiple charities from one block of stock.
• Family legacy – A DAF is a powerful way to build or continue a tradition of family philanthropy.
• No start-up costs – There is no cost to establish a donor advised fund. However, there are often minimum initial charitable contributions to establish the DAF (typically $5,000 or more).**
• No transaction fees – Once approved, 100% of your recommended grant goes to your qualified public charity of choice.**
• Privacy if desired – Donors may choose to be acknowledged or remain anonymous.

** Sponsoring organizations generally assess an administrative fee on the assets in a DAF. These fees vary by sponsoring organization.

How it works (Detail):

1. An individual or entity makes an irrevocable contribution to a sponsoring charitable organization to establish a donor advised fund. This person becomes a donor-advisor.
2. The sponsoring organization allocates the charitable contribution to the particular donor-advisor’s DAF. The donor-advisor has the opportunity to name the DAF (e.g. The John Doe Fund).
3. The donor-advisor retains advisory privileges over the investment allocation for the DAF. Since the assets in the DAF belong to the sponsoring organization, any investment growth is tax free. The investment options available vary by sponsoring organization.
4. The donor-advisor has advisory privileges over the disbursements made from the DAF. The disbursements are recommended by the donor-advisor, but must meet the grantmaking criteria of the sponsoring organization. Typically, disbursements may only be recommended to IRS-qualified public charities exclusively for charitable purposes.  Additionally, the donor may not receive any more than incidental benefits as a result of the disbursement.
5. Once the sponsoring organization approves the recommended disbursement, the grant is made to the qualified charitable organization.

Whom should I contact with questions regarding giving to the PMC through a DAF?

If you have questions about making a gift to the PMC through a DAF, please call us at 781-449-5300 or email panmass@pmc.org and mention that you would like the donation allocated to rider Gina Utegg.

Thank you!

#PanMassChallenge 2013. Why I ride and donors needed

WHY I RIDE …
Why I Ride …

I’m a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, 100% of rider-raised revenue goes directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s tireless commitment to finding a cure. These research and clinical institutes are working hard on better treatments, cures, and for advancement of medical knowledge about cancer throughout the world. We are proud supporters of this charity, mainly for the uniqueness that 100% of donations fight cancer. My family and I will fund raise, train, commit our family time and money, and do our best to make the financial goals. In order to do this successfully, we need a team. You see, raising $4,300 or more dollars takes a group effort. Please join us in making this group effort to beat cancer down achievable! Thank you !!!!!!!!

I’ve made a personal commitment to ride and raise $4,300. So I hope you can help me achieve this significant goal.
Please donate to my PMC ride at one of the following links:

Click here to make $100 donation

Click here to make a $250 donation

Click here to make a $500 donation

Click here to make a $1,000 donation

Click here to enter any other amount to donate.

Every donation brings us closer by the mile.

Thank you,

 

Our story is simple….I guess:

Hi, we are the Boston Uteggs…..and welcome to our new personal fund raising page….

We are family who has been touched by adversity and cancer and WE ARE FIGHTING BACK!
Disability:

In 2001, I was almost killed by a drunk driver. I fought my way back to life and now I am a disabled, but VERY MUCH ALIVE recumbent cyclist (Bacchetta Corsa S/S). Cycling helped me get my life back. I enjoy it and it makes me healthier,happier and hopefully a better person.

Cancer:

Then in 2009, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer….Surgery, chemo, radiation and a NEW BEGINNING……….That’s right, another challenge, but I had support, love and the strength of my family, friends and the cancer community.

LIFE:

The outpouring of support was and still is inspirational. I had exceptional medical care through Mass General Hospital, and Newton-Wellesley Hemotology/Oncology. These treatment centers are part of the Dana Faber Institute and have direct benefit from THE PAN MASS CHALLENGE. Everyone deserves great care, cutting edge treatments and positive outcomes. Given that, I am cycling the PMC, for me, others and future generations.

I am simply trying to contribute to research, a cure for cancer and to help people through their journey. The PMC is an amazing physical, mental and financial challenge. I am already training and am preparing myself for those first two elements. I cycle, strength, and cross train so I am physically ready for my 2 day/200 mile ride.

Where I am in my journey:

I am 3-years out and count every day as a blessing….Cancer is scary, crappy, hurts people and has taken too many of our family and friends. So, we do the only thing we can…We MOVE ON, LIVE LIFE, and enjoy TIME! Through my cancer journey, I found that one of my favorite activities (besides talking hahhaha) is cycling….and I do A LOT of it…It makes me happier, healthier and is a chance for me and our family to make a difference in the war on cancer.

The Pan Mass Challenge is going to be a major milestone for me. It will be 200 miles in 2 days (that’s a lot). I am also riding a recumbent bike (my Bacchetta Corsa S/S), as I am not only a cancer survivor, I am a survivor of a life threatening, yet disabling motor vehicle accident.

I have taken on more and more challenges and grow with each pedal stroke…..So please donate and help me “Be the change that I would like to see in this world….”

Tewksbury patch article 2012 http://www2.tewksburypatch.com/articles/gina-utegg .Please feel free to see more media coverage under the “links” tab.

Thank you,
Gina Utegg 74911-2
Pan-Mass Challenge
Boston, MA 02241-5590

If you’d like to donate by check, please make checks out to Pan Mass Challenge and send them to the address above.
Team Dassault,cancer survivor,recumbent cyclist,mom,fund raiser,paratriathlete,disabled athlete
To donate, www2.pmc.org and enter my egiftcard ID GU0004 or type in my name

Mike and Rachael-support and best family ever
Thanks! If you have questions please email me at g_utegg@msn.com Thanks for your support

Tuesday’s Haikus for Yous…….

Eyes of Trauma

Eyes sparkling with life….

Mirror to the soul, maybe…

A blessing and curse….

My Bike

The wind on my face…

Reprive from life’s cruel pressures…

Happiness on wheels…

Cancer

Cancer really sucks ass…

It’s killed too many people…

We need to find cures…

Children

Children are awesome…

They should be cherished and loved…

Giggling, playing, rock…..

Disability

So, what is normal?

My answer is that I am..

Bent but not broken…..

PTSD

Memories get out…

You fly back at me in rage…

I am nice, stop it…