For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross has helped millions of people — from being there to assist a family after a house fire to rushing in to aid an entire community impacted by a flood.

They are an outstanding humanitarian organization that continues to do what they can to save lives and improve our lives in time of trouble.

I was proud to support new laws that will now give all Michigan residents the opportunity to donate to the Red Cross with a simple checkoff box on their state income tax form.

Public Acts 183 and 184 of 2016 create an individual income tax checkoff in support of the American Red Cross in Michigan, allowing taxpayers to choose to make a voluntary donation of $5, $10, or more of their income tax return to the American Red Cross in Michigan.

The laws also create the American Red Cross Michigan Fund within the Department of Treasury. The fund would receive donations from the income tax checkoff to be given to the mid-Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross for distribution to all of the Michigan chapters.

There were eight funds with checkoffs still on the 2015 state income tax form. Those funds raised nearly $600,000 during the 2014 tax year. Michigan law requires a checkoff to raise at least $50,000 in a single tax year for two consecutive years in order to remain on the form.

In addition to responding to tens of thousands of disasters every year, the Red Cross also is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the U.S. and our leading provider of health and safety courses, such as CPR, first aid and lifeguard training.

While these donations will have no impact on the state budget, they are an easy way for residents to support a wonderful organization as it continues to make a huge impact in our communities.

 

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents Southwest Michigan.