FAQ

Q. Who is flat Zac anyway?

A. Shortly before a reunion trip to fabulous Las Vegas, Zac received his diagnosis. Obviously unable to attend, the attending FoZ still wanted him to be there if not in person, then in spirit… or at least paper. The closest we could come was ‘flat Zac.’ Flat Zac was the brainchild of a FoZ wife and is a cut-out picture of Zac’s abnormally large noggin pasted to a piece of foam board (a huge piece of foam board). Flat Zac went everywhere we did. He had an Elvis photo taken, a caricature drawn and even managed to not lose any money. And yes, he will be running the Ironman with the FoZ.

Q. What percentage of my donation will actually go to the Smiths?

A. 100% of funds donated will go to the Smiths. All administrative fees and event entry fees will be paid for by FoZ and will be considered a donation for the event. If you choose to use PayPal as you method of payment, we ask that you read our instructions for doing so on our “Donate” page (PayPal charges a small fee for each transaction but the individual sending the money has the option to pay the fee upfront instead of laying the responsibility on the recipient. We ask that you pay the fees to allow your full donation be sent to the Smiths).

Q. Are the donations anonymous or will the Smiths know how much or if I decide not to donate?

A. When making a donation, the donor has the option to publish their name, comments and dollar amount. There is also an option to just publish a name and comment or you can also be completely anonymous. Totally up to you. We’re just glad you’re donating.

Q. Is there a minimum amount I can donate?

A. Absolutely not. While we hope to get the maximum amount of money for the Smiths, no gift is too small!

Q. Is my contribution tax deductible?

A. No. For a donation to be tax deductible, the organization has to qualify with the IRS as being a charitable organization (churches, 501c (3), etc). In short, it is a painstaking process which takes months.

Q. Why don’t you send money through a charitable organization so that my donations are tax deductible?

A. If funds are given to an organization, such as a church, but has specific instructions on how it should be used those items are no longer deemed tax deductible.

Q. Do the Smiths have to pay taxes on the donations?

A. No. Gift taxes are reserved for the donor but not the recipient. Neat-o, huh?

Q. Do I have to pay a gift tax on the money I give?

A. Not unless you give over $12,000 per year to a particular person. But none of us like Zac that much anyway, so we don’t feel it’s an issue. If you want to give more than $12,000 please contact your CPA because you probably have one.

Q. What is the best way to send money?

A. We prefer PayPal, but please read our PayPal instructions on our “Donate” page before doing so (PayPal charges a small fee for each transaction but the individual sending the money has the option to pay the fee upfront instead of laying the responsibility on the recipient. We ask that you pay the fees to allow your full donation be sent to the Smiths). You can also send checks or money orders, no cash for obvious reasons. For non-electronic donations, please see our “Donate” page for more detail.

Q. How do I know this is legit?

A. Honestly, you don’t. If you know Zac or Mandy, we have done this with their permission. Please feel free to ask them about it. Additionally, we have established a bank account with 3 distinct yet unrelated treasurers overseeing it. There will be no permitted removal of funds until the deadline (barring any unforeseen bills that the Smiths have which may require more urgent attention).

Q. How can I help?

A. See our “How to Help” section.

Q. Was Zac bald before chemo?

A. Sadly, yes. Apparently, the chemo has not improved his hair but he was able to grow a beast of a beard – whiskerino.org (Zac’s name is, fittingly, BaldBeard)

Q. When is the deadline for sending money?

A. There is no deadline!!! Give as often for as long as you like. For this particular event, donations will be accepted until October 31st, 2010. The Smiths will have a check sent to them as donations come in. We expect that donations will still trickle in as this is an ongoing effort. If you donate after the event deadline, your money will still get to the Smiths. We will cut a check on a monthly basis provided there are funds to do so.

Q. I have found a corporate sponsor that would like to donate to the cause. How do I tell them to proceed?

A. Please have them contact us by using our form on our Contact page. And thanks!

Q. If I enlist a corporate sponsor or I am working for an organization that wants to donate, will the organization receive recognition on your “Thanks to our Sponsors” section?

A. Yes, your logo or name will be listed on the site if the donation or value of goods is $100 or more. If your organization’s gift is less than $100 in value, we will still gladly take it. No gifts too small and all are appreciated!

Q. Was Zac that skinny before chemo?

A. Pretty much. A strong westerly wind has been known to carry him away.

Q. Can I donate more than once?

A. Absolutely! Donate early and often!

If you have additional questions, please fill out our form on “Contact” and one of the FoZ will get back to you as soon as possible. We all have day jobs too, so responses may not come until after hours or the next day but we will do our best to keep on top of questions, comments, requests.