寄付を集める

By Sachiko Nakagome

　中・上級読者のための新英会話シリーズ。実践的で現代的な会話表現を学ぶ。舞台は移民の街ニューヨーク。主人公クリスティーナ・ハーモンは、移民のためにカウンセリングや英語レッスン、ベビーシッターなどの各種サービスを提供する非営利団体で働いている。彼女の仕事はボランティア・コーディネーター。ボランティアを手配し、指導する役割だ。次々と起こるトラブルと戦い、乗り越え、毎日を懸命に生きる。

　(Christina walks by a local toy store that says it is closing up shop today. She gets an idea and calls the owner.)

Christina: Hello. My name is Christina Harmon and I work at the N.Y. Immigrant Assistance Center. I heard that you're closing down your store today and was wondering if you would like to donate your remaining toys to our organization. We have three shelters for women and children in need. We would really appreciate it.

Store Owner: Well, I want to sell as many things as I can today.

Christina: Of course. How about we pick up whatever is left at the end of the day?

Store Owner: Will you come and pick up the items?

Christina: Yes. And we can even give you a tax letter for the donations. We are a 501(c)(3) approved organization, so you can deduct part of your donations from your company's adjusted gross income when you file taxes.

Store Owner: Oh, that helps. Sure. Take any remaining items.

Christina: What time should we come by today?

Store Owner: At 5 p.m. That's when we close.

Christina: Great. I will see you then. Thank you so much.

　(Christina calls the center's only volunteer who has a car and is available weekday afternoons. But all she gets is a voice mail message.)

Voice mail: Hello. You've reached the voice mailbox of Tina Kim. I'm on vacation in Florida right now. Please leave a message. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

　(Christina hangs up, feeling a bit panicky. She wonders if anyone will help her carry five boxes of toys on New York's crowded subways. She mass e-mails the 200 volunteers on her list to see if anyone can help.

　After an hour, two volunteers say they can leave their offices temporarily to help. Christina meets them at the store at 5 p.m. and they enter.)

Store Clerk: May I help you?

Christina: Yes, we've from the nonprofit organization you wanted to donate toys to.

Store Clerk: I'm sorry. I don't know what you're talking about.

Christina: The owner said we could pick up whatever is left.

Store Clerk: Well, the owner is not here. I can't help you.

(Oh, no! What will Christina do now? Find out in the next episode.)

ここをチェック！

• 501(c)(3)　発音はfive-oh-one-c-three （Read the Background 参照）
• deduct　控除する。名詞はdeduction。tax deduction(tax break, tax credit) は税金控除のこと。控除を受けられる状態をdeductible(It's tax deductible.)と言う
• adjusted...income　調整後総所得
• mass e-mails　大勢に一斉メールをする。名詞としても使う
  -- Sorry for the mass e-mail.（一斉メールで失礼いたします）
  -- I mass e-mailed my friends about the party.（パーティーについて友人に一斉メールを出した）
• nonprofit organization　非営利団体。米口語ではnonprofitと省略。NPOとは言わない。「営利団体」のことはfor-profit organization。ちなみにNGO (nongovernmental organization)は「非政府団体」

Read the Background

(1) Donations:

　Donations can be divided into cash donations (money) and in-kind donations (goods). Companies often offer inkind donations of overstocked products, or new products that they are trying to promote. Typically, companies with large budgets will deliver their donations to the organization they are donating to. Individuals might offer inkind donations of used clothing, used furniture or new items that they don't need.

(2) Donations to "501(c)(3) approved" nonprofit organizations:

　Companies and individuals that make donations to 501(c)(3)-approved nonprofit organizations can deduct part of their donations from the donor's adjusted gross income when they file taxes. Only nonprofits that file documents to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) and have a certification letter issued can obtain501(c)(3) status. This way the public can feel reassured 501(c)(3) approved organizations are using their donations appropriately.