Centennial Campaign

HomeCentennial Campaign

The 100th anniversary of Gables UCC offers us an opportunity to go beyond annual giving with a special gift to carry Gables UCC into its second century.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to protect our historic building, serve our community, and plan for the future. To see what your gift will support, read the details below. We will be investing in the future of the church and in our community. These are exciting times at Gables UCC!

The Centennial Campaign: Raise $1,000,000 by Spring 2027!

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How Your Gift will Make a Difference:

INVESTMENTS IN THE CAMPUS

Historical Preservation
Goal: $583,000
Replace the clay tile roofs to stop leaks.* Add insulation to reduce energy costs. Repair windows and stucco cracks. Add a fresh coat of paint to the exterior.

These projects were identified in the 2021 Historical Preservation Survey of the church building as high priority needs. This survey makes it possible for the church to apply for funding from local, state and national foundations for projects that follow approved historical preservation guidelines. Grants for building projects require matching funds, and this is where gifts from the congregation are a big help.

*The church received a $100,000 matching grant from the Secretary of State, Division of Historical Resources and the State of Florida toward the first step, replacement of the sanctuary roof. To fund the first phase of the roofing project, we need donations to match this grant with another $100,000.

Heating and Cooling Upgrades
Goal: $150,000
Replace aging and inefficient HVAC units. Relocate equipment from rooftops to ground level where possible (with careful consideration to aesthetics). As we continue replacing the other roofs, the flat roofs over the office wing, education wing and Fellowship Hall, we will need to upgrade air conditioners at the same time. The roof over Fellowship Hall will need to be repitched to improve drainage. The church is applying for grants to help with this multi-year project, and donations to the Centennial Campaign are very much needed.

Furnishings
Goal: $32,000
Refresh the interior with new pew cushions for the sanctuary and new chairs and new pulpit for the chapel.

Sanctuary Piano
Goal: $15,000
Refurbish the historic Bösendorfer piano. Long a mainstay of services and concerts in the sanctuary, our piano needs a thorough restoration.

 

INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE

Youth Programs
Goal: $20,000
Create a start-up fund for a new youth minister to get programming off to a strong start. This is an investment in the leaders of the church’s second century.

Medical Debt Relief
Goal: $100,000
Invest In our community by starting a ground-breaking program to broker forgiveness for medical debt that burdens so many people.

The Legacy Fund
Goal: $100,000
Further our commitment to this long-standing and carefully managed fund that covers some of the church’s operating expenses and provides a cushion in times of unusual need. This is an excellent way to contribute to the second century of Gables UCC.

Ways to Give:

  • You can make a one-time or recurring gift using a credit/debit card or automatic checking withdrawal securely online via Pushpay.
  • You can mail a check to the church, with “Centennial Campaign” in the memo line to:

Coral Gables Congregational
United Church of Christ
3010 De Soto Boulevard
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Here are some strategies—apart from writing a good old check or giving via Pushpay—that may help you save money on taxes or double your giving through an employer match.

    • Transfer stock shares or mutual fund shares from your investment portfolio. This is a good way to give appreciated stock that you may have wanted to reduce in your portfolio. You can gift shares by transferring the shares directly to the church’s investment account and avoid paying capital gains on those shares as well as have a charitable deduction for your gift. If you sold the shares yourself you would end up paying capital gains on the sale. If you donate the shares and have the Church sell the shares, you avoid paying capital gains! This maximizes your tax savings while allowing you to make a charitable contribution, a win-win for everyone. Talk to your accountant for tax related details.
        • DTC Number: 0062
        • For the Benefit of: Coral Gables Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) Inc.
        • Brokerage Account number: 82578797
    • Donate through work. You can often make a donation through the company you work for. Many large companies have programs where you can do charitable giving through your paycheck. Frequently, they will do some sort of match, particularly for a brick-and-mortar campaign—even for a church, which might normally be exempt from such a program.
    • Gift your Required Minimum Distribution. If you are subject to a RMD (required minimum distribution) each year on your IRA, you can have that distribution go directly to the church and avoid paying taxes on the distribution. This is called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) and can be made using your Traditional IRA, SEP, Inherited IRA, SIMPLE plan or even a ROTH IRA. The annual QCD limit is $100,000 per account owner. This gift is not a charitable deduction for taxpayers but allows the donor to exclude the amount from taxable income on their income taxes. Please see your tax advisor for details.

It’s always important to speak with your Tax Advisor & Financial Advisor before making any decisions regarding your financial assets.

If you would like to talk with Pastor Laurie or our Business Manager, Dennis Rodrigues, about your gift, please call 305.448.7421.
If you are unable to reach us, please leave a message and your phone number to ask for a return call about the Centennial Campaign.

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