Peter Kamysz, a World War II veteran, went 58 years without a VA disability rating he should have had all along. Since 1946, he has suffered from a constant ringing in his ears so severe he took up bowling four days a week to drown out the noise. Meanwhile, his service-related hearing loss worsened, forcing him to step down from a 20-year career in accounting.

It was not until 2004, when he met a DAV National Service Officer, that Kamysz was encouraged to apply for VA benefits. Soon after, he was granted a disability rating and became a DAV member. “You’ve done so much for me,” he said, looking back.

When he read about charitable gift annuities in DAV Magazine, he called to inquire and liked what he learned. With a gift to DAV of $10,000 or more, Member Funds Mutually Beneficial Gift AnnuityPeter Kamysz, DAV member and Gift Annuity donorhe would receive a generous fixed income for life and enjoy significant tax benefits. “It’s mutually beneficial,” Kamysz said of his recent gift annuity. “It adds strength to DAV’s excellent history of advocacy for all vets, while providing me a good rate of return and some tax relief.” His subsequent letter told more:

“I shall be forever grateful for DAV’s efforts. Getting those good hearing aids from the VA was a blessing, albeit late in life, along with the benefits of my disability rating. Fortunately, my circumstances have allowed me to add strength to your wonderful mission. I know that Vilma, my recently departed wife, would have strongly supported my action. After all, she’s the one who had to endure all those years of my saying, ‘Huh? What’s that?’ May God bless you in helping our beautiful heroes.”

Charitable Gift Annuity Benefits:

Fixed income for life, largely tax-free
Rates range from 4.4% (age 60) to 9.0% (age 90)
Two-life rates are slightly lower
Charitable income-tax deduction
Guardian Society recognition for your generosity

To learn more, and to receive a personalized illustration of the income and tax benefits for your age(s), call the DAV’s gift planning staff at 1-800-216-9802, e-mail giftplanning@dav.org.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Minimum gift is $10,000.
Minimum age is 60.