Marketplace

March 17, 2010

Rent-A-Center’s Spring Egg Fundraiser supports Big Brothers Big Sisters

   From March 5 to April 3, 2010, Rent-A-Center is holding its Spring Egg Fundraiser to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. The funds raised will go directly to local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies nationwide, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of LaPorte County, to match some of the country’s most vulnerable children with mentors and provide ongoing support to “Littles” and their families and the volunteer “Bigs.”

   Rent-A-Center will match individual donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000, and guarantee a minimum donation of $250 to each of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ nearly 385 local agencies.

   Purchase $1 colorful paper eggs at your local Rent-A-Center. The eggs sold will hang in the stores for the duration of Rent-A-Center’s fundraising campaign.

   Find your nearest store at www.rentacenter.com. You can also donate online at BigBrothersBigSisters.org (www.bbbs.org/donating/donateonline).

   Rent-A-Center has held the spring egg fundraiser for seven years, raising more than $1.79 million for Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the United States and Puerto Rico.

   “Our co-workers look forward to the Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser each year and are set to exceed the $2 million mark, ” said Mark Speese, chairman and CEO of Rent-A-Center. “We are grateful to have the support of our customers and the communities where we have stores to help Big Brothers Big Sisters.”

   “We appreciate Rent-A-Center’s commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters and the children, families and communities we serve,” said Stephanie Fleshman, program director of Big Brothers Big Sisters LaPorte County.

Posted in: Marketplace, Organizations

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March 16, 2010

How do I make money with mutual funds?

   Q: How does my money grow if I invest in a mutual fund? Does it earn interest, like my bank account?

   A: While a deposit in the bank will earn you interest, an investment in a mutual fund can earn you money two different ways – by growth or by income. Before understanding how your investment grows, it is important to understand how a mutual fund works.

   A mutual fund is first and foremost an investment company, in the business of pooling together small (or large) sums of money from many different investors. As the money is collected, a professional money manager buys stocks and bonds with that money and issues shares to the investors.

   As a shareholder in the investment company, your investment can increase in one of two ways. The shares that you bought for $10 could increase to $12. This growth in share price is also known as capital appreciation and occurs because the value of the stocks in the mutual fund have increased.

   If you sell your shares for more than you paid for them, your profit is called a capital gain. The gain on this sale of your investments is taxable income upon which you pay a capital gains tax. If, however, you sell your shares for less than you paid for them, this is called a capital loss. The good side of this bad news is that declaring a capital loss on your tax return can reduce the tax you owe in April.

   In addition to the possible growth of your investment, a mutual fund may pay you income. As the stocks and bonds in your mutual fund pay dividends and interest, a portion of those cash earnings is distributed to you as a shareholder. You could choose to have this income sent to you in cash, or you could choose to reinvest those distributions and purchase more shares in the mutual fund. But no matter what you choose to do with those earnings, it does represent taxable income that Uncle Sam likes to know about.

   Whether your mutual fund invests in stocks or bonds, mutual funds are an investment which offers no guarantees and will fluctuate in value. But unlike a dollar deposited in the bank, which will forever stay a dollar, a mutual fund offers a greater opportunity for growth and income over the long run … though there is no guarantee.

D. DRUMMOND OSBORN, CFP is a Certified Financial Planner and Director of Wealth Management at Osborn Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor, where he focuses on investment management, retirement planning and trust advisory services. Visit him at www.osbornwealthmanagement.com or e-mail him your questions or comments at drummond@osbornwealthmanagement.com.

Posted in: Marketplace, WNLP Headliners

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March 16, 2010

LaPorte Regional Health System to grow again with purchase of Chesterton facility

   LaPorte Regional Health System (LRHS) has entered into a transaction to acquire Lakeshore Surgicare, located in Chesterton, IN, according to a press release.

   This is the third LRHS major purchase of other facilities within the past year and a half. In 2009 LRHS purchased both Starke Memorial Hospital in Knox, IN, and LifePlex Diagnostic Imaging in Plymouth, IN.

   The Chesterton acquisition would transfer ownership of the 11,200-square-foot Lakeshore Surgicare facility and services to LRHS. Established in 2006, Lakeshore Surgicare primarily provides outpatient general and orthopaedic surgery. The acquisition is expected to be completed in late March or early April, the press release stated.

   “The acquisition of Lakeshore Surgicare fits perfectly into the strategic plan of LaPorte Regional Health System as we are excited to expand our ambulatory surgery capabilities,” said LRHS President/CEO G. Thor Thordarson. “This will enable us to provide efficient, quality health care to even more individuals throughout the region.”

   LRHS, a not-for-profit organization, is a Clarian Health Partner made up of LaPorte Hospital, a 227-bed acute care hospital; Starke Memorial, a 53-bed acute-care facility; and LifePlex Diagnostic Imaging, located in Plymouth, IN. The organization also includes LaPorte Regional Physician Network, physicians providing a variety of services in office locations throughout LaPorte, Starke, St. Joseph, Marshall, Pulaski and Porter counties; the LaPorte Hospital Foundation, a 501(C)3 corporation that supports LRHS through encouragement of charitable giving and healthier communities and lifestyles; and the LaPorte Hospital Auxiliary, a membership-based support organization for LRHS that provides volunteer services and funds philanthropic projects.

Posted in: Health & Fitness, Marketplace

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