If you're going to give, do your homework before Dec. 31

If you're going to give, do your homework before Dec. 31: "If you're going to give, do your homework before Dec. 31
Monday, December 06, 2004
By Mary Deibel, Scripps Howard News Service

Maybe you contribute to the Christmas flower fund in your mother's memory, give to the charity where your spouse volunteers or donate to a summer-camp fund for inner-city youngsters to honor a privileged child.
Whatever your charity of choice, these holiday gifts keep giving year-round and can reward you again at tax time if you itemize, says financial planner Susan Hirshman of JPMorgan Fleming."