March 14, 1995

TAXPAYERS MAY BENEFIT HEALTH-RELATED FUNDS

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Once again, Illinois taxpayers have the opportunity to contribute to a variety of special funds through their state income tax returns, including four administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health -- the Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Fund, the Heart Disease Treatment and Prevention Fund and the Hemophilia Treatment Fund.

"Thousands of Illinois citizens and their families are touched every year by Alzheimer's disease, breast and cervical cancer, heart disease and hemophilia," said Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state health director. "I urge Illinoisans to donate to these worthy causes and to help these people and those in the future who may suffer from these illnesses."

The Department-administered funds and how donations will benefit them are:

• Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund (Line 15c of the 1994 IL-1040 state income tax return) appears on the state income tax forms for the tenth consecutive year. Donations support research to find more effective diagnoses and treatments for this debilitating disease, which afflicts about 200,000 people in Illinois. Since 1986, the Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund has received more than $1.3 million in contributions.

• Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund (Line 15e) is on Illinois tax returns for the second year. Breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately 8,700 Illinois women annually and claims the lives of 2,200 women each year. Nearly 700 women in Illinois learn they have cervical cancer each year and about 450 women die annually from the disease. Money donated will be used for research that focuses on techniques for early detection, prevention and treatment. In its first year, this fund received more than $117,000 in contributions.

• Heart Disease Treatment and Prevention Fund (Line 15f) is making its first appearance on the Illinois tax returns. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Illinois, accounting for more than 40 percent of all deaths each year. It is also a major cause of illness, hospitalization and disability. Contributions will be used to help educate the public about heart disease and fund research into its causes, prevention and treatment.

• Hemophilia Treatment Fund (Line 15g) is also making its first appearance on the Illinois tax returns. Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder. In Illinois, thousands of individuals and their families are affected by this costly and crippling disease. In the early 1980s, more than 50 percent of hemophiliacs contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from blood transfusions. Donations will provide funds for research, support and treatment for this devastating disease.

A fund must generate a minimum of $100,000 each year to appear on the next year's tax form. Any amount of $1 or more can be given to the funds by writing in a donation amount on the appropriate line. The amount contributed will either be deducted from any refund or added to the amount due.

Direct contributions may also be also be made to each of the Department's funds by sending a check, made payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health, to P.O. Box 4263, Springfield, Ill., 62708. The designated fund must be clearly marked on the check.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments