We join our fellow Texans and Americans in grieving over the devastation caused by the July 4th flooding in Central Texas. The loss of life, especially of so many children, is unimaginable. We are standing alongside our Meals on Wheels provider partners through Meals on Wheels Texas, to ensure impacted meals providers can continue to deliver food and friendship to seniors in need. Learn more at https://www.mealsonwheelstexas.org/

Host Kersten Rettig and Stephen Hohmann, MD, do a deep dive into vascular disease, coronary disease and renal disease. Listeners will learn more about the risk factors for these diseases, prevention tools and tips, and how caregivers can help loved ones suffering from illness. Additionally, Dr. Stephen Hohmann describes various types of vascular disease and approaches to care from a clinical and at home perspective. You can learn more about vascular disease and find additional resources at the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Rising food prices are stretching already tight budgets. And during the “summer slump,” donations to VNA Meals on Wheels slow down, as the need grows. These are our neighbors. People like Ms. Freeney, who just turned 100. She lives alone in the little West Dallas house where she raised her children.

Just $7.77 delivers a nutritious, home-cooked meal to a senior who is too frail to shop or cook. “You made my day,” says Ms. Freeney, who is so appreciative of the food and friendship we deliver. Each dollar you give provides immediate comfort, nourishment, and hope.

Let’s make sure no senior is forgotten this summer. Give to our senior friends here. 

The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) began the 2026 fiscal year July 1, 2025.  A slate of incoming board members began their term providing fiduciary and strategic direction for the organization. Incoming board members include the following:

• Jason Bender – Community Volunteer
• Margaret Buckley – Director, McKesson Foundation
• Ana Katherine Curry, MD – Retired Internal Medicine Physician
• Nicolette Lamont – Community Volunteer
• David Oman – Managing Director, Chief Risk Officer, Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. & Texas Capital
• James (Jamey) M. Peters – Chief Client Operations Officer and Chief of Staff to the Global CEO, Ketchum
• Stephanie Staubach Phillips – Partner, C Three Advisory

These esteemed community leaders will serve alongside current board members. Thank you to the new board members and existing board members for your continued support of our mission. 

Thank you for your dedication to the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA). We are so fortunate to have you in our family of donors, volunteers and supporters. You have made it possible for us to continue delivering compassionate care to our community. Thank you. 

We have important news to share: Newly signed tax legislation extends (and makes permanent) many current tax provisions and introduces new ones that could influence your charitable giving. Changes are coming in 2026, so we want to make sure you are informed in order to make the wisest decisions regarding your generosity. 

Here are seven important elements of the new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026: 

What’s staying: 

• Tax brackets: The new law permanently extends the 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 35% and 37% tax rates.  
• Standard deduction: Most taxpayers will continue to use the elevated standard deduction—$15,750 for individuals and $31,500 for married couples in 2025. It will be indexed for inflation thereafter. 
• Deduction limits for cash gifts: You can continue to deduct cash gifts to public charities up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) if you itemize. 
• Estate tax exemption: The federal estate and gift tax exemption will remain high and increase to $15 million per individual (indexed annually). 

What’s new in 2026: 

• Tax break for non-itemizers: You can deduct up to $1,000 (individuals) or $2,000 (married couples) for charitable gifts, even if you don’t itemize.  
• If you do itemize, there’s a new floor on your charitable deduction: The new law adds a minimum charitable contribution rate if you itemize your deductions. The law requires taxpayers to give at least 0.5% of their AGI to receive a tax benefit for their charitable giving. 
• If you are in the top tax bracket, there’s a new charitable contribution limitation: Under current law, top earners get a 37-cent tax benefit for every $1 deducted. Starting in 2026, that benefit will be capped at 35 cents per dollar. 

We encourage you to consult with your tax advisor to understand how these changes may affect your giving in 2025 and beyond.  We are so grateful for your generosity, which delivers food and friendship to senior neighbors and compassionate care and support to seriously ill patients and their families. Please visit https://plannedgiving.vnatexas.org/ or reach out to Jennifer at jennifer.austin@vnatexas.org or 214-384-9515 for more information. 

? VNATexas.org
1420 W. Mockingbird Ln., Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75247

Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing care to our community, enhancing health and well-being with compassion, dignity and integrity. VNA is North Texas’ most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas.  VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, Supportive Palliative Care, and adult and pediatric Hospice Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, and Wise counties. Visit www.vnatexas.org or call 214-689-0000 for more information. 

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