I would like to share a quick note of thanks for your participation in the Wayne County Airport Authority’s North Terminal Preview Events. Thanks in great measure to generous sponsors and guests at the Charity Preview Event, more than 10,000 participants enjoyed a sneak peak at the terminal and five local charities received cash donations. The events provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the new terminal and to reach out to our neighbors in the nearby communities.

The goal of the events were twofold, provide opportunities for Authority partners and guests to celebrate the opening of the terminal and to provide a charitable gift to several area charities.

I think we hit both goals. The Friday Night Preview Event complete with a marching band, and two string ensembles providing entertainment while guests enjoyed a strolling dinner, provided a perfect atmosphere for the first look at the terminal. Saturday’s more casual and family oriented event turned out to be even more popular than anticipated.

Online pre-registration led us to estimate a crowd of 3,000 to 4,000 for the Open House. We were pleasantly surprised by a day long stream of more than 9,500 guests. Overall impressions of the terminal were very positive.

The second goal of providing charitable contributions to selected local charities was met with the five charities: Charles Wright Museum, First Step, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army and Travelers Aid Society sharing over $70,000 in donations.

For those of you that participated in the Charity Preview Event on Friday September 5, 2008 a portion of the cost of your ticket may be deductable for tax purposes as a contribution to a charity. Rules for charitable contributions are codified in publication 526, catalog number 15050A of the Internal Revenue Service Code, which states: If you receive a benefit as a result of making a contribution to a qualified organization, you can deduct only the amount of your contribution that is more than the value of the benefit you receive. If you pay more than fair value market value to a qualified organization for merchandise, goods or services, the amount you pay that is more than the value of the item can be a charitable contribution. For the excess amount to qualify, you must pay it with the intent to make a charitable contribution.

The fair market value of the North Terminal Charity Preview Event was $40.00 per person. Please seek the advice of a tax professional if you have any questions regarding charitable gifts.

Thank you for your support.

Lester W. Robinson
Chief Executive Officer