Do-gooder deadline extended

A program that allows seniors to make charitable contributions from their individual retirement accounts was extended to 2009 as part of the financial-rescue package passed by the House and signed into law by President Bush today. The program allows those who are 70½ and older to make tax-free charitable donations up to $100,000 from their IRAs. The program expired at the end of last year, and legislation to extend it was introduced this year. The program will include donations made this year. Created two years ago by the Pension Protection Act, the charitable-rollover program produced more than $130 million in charitable gifts in 2006 and 2007, according to the Washington-based Council on Foundations Inc.