President Barack Obama gave $1,500, or 0.3 percent of his income, to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., according to his 2013 tax return. The tax return, made public on Friday and filed jointly with first lady Michelle Obama, shows Obama’s income for the year was $503,183. In Schedule A, under “cash contributions,” the $1,500 donation to St. John’s is listed. According to press reports, the Obamas and their daughters Malia and Shasha have attended the church for Easter services and on the mornings of the presidential inauguration ceremonies in 2009 and 2013. Press Secretary Jay Carney wroteabout the Obamas’ tax return in a blog posted on the White House website on Friday, where he noted the president’s $59,251 in donations for the year to 32 charities. “The President and First Lady also reported donating $59,251 – or about 12.3 percent of their adjusted gross income – to 32 different charities,” Carney said in the blog. “The largest reported gift to charity was $8,751 to the Fisher House Foundation.” The second largest contribution made by the Obamas was a $5,000 gift to their daughters’ school, Sidwell Friends School. The Obamas donated $4,000 to the American Red Cross and $2,000 to CARE, a world hunger advocacy organization. The other donations ranged from $1,000 to $1,500, the latter amount being donated to St. John’s and a number of other charitable organizations, including the National AIDS Fund and the Washington Humane Society. The St. John’s website says that it is known as “The Church of the Presidents,” with every president since James Madison attending the church at some point during their administration, according to author Richard Grimmett in his book a<"http://www.amazon.com/St-Johns-Church-Lafayette-Square/kenyabitter02-21"/>
By Strive Masiyiwa A few weeks ago I went to the doctor. I will tell you what he said about my health at the end, but first read this: Twenty years ago, I arranged to meet a well-known British international businessman who invested a lot in Africa at the time. We agreed to meet for dinner at a leading hotel in London. After a good meeting, we started to walk out of the restaurant when he suddenly collapsed in the lobby. There was total pandemonium as they rushed to get medical assistance. Being London, an ambulance arrived in minutes. I jumped in the back with him as paramedics wrestled to keep him alive. He had had a heart attack and had to have triple bypass heart surgery. Sadly he died a few weeks later. He hadn't been sick and his sudden death surprised everyone. And yet as I reflected on it, and later discussed it with a doctor friend who knew him, I realized he was very laid back about his health despite having a hectic business life. Even during our dinner...
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