Mackinac County programs for children and parents will benefit when taxpayers check the box to make a donation to Children's Trust Fund on their 2006 income tax returns, said Deb White, Wraparound coordinator for Mackinac County. The income tax donation program supports projects that fight child abuse in the state.

Donations to the state's Children's Trust Fund (CTF) will directly benefit the Mackinac County Child Protection Roundtable, which sponsors such local programs as the Project YES summer day camp for children whose parents work, the Robert H. Nitz Mentoring Program, parent/child events, and parent education presentations.

The income tax donation program provides funding to 71 local child abuse and neglect councils, representing 81 counties.

Funds collected through voluntary donations on income tax returns each spring are sent to Lansing for equal distribution to counties, Mrs. White said. While the money raised in Mackinac County is not returned dollar-fordollar to the county, Mrs. White said, "this is actually an advantage for smaller counties like ours, as we are sharing equally in the money raised in much larger areas."

To donate a gift of $5 or more of this year's tax refund to CTF, check the box on line 30 of the Michigan tax form, and fill in the desired donation amount. The gift can be deducted on next year's tax form.

The Mackinac County Child Protection Roundtable is a county chapter of the statewide Children's Trust Fund, and has as its goal raising awareness and promoting prevention of child abuse. More information about Roundtable programs is available by calling 643- 6122.