Earlier this year I wrote to alert folks to the congressional reinstatement of the right during 2011 to make contributions to charity from individual IRA accounts. Today I write to alert you that this provision of the law expires on Dec. 31 unless extended.

My purpose is twofold. First, to remind you that if you are at least 70 and a half you have until the end of the year to use a portion of your IRA account for charitable gifts. An ordinary withdrawal of IRA funds triggers the payment of income tax, but holders of age can make direct tax-free charitable transfers of up to $100,000.

This is the time of year that many of us are considering appeals from worthy charities, and IRA funds are an option for those who are at least 70. The Community Foundation provides financial support to many of the county charitable organizations, as does the United Way.

I write as well to urge you to contact your senators and congressional representatives to support an extension of this provision for 2012. Millions of Americans have, thanks to decades of deliberate savings, invested more than $4 trillion in their individual retirement accounts.

These assets are vulnerable to heavy taxation as part of an estate, and they can be taxed again as income of the heirs. They are therefore some of the most tax-effective assets to distribute to charity.

Without an extension of the soon-to-expire provision for charitable contributions, there will be a disincentive to give IRA money to charity during one’s lifetime , because IRA withdrawals are subject to income tax, even when given to charity. The right to make contributions to charity from an IRA account is an important tax-planning tool, and really is a win-win for the individual and for our charitable community. The entire dollar gets used, not just the part left over after taxes.

I encourage anyone who has an IRA to consider taking advantage of this giving opportunity during the remainder of 2011. You may contact me at the Centre County Community Foundation or discuss your personal situation with a tax adviser.

I further encourage all of us to do what we can through our elected representatives in Congress to enact the needed legislation for extension of the Public Good IRA Rollover provision.

Alfred Jones Jr. is executive director of the Centre County Community Foundation, Inc. He can be reached at ajones@centrecountycf.org.