The board of directors of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA) has appointed seven industry leaders to guide the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF), a non-profit organization recently formed to receive contributions to support the work of its Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force (ACTF).
Scott Spitzer, chief executive officer of Manfra, Tordella & Brookes, will serve as president. Officers joining him include:
- Gary Linthicum, of Universal Coin and Bullion, who will serve as vice president;
- Greg Allen, of Greg Allen Coins, as secretary; and
- Philip N. Diehl, of U.S. Money Reserve, as treasurer.
“While we shall be forever grateful to those who stepped forward in our first year to support the work of our task force, we have come to realize that we can’t move forward by drawing from the same small well year after year,” said Diehl, who noted the paper work has been completed and filed and the foundation can receive contributions as it awaits final approval from the IRS. Additionally, he pointed out collectors, interested individuals and organizations can now support the task force’s work through tax-deductible contributions of cash or coins.
Other board members include:
- Robert Brueggeman, executive director of the Professional Numismatist Guild;
- Larry Baber, treasurer of the American Numismatic Association; and
- Robert Harwell, of Hancock & Harwell Rare Coins.
ICTA CONTRIBUTIONS
ICTA’s board of directors approved the formation of the new non-profit for the purposes of receiving contributions from individuals, other “501” organizations, local and regional coin clubs, grants, eBay for Charities and government agencies. Those wishing to donate to the non-profit foundation should make cheques payable to the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation and mail to P.O. Box 237, Dacula, Ga. 30019.
The foundation’s board of directors will review project proposals from ACTF to ensure that they are covered under IRS 501 regulations.
Formed in January 2017, the ACTF’s mission is to mobilize law enforcement to defend the nation’s coinage by educating officials about the economic impact and growing threat counterfeits pose to the marketplace and the public. The ACTF serves as the coin industry’s liaison with law enforcement and policy makers, assisting in the investigation and prosecution of suspects involved in all aspects of coin counterfeiting. It also provides education, expertise and other resources to law enforcement to assist in curtailing the manufacture, importation, marketing, and sale of counterfeit coins, related fakes of precious metals products and counterfeit security packaging.
The ACTF is totally funded through donations from businesses and individuals made directly to the ACEF, a not-for-profit entity that funds the work and mission of the ACTF. Make checks payable to the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation and mail to ICTA, P.O. Box 237, Dacula, GA 30019.
For information about donating, contact Beth Deisher at 567-202-1795 or beth.deisher@ictaonline.org.