Proportionally, President Barack Obama and Mormons give the most

Published: Monday, Jan. 30 2012 1:18 p.m. MST

President Barack Obama meets with (from left) Senator Harry Reid, Joshua DuBois, Director of the White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, LDS Church President Thomas Monson and Elder Dallin Oaks in the Oval Office, July 20, 2009. During the meeting they looked at a five volume genealogy prepared by the Church's Family History Committee.

Pete Souza, White House

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Summary

After all the talk about Mitt Romney's taxes last week, the New York Times took a good look at checkbooks and charitable giving of Romney, Newt Gingrich and President Obama. There were some interesting comparisons.

Proportionally, President Obama gave the most to charity, 14.2 percent of his $1.7 million income, while Romney donated 13.8 percent of his $21.6 million income.

Gingrich gave 2.6 percent of his $3,142,066 to charity.

All the three candidates did more than the average American, who took home a 2010 adjusted gross income of $44,619 and gave 2.1 percent given to charity.

For 2010, the contributions to charity from Americans totaled $290.9 billion, 35 percent of this going to religious groups.

Mormons give the highest percentage of their income to charity, donating 5.6 percent of their total gross income. Second place went to Pentecostal/Assemblies of God at 2.9 percent followed by other Protestant churches at 2.6 percent.

EMAIL: tackerman@desnews.com

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Pagan

Salt Lake City, UT

'After all the talk about Mitt Romney's taxes last week, the New York Times took a good look at checkbooks and charitable giving of Romney, Newt Gingrich and President Obama. There were some interesting comparisons.

Proportionally, More..

1:29 p.m. Jan. 30, 2012
Top comment

ouisc

Farmington, UT

I have to applaud Mitt Romney AND President Obama for their charitable giving! Seeing the actual numbers is inspiring!