How much did President Obama and the first lady make last year? According to a White House press release, the couple reported adjusted gross income of $1,728,096 for 2010 and paid $454,000 in federal taxes.

A large chunk of those earnings came from royalties from Obama’s first two books, “Dreams From My Father” and “The Audacity of Hope.” Mr. Obama earns $400,000 a year as U.S. president.

The Obama’s also reported giving away nearly a quarter-million dollars to 36 different charities, including United Negro College Fund, American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs, Central Illinois Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity.

More than half of the $245,000 they donated was given to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides services for families of deceased and disabled soldiers. All proceeds from President Obama’s most recent book, “Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters,” have also been donated to the foundation.

In 2009, the first family earned $5.5 million. The steep decline in 2010 may be due to slower book sales.

Click here to download a copy of the Obama’s return.

PHOTO ABOVE: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wait in the Blue Room of the White House before greeting recipients of the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal, March 2, 2011. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza)

Black colleges go green
The United Negro College Fund reports that America’s minority-serving institutions have joined the drive for environmental sustainability and are taking steps to conserve resources. In honor of Earth Day (Friday, April 22), UNCF released the Minority-Serving Institutions Green Report.

Highlights from the report include:

• Sixty percent of participating colleges and universities have green buildings up and running on campus or under construction.
• Ninety-six percent recycle, with 71 percent recycling paper, 63 percent recycling aluminum, and 58 percent recycling cardboard.
• Sixty-four percent of institutions with dining halls purchase local food, helping to reduce the carbon emissions associated with transporting food.
• Fifty-two percent offer free transportation around campus, off campus or both.

The report is based on survey responses received from August to October 2010. It’s intent is to inspire stewardship for the natural environment and serve as a catalog of sustainability activities already underway at colleges and universities whose mission is educating historically underserved groups.

View the UNCF Minority-Serving Institutions Green Report.

Starbucks will give away free coffee
Also in honor of Earth Day, Starbucks is giving away free brewed coffee and tea. The only catch is, you have to bring in one of their travel mugs. If you don’t have one, you can purchase one for 20 percent off. The goal is to save on waste from disposable cups and lids.

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