Hannibal, MO -- Hannibal is gearing up for its biggest event yet...a year-long celebration of Mark Twain.

2010 is being called the "Year of Twain."

It marks 100 years since the famous author's death and 175 years since his birth.

Next year is also significant because The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum needs your help in order to keep it running.

The museum is looking to raise $10 million dollars by the end of 2010.

And those looking to benefit on 2009 tax returns, *now* would be the time to donate.

So if you are still in the giving spirit here's how you can help.

One is by NAP or Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits to help restore buildings like the Becky Thatcher House...which they hope to complete by next summer.

People can also symbolically whitewash' Tom Sawyer's fence and sign their names on it for as little as ten dollars.

"The local residents who have taken care of these properties have done a wonderful job. We have 8 buildings that they have acquired and preserved down through the years, but what we haven't done yet is grow our endowment sufficiently to yield our operational cost and this is something we really became aware of during the economic downturn," said  Dr. Cindy Lovell, executive director of the museum.

NAP provides Missouri tax credits in the amount of 50% of the gift, and donors are also entitled to receive the full federal tax deduction.

The museum has about 75 thousand dollars left to give in NAP credits.

For more information contact Dr. Lovell, at 573-221-9010, ext. 402.

Or go to www.marktwainmuseum.org

For more on Nap credits follow this link  www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=308029