Founding Sponsors

Don* and Janet Hevey

2009/2010 Cornerstone Sponsor

2009/2010 Gold Sponsors

2009/2010 Community Partners

UNITED WAY VITA VOLUNTEERS HELPED BRING BACK $1.3 MILLION INTO THE POCKETS OF HARD-WORKING PEOPLE

United Way completed a successful second year with their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free Tax Assistance Program, reaching more than double the Sarasota and DeSoto County residents and increasing the total amount of returns by 57%. United Way operated 9 sites with locations in Sarasota, Laurel, Venice, North Port, Englewood, and Arcadia.

823 tax returns were prepared free of charge by 59 VITA volunteers with $1,343,919 in total refunds. 36% of all the client returns prepared claimed Earned Income Credit (EITC) or $484,368. VITA client, Marissa, commented on her experience, "Thank you United Way volunteers for doing my taxes for free! The money I saved on not paying a tax preparer will go a long way for this working mother!"

Tax preparation was offered by IRS-certified volunteers for hard-working families and individuals earning $49,000 or less in 2009. The goal of the program was to increase the number of residents applying for EITC and Child Tax Credits (CTC), therefore increasing the amount of their disposable income. With the current state of the economy and more Sarasota County residents out of work or with a significant loss of income, this important program helped many get back on the road to financial independence.

For additional information go to www.irs.gov and search for the keyword "EITC" or please contact:

Amy Paulishak
Community Impact Manager
United Way of Sarasota County, Inc.
1445 2nd Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: 941-366-2686 ext. 316
Fax: 941-365-4368
Email: amyp@uwsrq.com