EWC Volunteer Income Tax VITA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 14, 2008
Contact: Karen Landry
Executive Director
War on Poverty - Florida, Inc.
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Phone: (904) 766-7275 (office) (904) 766-7276 (fax)
http://www.waronpoverty.org
or
Edward Waters College
Dr. Anna Hammond
Assistant Provost
Phone: (904) 470-8050 FAX: (904) 470-8023

EWC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Site Grand Opening!
 

Did you know an estimated $16 million Earned Income Tax Credit benefits are unclaimed?  As a result, more than $18 million dollars are lost to the community. 

 

According to the Jacksonville Community Asset Analysis, more than 8,000 eligible families residing in Northwest Jacksonville may not have claimed their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refunds, leaving more than $16 million on the table.

 

Edward Waters College (EWC) and the War on Poverty-Florida (WPF) formed a partnership to focus concentrated efforts on growing the asset base in Northwest Jacksonville.  Working collaboratively with the United Way’s Real Sense Prosperity Campaign, and the Internal Revenue Service, EWC celebrated the opening of the Schell Sweet Community Resource Center’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) free income tax preparation site.

 

Every year, thousands of Northwest Jacksonville residents miss out on opportunities to receive unclaimed benefits.  Through the outstanding efforts of the Real Sense Prosperity Campaign, community awareness of the EITC is promoted, and free income tax preparation sites were opened to encourage residents to take advantage of the benefits.

 

EWC’s President, Dr. Claudette Williams understands the need to address the common barriers to developing assets and building wealth.   EWC is taking an active role as a viable community resource, developing assets in Northwest Jacksonville, creating access to resources, advancing knowledge, and participating in public and partnerships that are vital to the growth of residents in the community.

 

WPF works closely with EWC to attract resources and investments to the college to advance financial education and other asset building programs to strengthen the community create opportunities to increase internship opportunities for students, and develop the capacity of faculty and staff.

 The EWC Schell Sweet Community Resource Center opened the doors to its VITA site, and provides free income tax preparation by appointment only on Mondays from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. through April 15^th.  The VITA site is manned by students, faculty and staff who are trained tax preparers. 

To schedule an appointment, call (904) 470-8012.   <Top of Page >