A WIN-WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY
OPENING DOORS ONE TAX RETURN AT A TIME “I do taxes. What do you do?” asked 16-year-old Kayla
In addition to providing
Daley.
a valuable service to the community, the program
A junior at E.C. Goodwin Technical High School, Daley
opens up doors for the
is one of 40 New Britain youth certified to prepare taxes
young tax preparers.
I N C O ME
for lower-income working families. Daly was trained and provides these free services through the Volunteer Income
“The youth component
Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Human Resources
of the VITA program is
Agency (HRA) of New Britain, supported by your
rich in benefits not just
Rob Carrier, a 16-year-old New
contributions to United Way Community Investment.
to the customer but also
Britain High School student,
to the youth,” said Marlo
said the Volunteer Income Tax
VITA sites like those managed by HRA of New Britain
Greponne, director of
Assistance program enables
ensure that hard-working families get the credits and
planning and programs
him to help families while gain-
refunds they deserve. They also connect families with
for HRA of New Britain.
ing professional experience.
services to help them maximize their refund to get ahead financially.
“It’s about the opportunity for them to grow and learn about a field that is not ordinarily offered to them,” she
$15 million came back to 8,500 tax filers last
continued. “The financial industry is not normally pushed as an option for lower-income youth. To open up this field to them, and to give them an opportunity to help
year through local VITA programs because you gave to
families — that’s a win-win.”
United Way Community Investment.
“I’m pretty sure I’m the only one of my friends that knows how to do this stuff,” adds Rob Carrier, a junior at New Britain High School. “It can help me out personally
The stories can be troubling; some working families are
and professionally.”
taking care of a sick child. Others have hit rock bottom. Your contributions to United Way Community Investment
s when
“ 4
Impact Winter|Spring 2011
e c a f s ’ e opl e p n o ’ le . i 0 m 0 s 0 , e 6 k$ g th c n i a e b e g s I like r, ‘You’re gettin a e h y e h t
”
“Some of these families are working two or three jobs,
support a network of education, income, health and safety
and they’re still struggling to put food on the table,”
net services that help our neighbors build a better life for
Daley remarked.
themselves. That includes VITA programs in partnership with HRA of New Britain and Co-opportunity. VITA sites
“I like seeing the smile on people’s faces when they hear,
are also supported by the Bank of America Charitable
‘You’re getting back $6,000,’” said E.C. Goodwin junior
Foundation, the Walmart Foundation and Comcast. To
Kevin Nazario.
learn more, visit unitedwayinc.org/income.
Impact Winter|Spring 2011
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