Prepare + Prosper and the Claim it! campaign kick of tax season with a 24-hour “Taxathon” during their busiest weekend.
Contacts:
Taylor Putz, Prepare + Prosper
651-262-2160 (desk) 920-904-4395 (cell)
taylor@prepareandprosper.org
Marsha Pitts-Phillips, Greater Twin Cities United Way
612-340-7401 (desk) 612-408-7828 (cell)
Marsha.Pitts-Phillips@gtcuw.org
WHAT: Prepare + Prosper holds marathon tax preparation “Taxathon” at peak of tax season. Volunteers will provide free tax prep services to hundreds in two-day push resulting in more than a half million dollars in “claimed” tax credits, including Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) for hardworking families. Short program and countdown with government and nonprofit leaders will kick-off the event, which is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Claim it! campaign.
Prepare + Prosper is extending its hours during the “Taxathon” by opening on Friday and extending its services throughout the day on Saturday. With millions of dollars in EITC “left on the table” annually, Prepare + Prosper, along with Greater Twin Cities United Way, is encouraging eligible taxpayers to take advantage of money they earned.
WHO: Prepare + Prosper, Greater Twin Cities United Way, United Way 2-1-1. Speakers include Minnesota Department of Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly, Prepare + Prosper Executive Director Tracy Fischman, and Greater Twin Cities United Way Senior Vice President of Community Impact Meghan Barp.
WHEN: Friday, February 5, 2015
9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Preceded by short program at 8:45 a.m. including countdown to Taxathon with leaders, volunteers and tax filers)
Saturday, February 6, 2015
9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Taxathon volunteer tax prep continues
WHERE: Prepare + Prosper (located in the Court West Building)
2610 University Ave. W., Lower Level
St. Paul, MN 55114
MORE: Volunteer tax preparers, taxpayers and leadership are available for interviews.
About Claim it! – Celebrating 10 years, Claim it!, managed by Prepare + Prosper and funded by Greater Twin Cities United Way, is a statewide public awareness campaign to promote the
Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax preparation for hardworking Minnesotans. For more information, call 651-262-2160 or United Way 2-1-1.
About Prepare + Prosper – Prepare + Prosper is a nonprofit focused on financial capability for low-income households. It provides free tax preparation and access to financial services and products; builds the capacity of other organizations providing these services; and works to advance policies and practices that directly benefit the people it serves. In 2015, 555 volunteers prepared taxes for 13,256 taxpayers who received $25 million in refunds; 1,000 of those taxpayers committed to saving $1.6 million of their refunds.
About Greater Twin Cities United Way – Ranked as Minnesota’s largest nongovernmental social services funder, Greater Twin Cities United Way collaborates with business, government and nonprofit organizations to build pathways out of poverty by working in two areas – Safety Net and Education & Jobs. More than 715,000 people in the metro area live at or near poverty. Learn how to Give, Advocate, or Volunteer at https://www.gtcuw.org/. Find out about our free, 24-hour statewide multilingual information and referral service, United Way 2-1-1 at https://www.211unitedway.org/. Greater Twin Cities United Way serves Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott and western Washington counties. For more information call (612) 340-7400.
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