Category: Impact

United Way and BB&T Team Up for Family Economic Success Day – March 4

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Due to weather conditions, Family Economic Success Day, on Tuesday, March 4, will be delayed to start at 12:00 pm noon. If your appointment is before noon today, we will be calling you with options.

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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Dana Z. Carter
United Way of Greater Greensboro
Phone: 336-378-6617
dana.carter@unitedwaygso.org

FAMILY ECONOMIC SUCCESS DAY OFFERS FREE TAX PREPARATION, CREDIT REPORTS
Hosted by BB&T Bank and United Way of Greater Greensboro

(Greensboro, NC – February 19, 2014) – For those living paycheck to paycheck, on low to moderate income, earning, keeping, and growing one’s income is critical to financial success. United Way of Greater Greensboro knows the importance of a family’s financial health and has teamed up with BB&T Bank to host its first Family Economic Success Day, March 4, 2014. 

 

Family Economic Success Day will offer free income tax preparation and filing services by IRS-certified volunteer income tax preparers. Free tax preparation is available to those whose households earned $52,000 or less in 2013. The BB&T Bus will be parked at United Way of Greater Greensboro, 1500 Yanceyville, and will serve as a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site for the day. Plus, BB&T will be offering free credit reports to those who qualify. Appointments preferred. Walk-ins are also welcome.

 

“A family’s financial stability could mean the difference of keeping $200 in the bank instead of paying to have your taxes prepared and filed,” says Michelle Gethers-Clark, CEO and president of United Way of Greater Greensboro. “United Way offers free tax preparation services because we support the financial health of families. Saving $200 today means money in the bank to avoid a crisis tomorrow.”

 

WHAT: Family Economic Success Day
hosted by United Way of Greater Greensboro and BB&T

 

WHEN: Tuesday, March 4, 2014
9:00am-6:00pm – last appointment available at 5:30pm.
To make an appointment for free tax preparation, please call Sarah Glover at 336-378-5036 or emailsarah.glover@unitedwaygso.org

Workshops during the day include:

12:15-1:15pm: Smart Cents, by Consumer Credit Counseling Service
2:00pm-3:00pm: Professional Development: Ticket to a Better Future, by Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina
3:30-4:30pm: Financial Solutions by BB&T
All Day: Budgeting and Goal Consultations by Greensboro Asset Building Coalition
WHERE: United Way of Greater Greensboro, 1500 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro, NC 27405
WHO QUALIFIES: Households earning $52,000 or less in 2013 qualify for free tax preparation and credit reports on this day.
IMPORTANT! WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING: To receive free tax preparation services, you must bring with you a photo ID for all adults in the household, all W2s and tax documents, social security or ITIN cards for every person in the household.
SPONSORED BY: United Way of Greater Greensboro, BB&T Bank, VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)/IRS, Consumer Credit Counseling Service (a division of Family Service of the Piedmont), Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina
VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED: United Way is still staffing volunteers to help with the Family Economic Success Day. If you or your community service group are interested in serving as a volunteer income tax preparer on March 4, please contact Radiah Pinckney at United Way of Greater Greensboro: 336-378-6606 or radiah.pinckney@unitedwaygso.org for more information.
PAPER DONATIONS NEEDED: United Way is asking donation of 8-1/2”x11” white paper to support the ongoing work of the VITA program this year. If you would like to donate, please contact Julie Longmire at 336-378-5023 or Julie.longmire@unitedwaygso.org.
For those unable to attend the Family Economic Success Day on March 4, please call 2-1-1 to find another VITA site that could assist you with free income tax preparation and filing.
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LIVE UNITED
United Way of Greater Greensboro advances the common good by supporting programs, initiatives, member agencies, and partners meeting critical needs in our community in the areas of education, income, and health. United Way is a worldwide network in 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. To give, advocate and volunteer, visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org.

NEWS RELEASE: United Way of Greater Greensboro Raises Awareness About Earned Income Tax Credit, Offers Free Tax Preparation

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NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Dana Z. Carter
United Way of Greater Greensboro
Phone: 336-378-6617
dana.carter@unitedwaygso.org

(Greensboro, NC – January 31, 2014) – Working families may get a larger tax refund this year because of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), but to get it, they must claim it. January 31 marks the 8th National EITC Awareness Day, and United Way of Greater Greensboro is reminding taxpayers that free tax preparation services are available in our community if your household earned $58,000 or less in 2013.

In tax year 2012, more than 27 million workers received $67 billion in EITC refunds. Also that year, in Guilford County approximately $750,000 was claimed for EITC out of over $2.8 million that was returned to our taxpayers through free tax preparation services. In recent years, more than 1 in 5 tax returns from North Carolina were able to claim EITC[i]. Nationwide, millions of people miss out on EITC because they do not claim it on their tax return or they are not required to file taxes.

“Our community’s free tax preparation services will help many families get EITC and the maximum refund they’re due,” says Frank McCain, vice president of community investment and impact at United Way of Greater Greensboro. “This is money they can save or use to pay off bills, buy that car to get to work or make a down payment on a home.”

Here’s how to get started:

STEP 1: Find out if you qualify for EITC.
If you worked last year and had income of less than $51,567 you should check out your eligibility for EITC. For more information about EITC, including eligibility details, visit www.irs.gov/Individuals/EITC-Home-Page–It’s-easier-than-ever-to-find-out-if-you-qualify-for-EITC. You can also receive general guidance by calling MyFreeTaxes at 1-855-MY-TX-HELP (1-855-698-9435). On average, EITC adds $2,300 to working families’ refunds. It can mean an additional $487 for people without children up to $6,044 for those with three or more qualifying children.

STEP 2: If you qualify, make sure you get your credit and save on fees by filing for free.
Locations that offer free tax preparation can be found by dialing 2-1-1, United Way’s Information and Referral line. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers are trained by the Internal Revenue Service and can help households that earned $52,000 or less in 2013 prepare their taxes for free and claim the EITC and other tax benefits.

Individuals in households earning up to $58,000 can also file their returns for themselves online throughwww.MyFreeTaxes.com/Greensboro, provided by H&R Block in cooperation with the Walmart Foundation, Goodwill Industries International, National Disability Institute, and United Way Worldwide. Taxpayers filing online have access to tax law experts through online chat or a toll-free phone number.

In addition, many EITC eligible individuals may not receive their full refund because of costly fees from paid tax preparers. For families who are walking a financial tightrope, saving $200 or more can make a big difference in preventing a financial crisis. By helping families make every dollar go farther, United Way is offering solutions that move people towards financial independence and a better quality of life. Call 2-1-1 for details.

On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, United Way will hold a Family Economic Success event featuring free tax preparation services, financial management workshops, and free credit reports in partnership with BB&T Bank. Details coming soon.

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LIVE UNITED
United Way of Greater Greensboro advances the common good by supporting programs, initiatives, member agencies, and partners meeting critical needs in our community in the areas of education, income, and health. United Way is a worldwide network in 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. To give, advocate and volunteer, visitwww.UnitedWayGSO.org.
[i] http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/the-avenue/posts/2012/11/19-eitc-taxes-kneebone

PRESS RELEASE: United Way of Greater Greensboro Awards $275,000 in Grants to Address Community Needs

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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

CONTACT

Dana Ziolkowski Carter

United Way of Greater Greensboro

Dana.ziolkowski@unitedwaygso.org

Phone: 336-378-6617

Greensboro, NC – December 12, 2013 – United Way of Greater Greensboro is focused on supporting solutions that improve the quality of life for all in Greater Greensboro. It does this by investing in new, promising community programs and continuing support of programs that have proven successful, to create the greatest community impact possible. United Way of Greater Greensboro is proud to continue its mission with a recent investment of $275,000 into the community.

The $275,000 investment is allocated through two grants, managed by United Way of Greater Greensboro. The Kathleen & Joseph Bryan Community Enrichment and Venture Grant (CEVG) invests in new and innovative programs; whereas, the Joseph M. Bryan Human Services Grant provides stabilization and expansion grants for programs already demonstrating success. Applicants that met the respective grant eligibility requirements participated in an open RFP process in April 2013.

“These investments help us to advance solutions for our community’s greatest needs through both exciting, new programs and programs with a proven track record,” says Michelle Gethers-Clark, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Greensboro. “It’s inspiring to take a chance on a new program and watch it grow into something amazing for our community.”

 

Grantees were selected because of their work to improve the quality of life of Greater Greensboro residents. Grantees are working to ensure every child enters school healthy, safe and ready to succeed in school and in life. They are supporting families through opportunities to increase income, build savings, and access resources to prevent and minimize crisis. Grantees are also helping residents live healthy lives by providing information and resources, removing barriers to healthcare and connecting them to local available resources.

United Way leverages the expertise and commitment of community volunteers at every level of the grant process. Each grant has a committee of volunteers that reviews applications and makes the investment recommendation for approval by the United Way of Greater Greensboro Board of Directors.

For information about our annual grants and future RFPs, visit www.unitedwaygso.org/nonprofits/.

Grantees supporting children and youth through education include:

Guilford Child Development: Learning Together Family Literacy Project: $15,000

NCCJ of the Piedmont Triad: ANYDAY™ – $15,000

Black Child Development: Freedom School – $10,000

Back Pack Beginnings: Food Back Pack Program – $22,000

Back Pack Beginnings: Comfort Back Pack Program – $7,500

 

Grantees supporting individuals and families to become financially stable and independent include:

Women’s Resource Center: Women’s Financial Literacy Project – $15,000

Servant Center: Disability Assistance Program Counselor – $25,000

Interactive Resource Center: Direct Client Services – $24,000

Greensboro Urban Ministry: WE! Winter Emergency Shelter – $24,000

One Step Further: Keep it Real for Youth and Parents – $15,000

Barnabas Network: Garage Sale Storefront – $13,100

People & Paws 4 Hope: Second Chance – $15,000

Reading Connections: Detention Center Literacy – $15,000

 

Grantees supporting all individuals to lead a healthy life include:

North Carolina A&T State University: Aggie Outreach Teen Pregnancy Prevention – $6,400

Guilford County Department of Public Health: Mobile Farmers Market – $15,000

Mental Health Association of Greensboro: Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training – $15,000

Adult Center for Enrichment: Res Fit Club – $12,000

Mary’s House: Integrated Health Care for Homeless Children – $11,000

 

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LIVE UNITED

United Way of Greater Greensboro advances the common good by supporting programs, initiatives, member agencies, and partners meeting critical needs in our community in the areas of education, income, and health. United Way is a worldwide network in 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. To give, advocate and volunteer, visit www.UnitedWayGSO.org.

African American Leadership Breakfast with Community Leaders

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Join us for an annual gathering of African American Leadership members and community leaders.

Hear updates about community-based strategies that are helping young people achieve their full potential, giving families tools to become financially stable, and increasing access care to help people lead healthy lives.

Due to limited capacity, registration is now closed.  If you would like to attend, please contact Artis Farrington at 336-378-6600 or Artis.Farrington@UnitedWayGSO.org  to be added to the waiting list. All wait listed individuals will be notified by Wed., Nov. 27th regarding your attendance status.

For more information about African American Leadership or this event, contact Radiah.Pinckney@UnitedWayGSO.org.

Save Money On Medical Expenses with Coast2Coast Rx Card

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Many families in our community walk a financial tightrope — one unanticipated expense on medical care or other necessities may place a large stress on the family budget. United Way of Greater Greensboro knows that helping people avoid financial crises and maintain good health improves quality of life for all.

United Way of Greater Greensboro is partnering with Coast2Coast  Rx Card, a medical discount card that benefits individuals and our community.

With no restrictions on age, income status, or existing health conditions, the benefits of the card extend to everyone: Those without insurance, the underinsured, and those with high deductibles or prescriptions not covered by their health plan.

In addition to prescription drug discounts, the Coast2Coast card offers a wide range of discounts on dental, vision, hearing, veterinary services, diabetic equipment and supplies, lab and imaging services as well as discounts on most pet prescriptions – the ones that can be filled at a pharmacy.   The card benefits individuals or the entire family; is printed in English and Spanish with no paperwork to complete; there is no fee ever charged for the card; there are no age, income or other exclusions and no expiration date.

Every time the card is used to fill a prescription, the user will receive an average 65% discount and the United Way of Greater Greensboro will receive a $1.25 donation for investment in local health services.  The more the cards are used, the greater the investment.

The card is easy to get and easy to use. To get your Coast2Coast Rx Card, visit the C2C website, United Way’s office (1500 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro), or many community partners.

For more information please contact Crystal Broadnax, MS, Community Investment Specialist Health, at 336-378-5024 or Crystal.broadnax@unitedwaygso.org.

VITA Tax Prep Volunteers Needed

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United Way of Greater Greensboro is looking for volunteers who are interested in helping improve financial stability in our community.

Did you know 1 in 2 North Carolinians lack the savings to cover basic expenses for three months if unemployment, a medical emergency or other crisis leads to a loss of stable income? (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, 2010)

Volunteers are needed to help low- to moderate-income families file their taxes through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Volunteers will file federal and state income tax returns for free for people who make $53,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns.

Many low- to moderate-income families pay $200 or more for tax preparation services. When you’re walking a financial tightrope, saving $200 or more can make a big difference in preventing a financial crisis.  By helping families make every dollar go farther, United Way is offering solutions that move people towards financial independence and a better quality of life.

As a volunteer, you will meet with taxpayers, answer their questions, prepare returns online with the information they provide. It takes 30 minutes to prepare a simple return. Volunteers are expected to commit to 12-30 hours during the tax filing season, but exact hours are flexible. There are several locations throughout Greensboro.

The software does all the math for you; no prior accounting or tax knowledge needed. All training is provided by the IRS. Volunteers must pass a test online in order to be certified, and agree to Standards of Conduct. You should be friendly, able to think logically, an accurate typist, and have basic computer and Internet skills.

To apply as a VITA Tax Prep Volunteer, contact Sarah Glover by email (Sarah.Glover@UnitedWayGSO.org) to indicate your interest, and further details will be provided.

Click here to read through a few frequently asked questions. For more information, contact Sarah Glover at 336-378-5036 or Sarah.Glover@UnitedWayGSO.org.