United Way and St. Bernards Partner for 4th annual CA$H Event
| From: Feb 2nd, 2013 @ 9:00 am To: Feb 2nd, 2013 @ 4:00 pm | < Previous Page |
United Way and St. Bernards Partner for 4th annual CA$H Event
Northeast Arkansas----United Way of Northeast Arkansas will be kicking off is Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program at the 4thannual CA$H event Saturday, February 2nd. At this event, St. Bernards will celebrate Heart Health Month with a free healthy heart screenings.
When approached in 2009 by the IRS, United Way staff members learned that more than $4 million in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) are never claimed by workers in the Jonesboro area. Understanding the impact that amount of money can make to families and to the local economy United Way started their first VITA program.
Nanette Heard, United Way Executive Director, said “St. Bernards has been very supportive of this program from the first year by providing the free heart health checks and now providing St. Bernards auditorium as well.” That is in part thanks to Michael Givens, now Chief Operating Officer at St. Bernards Medical Center, who also saw the impact this program could make to the local community. This partnership became CA$H or Creating Awareness of Savings and Health.
Although an estimated four out of five eligible workers get EITC, one in five still miss it. That is either because they don’t claim the credit when filing, or do not file a return at all. Last year, in Arkansas alone, EITC returned close to $740 million dollar to over 300,000 workers.
With the exception of some disability income, people must work to qualify for EITC. Anyone who earns less than $50,270 from wages, self-employment or farming may be eligible for EITC and can get free help preparing their return. EITC varies by income, family size and filing status. For people without children, it can mean up to $475 and for those with three or more qualifying children up to $5,891.
EITC is a valuable but complex tax break for working families, but free help is at hand in one of two ways. IRS certified volunteers will be available on a first come first served basis at St. Bernards Auditorium, 505 E. Washington in Jonesboro on Saturday, February 2nd from 9am to 4pm. After the CA$H event, appointments will be open on Friday and Saturday mornings through April 6.
United Way of Northeast Arkansas, 407 Union, Jonesboro, AR 870-935-3658
GIVE. | ADVOCATE. | VOLUNTEER. | LIVE UNITED™