Campaign for Financial Fitness

Save - Earn - Learn: Indy's Campaign for Financial Fitness

Indy's Campaign for Financial Fitness Receives Funding Boost

"Save - Earn - Learn: Indy's Campaign for Financial Fitness" will receive a $105,000 boost in funding through a grant provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as part of the agency's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

The campaign, announced in October, 2008 and scheduled to launch in January, 2009, is a collaboration among community stakeholders to provide free tax preparation to those who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), financial fitness coaching during tax season, and continued financial fitness education throughout 2009.

VITA grants were awarded to organizations that provide free federal tax return preparation and electronic filing for low to moderate income individuals. For tax year 2008, individuals and families with an adjusted gross income of $42,000 are eligible for assistance.

"This grant is significant, because it will increase the impact of contributions received to-date, and because it will ease the financial burden on our community centers that provide much-needed financial fitness education in our city," said Indianapolis First Lady Winnie Ballard.

"The John H. Boner Community Center is excited about the upcoming tax season. With the increased support from Mrs. Ballard along with United Way of Central Indiana's commitment to expand the Save - Earn - Learn initiative, we are confident that more Marion County residents will take advantage of the various financial education services," said Katie Pfeffer, Executive Director of the John H. Boner Center.

Guidelines for the grant provide that funds may be used to enable VITA programs to extend services to under-served populations and hardest to reach areas -- both urban and non-urban, to increase the capacity to file returns electronically, to heighten quality control of free tax prep programs, to enhance volunteer training, and to improve the accuracy of returns prepared at VITA sites.

Other organizations that have contributed to the Save - Earn - Learn initiative include the Indianapolis Foundation, United Way of Central Indiana, local financial institutions, and community centers.

Individuals interested in volunteering to assist community centers with tax prep and other financial fitness services may visit www.uwci.org/volunteer to register.