Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Partnership Recognized at Maryland’s 33rd Governor’s Service Award

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 24, 2016

Montgomery County Community Action Agency’s (CAA) VITA Partnership received the prestigious “Community of Service” award at the 33rd Annual Governor’s Service Awards for its “significant volunteer contributions to the state and its people, changing Maryland for the better.” The award category recognizes Maryland cities, town, townships or other identified communities that mobilize volunteers to meet pressing needs.

The Community Action Agency’s VITA Partnership, part of the County’s Department of Health & Human Services, was recognized for engaging 122 volunteers who served 2,543 households in the last year, including 1,881 households during tax season. Taxpayers received more than $4.9 million in refunds or credits, including approximately $2 million in federal Child Tax Credits (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), the Maryland EITC, and Montgomery's Working Families Income Supplement. Taxpayers, including the self-employed, were expected to return over $1 million in state and federal taxes (owed). Taxpayers participating saved almost $700,000 through VITA’s free tax services.

The VITA Program is now recruiting volunteers for the upcoming 2016 tax season. Volunteers may serve as tax preparers, greeters, interpreters, hunger resource navigators, schedulers, site coordinators, and quality reviewers. To volunteer, call 240-777-1123, or visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cashback/volunteer.html

Pictured l to r: Ron Jennings, vice-chair of the Community Action Board and chair of CAFE Montgomery; Adeyinka Taiwo, Volunteer Maryland coordinator (AmeriCorps), Bruno Marujo, VITA community fellow, Maryland CASH Campaign; Abiola Abodunrin, VITA site coordinator; Ron Hayes, VITA volunteer; the Hon. Boyd K. Rutherford, Lt. Governor of Maryland; Sharon Strauss, executive director, Community Action Agency; Taunya Johnson, VITA coordinator; Steven McAdams, executive director, Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives. http://gosv.maryland.gov/governors-service-awards-recipients-2016/

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Release ID: 16-439
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 240-777-6534