Citizens Bank Foundation awards $25,000 grant to PathWaysPA for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Delaware County program to help taxpayers in low-income communities

PHILADELPHIA (March 8, 2006) - Citizens Bank Foundation announced today that it will award a $25,000 grant to PathWaysPA to fund the Educate and Save Your Tax Refund Program (EASYTRP) pilot program in Delaware County. The program offers free tax preparation at 10 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites throughout the county. The Citizens Bank Foundation grant will provide program support to the volunteer advisors who are providing tax preparation services for people who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

"We are grateful to the Citizens Bank Foundation for its support of this important program," said Carol Goertzel, President and CEO of PathWaysPA. "Many families in Delaware County do not have the resources they need to prepare and file their taxes appropriately. The VITA sites allow our tax preparers to help these families at no cost to them."

The Earned Income Tax Credit is often considered the federal government's most successful anti-poverty program because it is targeted primarily at low-income wage earners with children. For tax year 2005, the EITC may offer a family with two qualifying children a refund of as much as $4,400. This same family can also file for Pennsylvania Tax Forgiveness andmayincrease their tax refund even more. Using the EASYTRP pilot program, tax returns will be filed electronically and tax refunds will be directly deposited. In addition to charging no fee for these services, the EASYTRP program is also intended to discourage the use of high-interest Rapid Anticipation Loans that many commercial preparers market to those eligible for the EITC.

"We are pleased to be part of this important program in Delaware County," said Stephen D. Steinour, Chairman and CEO of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. "Citizens is committed to investing in the financial futures of local families and communities. The VITA sites and their tax preparation volunteers will help to improve the financial status of low-income families in Delaware County, assisting them on their road to self-sufficiency."

PathwaysPA's participation in the VITA sites and the EASYTRP pilot is through a consortium led by the Delaware County Asset Development Group, which focuses on Delaware County's "Renaissance Communities" of Chester City, Upper Darby Township and Darby Borough and to residents of the Chester Housing Authority and the Delaware County Housing Authority. The group also includes IRS advisors, several local universities and community organizations, and one credit union.

There are 10 VITA sites located throughout Delaware County that electronically file returns to the Internal Revenue Service. Volunteers are certified by the IRS and encourage taxpayers to use direct deposit so their refunds are electronically transferred into their accounts. Each site is open to the public and offers free tax preparation and assistance to families that have earned income of less than $ 40,000 a year. The site locations and hours of operation are as follows:

The Delaware County Asset Development Group hopes to serve at least 650 taxpayers for a cumulative target refund amount of $1 million by the end of the current tax season. The program runs through April 15, 2006, and anyone interested should call the site directly for an appointment.

About the Citizens Bank Foundation

Citizens Bank Foundation is a charitable contributions vehicle of Citizens Bank. The foundation's support is focused on housing, community development and basic human needs.

About PathWaysPA

PathWaysPA provides services to low-income families living in the Greater Philadelphia area through a wide range of programs, including residential services, teen mentoring, truancy, education and training, advocacy, and social services.

About The Delaware County Asset Development Group (DelCoAD)

The Delaware County Asset Development Group (DelCoAD) is an information-sharing group for anyone working to improve the lives of low-income individuals and families in Delaware County through asset development. The Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) convenes this group.

Site Map  |  Privacy  |  Security  |  Terms of Use
© Copyright 2008 Citizens Financial Group. All rights reserved.
Citizens Bank is a brand name of RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. Citizens Bank is a division of RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank accounts and other RBS Citizens, N.A. accounts are not separately insured by the FDIC. Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is not part of RBS Citizens, N.A.
Member FDIC