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John,
For too many Americans, Tax Day becomes another moment when people slip through the cracks of a system designed to benefit only some of us, while leaving so many others behind.
But Prosperity Now is pioneering effective community-rooted solutions to the many pitfalls that entrench racial and economic inequality in our country. And you have the power to help lead the way.
Your support will be put to work by Prosperity Now to build equitable economic power for the people who historically have been excluded from wealth building opportunities, by investing in programs like the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
COVID-19 exposed and put pressure on the financial fragility of so many people at the bottom of the income distribution. Today, as we grapple with economic uncertainty and growing wealth disparity, and as we deal as a nation with systemic racism in both subtle and overt forms, we cannot make progress by going back to “same as before”. That’s why we fought hard to establish and expand the availability of free tax preparation services and resources through the VITA program.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the VITA program became a lifeline for many struggling families who needed to file taxes to access federal stimulus payments.
In 2020, Congress fully funded VITA at $30 million for the
fiscal year 2021, resulting in a total of $2.8 billion in refunds claimed by VITA clients. That means the average VITA client received a refund of $1,630 in 2022, and for low-income Americans, that’s HUGE. It’s the kind of financial cushion that builds savings, pays bills, and provides the stability we all deserve.
This is just one way your support makes a difference, John. Every donation and every dollar plays an instrumental role in driving lasting change so that all families and communities can prosper.
I hope we can count on you today.
Thank you,
Gary Cunningham
President & CEO
Prosperity Now
