March 2016
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|  | A big thanks to the many members of ASCEND at IU who volunteer with the Free Community Tax Service. |
Volunteers Extend Tax Help Across Community
As graduate students at IU, Alicia Wen, Serena Zhong, and Yanqi Chen are not just attending classes. By volunteering their time to file taxes for free, they are using their skills and education to make a big impact on the community.
Alicia, Serena, and Yanqi are volunteering as mobile site coordinators through United Way for the Free Community Tax Service. In this role, they meet with clients and help them file their taxes, ensuring that these low-to-moderate-income taxpayers don't overlook credits that can give them larger refunds.
"It is really meaningful to me to see people get so happy to learn about their tax returns," Alicia said. "An extra $3,000 can change their lives."
Although there are nine Free Community Tax Service locations throughout the community, the mobile sites better serve people who may have limited access to tax help. By taking this free tax service into the community, it serves people with disabilities, transportation difficulties, or language challenges, in a setting they know and trust.
"These three women are dedicated, intelligent, and wonderful site coordinators," said Jamie Kuzemka, United Way Community Initiatives Director. "They manage their sites on the weekends and continue to volunteer hours throughout the week to other tax responsibilities."
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Campaign Highlights 
We are in the home stretch of our annual campaign, but there is still time to donate or hold a workplace campaign! Join the individuals, local businesses, and organizations working to help us meet our $1.3M fundraising goal to provide much-needed support to our 25 member agencies.
Thanks to our generous donors, as of today we are at 98.5% of our fundraising goal with $1,281,083 in donations!
We're so close to reaching goal. In the next few weeks, we'll be making agency grants that will determine how much food, shelter, and medical care our community is able to provide this coming year for children, seniors, and families struggling to make ends meet.
Please join us NOW to make sure people working to help themselves have the support they need to grow, thrive, and succeed.
Thanks to these organizations for their active commitment to our community:
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General Motors is revving up our community through $6,327 in generous donations.
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Great West Casualty Company is ensuring the community's access to education, earnings stability, and the essentials by increasing their giving for the second year in a row, raising $7,746 for this year's campaign.
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Hoosier Energy is powering positive change in local lives through $5,274 in employee and corporate contributions.
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MainSource Bank is improving the financial stability of local residents with $2,848 in corporate and individual donations.
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It's not too late to have a campaign at your workplace. Want to see how you can help people grow, succeed, unite, and thrive right here in our community? Contact Resource Development Director Sarah Taylor by email or call her at (812) 334-8370.
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Upcoming Events
File your taxes for FREE and receive 100% of your refund quickly and easily.
March 23
Bloomington-Monroe County Convention Center
Lunch to recognize accomplishments of women in our community.
United Way is a proud sponsor
March 29
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
A celebration honoring community volunteers.
United Way is a proud sponsor
April 10
United Way is a proud sponsor
Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park
Community event and walk to raise support for local agencies that address homeless needs.
United Way is proud to be the fiscal sponsor
Annual worldwide celebration of the contributions of young volunteers to their communities.
United Way is a proud sponsor
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