May 9, 2007

Letter to the Editor

Rockland Journal News

Dear Editor:

One of the key concerns identified by Rocklanders in the United Way of Rockland County’s 2006 Community Assessment Survey was the inability for many to meet their basic needs. In an effort to address this issue, the United Way implemented its Tax Assistance Program (TAP).

TAP provides free tax preparation by IRS-certified volunteers to those who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), as well as other tax credits that may be available to them, by filing their federal and state tax returns. One of the most critical problems facing many of Rockland’s residents is the gap between their take –home wages and necessary expenses for basic needs. The federal and state EITC help fill that gap by using tax policy to return to these families more of their earned income. The United Way’s commitment to TAP underscores its dedication to long-term sustainable solutions.

This is the second year that the United Way of Rockland County spearheaded the TAP effort. In 2007, 55 United Way TAP volunteers helped recoup a total of $307,962 in refunds for Rocklanders, a significant increase over 2006’s total of approximately $145,000.

The United Way had a number of partners who worked to assure the success of TAP including Union State Bank and Rockland Community College which donated space to set up TAP sites. The Herman Goldman Foundation and Bank of America provided funding for materials including ads, flyers and more. The Palisades Federal Credit Union purchased ad space and produced signs for Rockland’s buses. Thanks, too, to the county’s Department of Transportation for working with the United Way on getting the TAP message out. The key component to the success of TAP is the volunteers who put in significant hours to be trained and then to prepare tax claims. Thank you very much to Temple Beth Torah for its assistance in volunteer recruitment.

Looking ahead, the United Way will be outreaching to other non-profits and faith-based organizations to get the word out about TAP 2008. TAP is a terrific program that helps meet an important need right here in Rockland by putting money into people’s pockets -- money that is spent supporting local shops and businesses. That’s what the United Way is all about: making a positive difference in our community.

Sincerely,

Howard Hellman

Chairman of the UWRC Board