Press Release

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For release February 22, 2005

High school students will be spreading the word about a free program that helps low-to moderate-income residents in Contra Costa apply for millions of dollars in unclaimed tax refunds.

Teens with The Volunteer Center in Walnut Creek will distribute informational fliers about Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Contra Costa (EIKISI). The program offers free tax services to families and individuals who earn less than $36,000 annually and may qualify for federal Earned Income Tax and Child Care credits.

Many people are unaware of the tax credits and the money goes unclaimed. As much as $15 million in credits may be available in Contra Costa County this year, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The students will pass out the fliers from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, February 27 at the Albertson's store located at 1751 Monument Boulevard., Concord. Other students at De Anza High School in Richmond also plan to distribute the fliers on another date, said Joan Tomasini, program director for The Volunteer Center.

"It's exciting that these young people want to get involved in such a worthy cause helping families and individuals keep more of their hard-earned money," she said.

Last year, the tax program assisted 1,300 families or individuals in collecting $1,350,000 in tax credits, an average of more than $900 per return.

The tax services are being offered at several sites through the tax season ending April 15. The sites are open weekdays, evenings and Saturdays and locations include Oakley, Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Concord, Martinez, Richmond, San Pablo and Rodeo. Translators in several languages will be available at some sites.

For more information about the sites and Earn It! Keep It! Save It!, visit cchealth.org/services/tax or call 800-358-8832.

The tax program is sponsored by the Family Economic Security Partnership (FESP).
FESP is a public, private and nonprofit collaboration that includes the Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department, Contra Costa Health Services, United Way of the Bay Area, First Five Contra Costa, IRS, RichmondWORKS/City of Richmond and East Bay Community Foundation.

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