FINANCIAL WELLNESS

United Way’s Financial Wellness programs support hard-working, low-wage earners in our community from Career to Retirement. Programs and partnerships are focused on improving employment and financial security for life-long well-being.

The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program provides free tax preparation to households earning up to $66,000. The Siemer Family Stability Program in partnership with Our Family Services and the Siemer Institute, seeks to help families in crisis stabilize and position themselves to improve their quality of life. Prosperity in Schools, in partnership with the Community Schools Initiative, Higher Ground, and AmeriCorps, helps connect families to human service resources in the community.

• $22 Million in Federal refunds returned to Arizona residents, including $11 million in Earned Income Tax Credit
• 11,770 tax returns completed by 450 volunteers in 10 Arizona counties
• 8,322 low-income households received free tax preparation services in Pima County.
• 94 homeless veterans provided with support and resources. 

MEET TRI

Each year, the VITA program helps thousands of Southern Arizonans put money back into their wallets and, in turn, back into our economy. This program is led by United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona in collaboration with Catholic Community Services, United Way of Yuma County, United Way of Pinal County, and United Way of Northern Arizona. Together, the collaborative is the largest tax preparer in the state of Arizona, serving ten of Arizona’s fifteen counties.

Tri moved from Vietnam to Tucson when he was thirteen years old. While going to classes at Pima Community College to become a tax preparer, Tri began volunteering with United Way's VITA Program as a tax preparer and was able to gain valuable experience helping hard-working, low-wage earners receive the highest tax return available to their circumstances.  In Tri's words, " By volunteering as a tax preparer, United Way has given me the opportunity to work individually and in a team to gain experience for my future career.  This experience has given me a chance to make a difference in our community.  United Way seeks to promote equity and excellence in education, financial stability, healthy communities through their important programs."