Operation Hope helping to put money directly in the pockets of underserved families

Operation Hope/"Five Million Kids" helping to put money directly in the pockets of underserved families

5MK targets parents and teachers along with kids at-risk in a bid to help youth by helping families take advantage of the tax credit.

Studies indicate that there is a correlation between low-wealth and lack of formal education. OPERATION HOPE is using EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) to try and change that dynamic through its latest initiative, FIVE MILLION KIDS (5MK). By helping put money directly into the pockets of the underserved families, HOPE plans to deliver financial literacy curriculum and help a new generation of teens re-engage in learning.

Partnering with Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, a leading regulatory compliance provider serving the financial services industry, HOPE is providing professional tax preparation and federal and state filing services to Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) qualifying families this income tax season. Returns from EITC can contribute a significant amount of money to families who are struggling during these financially challenging times. For qualifying families, the return could add as much as $4,824 to their 2008 annual income. If a family is qualified and has not claimed this credit in the last 2 years, they could receive as much as $14,076.

With the support of Wolters Kluwer Financial Services and its partners, Tax Technology, Inc. and Express Tax Lane, participating HOPE Centers have designated staff to help individuals with proper documentation prepare their tax forms and have them electronically filed. Tax Technology, Inc and Express Tax Lane provide high quality tax preparation services to families across the U.S. As part of this, participants will also gain access to a number of financial literacy and education services, including credit restoration and practical money management programs, as well as the use of office equipment and computers at the HOPE Center's Inner City Cyber Ca fé, otherwise known as Operation HOPE's "Kinko's for economic empowerment".

To find out how you can take advantage of this opportunity, visit a participating HOPE Center.


For more information, please contact Steve Becker, Newman Communications at (617) 202-4119 or steve.becker@newmancom.com