PHOENIX
(Dec. 8, 2009) — With
2009 quickly coming to a close, many people are looking for a way to ease their
tax burden. A donation to Catholic Charities Community Services can help. Gifts
can qualify for a dollar-for-dollar working poor state tax credit and a federal
income tax deduction.
"I wish more people
realized how the tax credit benefits not only them, but also our community's
most needy," said Ed Beardsley, development director for Catholic
Charities."It's a real win-win situation—even if you owe no taxes, you
receive your tax credit back as a refund and if you do owe taxes, you reduce
your taxes dollar for dollar."
Married couples filing jointly
can save up to $400 on their state taxes; single filers can save up to
$200, when they itemize. Donations made to Catholic Charities through
midnight Dec. 31 can qualify.
Donations to Catholic
Charities Community Services stay in Arizona to serve the community's most vulnerable—individuals and
families, like the Santanas. Mary and Mike Santana were living with their
grandson in a dilapidated travel trailer without heat or air conditioning. They
were thousands of dollars in debt and struggled to make ends meet.
Through Catholic
Charities' Project HOPE (Help Out of Poverty forEver) program, the Santanas
learned to make sound financial decisions, allowing them to pay down $4,000
of their debt in a little less than a year. They were also helped by Catholic
Charities' housing program and are now in permanency housing, continuing to
pay down their debt, and working toward long term financial independence and
stability.
"With Project HOPE, we
are not just giving a man a fish—or even teaching him to fish—we are literally
trying to change the fishing industry," said Tom Egan, divisional director
for Catholic Charities. "The Santanas' story illustrates how this
program gives people the tools and support they need to truly transform their
lives and move from poverty to financial stability."
Make qualifying donations
online through midnight on Dec. 31, 2009 with a credit card at
http://www.catholiccharitiesaz.org/catholiccharities/400taxdonation.aspx.
About Catholic Charities Community Services
Founded in 1933, Catholic Charities Community Services is one of Arizona's oldest social service
organizations, serving people of all backgrounds and faiths with a diverse array
of social services to strengthen families, protect and nurture children, and to
support people in crisis. Impacting the lives of more than 80,000 people in
central and northern Arizona every year, Catholic Charities Community Services
is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Children and Family Services
and is a member organization of Catholic Charities USA. To learn more visit
CatholicCharitiesAZ.org.
# # #
Media Contact:
Laura Toussaint-Newkirk
Communications and Marketing Manager
602.650.4830
ltoussaint@cc-az.org