Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2007

Contact: Rhonda Smith, Community Programs Manager

Telephone: 707.421.7229

Email: rsmith@childnet.org

Supervisor John Vasquez and United Way Honor Solano Tax Volunteers -- Tax Volunteers Helped Low-Wage Solano Families Claim $890,000 in Refunds

FAIRFIELD, CA, June 14, 2007 -- Supervisor John Vasquez and United Way of the Bay Area (UWBA) celebrated the achievements of Solano County volunteers at a reception in the Solano County Board of Supervisors Foyer.

Forty-three Solano County volunteers were honored for their contributions to Earn It! Keep It! Save It! (EKS), the Bay Area's largest free tax assistance program. In Solano County this year, EKS coordinated 11 free volunteer income tax assistance sites, which helped 736 of Solano's neediest families claim $890,420 in tax refunds and connect with asset-building resources.

"Thank you to all the volunteers who made this year's tax assistance program such a big success! Your efforts are helping hundreds of Solano's low-wage families get a foothold on the economic ladder, and brought back many thousands of dollars back to our local economy," said Supervisor John Vasquez.

This year -- the third Earn it! Keep It! Save It! campaign in Solano County -- was marked by several significant achievements:

• 53% increase in tax dollars returned! Volunteers helped Solano families claim $890,421 in total tax returns, compared to $583,842 last year, and increase of more than $300,000.

• The total amount of refunds includes $267,562 million in federal Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), a 49% increase over last year.

• Solano volunteers processed 738 tax returns, compared to the 550 returns processed during the 2005 tax season, and increase of 34%.

The 2007 results of Earn It! Keep It! Save It! for the entire Bay Area will be released in July.