Low-income individuals and families received free tax return preparation from members of the Michigan Association of CPAs through MACPA’s public service initiative in cooperation with the Volunteer Accounting Services Team (VAST) of Michigan. On Saturday, January 31 and Saturday, February 7, MACPA members participated in VAST’s Tax Assistance Program at Focus: HOPE in Detroit to assist the needy in filing their annual tax forms and returned nearly $100,000 to the community on just those two days.

With lines of taxpayers forming at 8:30 a.m. for help from volunteers, more than 50 people received completed tax returns at each of the two events. The taxpayers served by the volunteers were truly appreciative.

Detroit resident Patricia Jennings said, "This program is a relief. It's a good way to start off the year." Iner Ware, a Detroit resident agreed: “I think this is a great program for people, like me, who can’t afford professional tax preparation.”

A special thank you to our volunteers for their time and generosity:

Samer R. Badawi, Doyle Litt Kuras & Company PC
Lorena Bencsik, Student – Walsh College
Carrie Blamer, Walsh College
Mary Ellen Burke, Wolinski & Company CPA PC
Thomas M. Collins, Morris Kalish & Walgren PC
Mark DeCarlo, Federal Mogul
Kristen Deuben, Wolinski & Company CPA PC
John Douglas, John D. Douglas CPA PC
Amy Drouillard, Deloitte LLP
John Floyd, Enterprise Imaging
Cheryl Gill, Mathews Reich Perna & Rottermond PC
Marina Houghton, Wolinski & Company CPA PC
Diana Jurkiewicz, Student, Walsh College
Steven Lane, Doeren Mayhew
Kim Laughton, Curtis Bailey Exelby & Sposito PC
Monica Mulchandani, Ford Motor Company
Julie Oldham, University of Phoenix
Verne Paxton, Verne R. Paxton, CPA
Paul Taros, Taros & Associates
Crystal Thomas
Brenda Tsang
Michael Wollschlager, Woronoff Hyman Levenson & Sweet PC
Lauren Zemens, Student, Walsh College

VAST will hold the Tax Assistance Program throughout tax season at a variety of sites and dates. Members interested in volunteering to help the needy should contact VAST at 313.647.9620.

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