In its inaugural year, the Earn it! Keep it! Save it! (EKS) program put nearly $7 million back into the pockets of hard-working Dallas families and them approximately $900,000 in tax preparation fees.

For the nearly 4,500 families who filed their taxes through EKS earning approximately $20,250 per year, the average tax return of approximately $1,700 was enough to catch up on rent, utilities and groceries. Utilizing the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), individuals were able to apply for and receive funds already available to them.

Each year, the EITC pumps billions of dollars into our state’s economy, while at the same time lifting more than 450,000 Texans ‑ including 250,000 children ‑ out of poverty, according to the Center for Public Policy Priorities. However, it is estimated that approximately 15 to 20 percent of eligible families and individuals do not file a claim because they are unaware of the credit or because of the complexity of filing.

The program recruited and trained approximately 385 volunteers, as well as provided computer equipment to increase the hours and days of operation at 29 local VITA sites in and double the tax filers in 2009. The VITA sites utilize trained community volunteers to provide tax preparation for low to moderate income individuals free of charge. Citi employees accounted for nearly 20 percent of the volunteer effort at VITA sites in the Dallas area.

City of Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert initiated the partnership and sponsors of the program are Citi, a $200,000 sponsor, The Dallas Foundation and Thomson Family Foundation have each invested $150,000, FedExOffice is providing $50,000 of printing for the program and IBM is providing 60 computers valued at more than $58,000.