What if one hour of your time could help a Colorado family receive a $7,000 — or even $20,000 — tax refund?
Each year, hundreds of volunteers join our Tax Help Colorado program to ensure low- and middle-income Coloradans receive the tax credits and refunds they’re owed. This program is in partnership with the IRS and its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Recently, Monica Sasakura, a Mile High United Way board trustee and Wells Fargo VP of business banking, joined fellow Wells Fargo team members for a day of volunteering with Tax Help Colorado at Mi Casa Resource Center in Denver. Together with other volunteers and staff, the group helped prepare 37 tax returns, returning $78,600 to the community.
“We know that Mile High United Way provides incredible wraparound services to families, including tax help,” Monica said. “This year, it was especially important for us at Wells Fargo to get involved and directly support the individuals and families we serve every day in our branches.”
Tax Help Colorado provides free tax preparation services for families earning $69,000 or less annually. Of the more than 2 million households in Colorado, 39% earn $75,000 or less each year. Many include older adults living on Social Security or single parents working multiple jobs to make ends meet.
“The support from volunteers and community partners is essential to Tax Help Colorado,” said Kristin Hubbard, senior director of Tax Help Colorado. “Every year, we’ve increased the number of families we serve and we couldn’t do it without their support.”
When Monica considered ways to give back, tax preparation didn’t immediately come to mind. Still, she saw it as a meaningful opportunity to model community service for her two young children.
“We’re a blessed family, and I hope my children recognize how fortunate they are and that they have the power to help create access and change for others,” Monica said.
Monica and her family have also joined the Family Impact Project, our new initiative that offers families opportunities to volunteer together and give back. “My daughter, Sonoma, was just asking what we’re doing next with Family Impact Project,” Monica shared.
A Long-Standing Partnership Investing in Colorado Families
For Wells Fargo, the partnership with Mile High United Way reflects a long-standing commitment to Colorado families. The company made a landmark investment in our small business support programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the years since, Wells Fargo has continued to support Mile High United Way by volunteering at community events like our Back to School Bash, Children’s Holiday Party and the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot, as well as investing in programs that help families build strong futures.
“At Wells Fargo, we believe financial opportunity starts with access to trusted guidance,” said Kelly Littrell, vice president for philanthropy & community impact at Wells Fargo. “Through our investment and volunteer support of Tax Help Colorado, our team is proud to help individuals and families navigate tax season with confidence-keeping more of what they earn and building stronger financial foundation for the future.”
In total this tax season, Tax Help Colorado volunteers filed more than 10,300 tax returns across 31 sites statewide, bringing $22.5 million back into the hands of families.
For many families, the tax refund is the biggest check they will receive in a year. Partners like Wells Fargo are an essential part of this work. Thank you, Wells Fargo, for partnering with Mile High United Way. Your investment creates pathways to financial security for families in our community.
Learn how you can get your team engaged with Mile High United Way to support families.
