Erie Free Taxes has returned nearly $5 million through refunds to low-income workers across Erie County.

Coordinators of the free tax-preparation service expect that total to rise over the next two weeks as the April 17 deadline to file federal and state income taxes approaches.

Nearly 100 Internal Revenue Service-certified volunteers will continue to staff the program's 21 tax-assistance sites across the county. Those sites opened on Feb. 1, and many of the locations will be open on April 17.

For more information, or to make an appointment, call toll-free at (888) 829-5680.

Cheryl Bates, director of Erie Free Taxes, described the efforts of the program's staff and volunteers as "committed and conscientious."

"The program continues to be a potent community strategy for fighting against the influences of local poverty," Bates said Friday.

She said the program has already saved local taxpayers during the 2012 filing season about $600,000 in fees and costs.

The number of federal tax returns prepared by Erie Free Taxes this season is up 3.5 percent year-to-date when compared to the 2011 filing season. The program has so far prepared 2,637 returns compared with 2,547 in 2011.

Erie Free Taxes has so far returned $4,952,195 through refunds, compared to $5,348,463 year-to-date in 2011.

Officials with the program, which is coordinated by the United Way of Erie County, said the decrease is attributed in part to the Making Work Pay tax break expiring in 2010, a credit that was worth $400 to eligible individuals and $800 for a married couple.

Erie Free Taxes so far this season has helped 1,146 people receive the earned-income tax credit compared to 1,179 year-to-date in 2011.

Refunds through the program for the special federal tax benefit have reached $2,079,233, down from the $2,293,339 when compared to 2011 year-to-date.

"Those claim rates do not remain static. Families often experience changes in their circumstances from year to year," Bates said. "Increases in earned income, changes in family composition, families moving out of the area, all have the potential to change local earned-income tax credit rates."

The earned-income tax credit, in place since 1976, was created as a poverty-reducing tool for low-income workers.

Bates said one in four taxpayers eligible for the special benefit fails to file for the refund. In Erie County, where about 22,000 people claim the benefit, that translates to nearly 5,500 residents.

More than 43 percent of the federal returns prepared by Erie Free Taxes in 2011 included earned-income tax credit claims, which was 16 percentage points higher than the national average.

The program, which started in 2006, posted record numbers in 2011, returning more than $5,943,000. Those returns marked a 32 percent increase from the $4.5 million in 2010.

In 2009 and 2008, Erie Free Taxes returned $2.5 million and $1.5 million respectively.

The program was honored in 2011 by the IRS as one of the top volunteer tax-assistance initiatives in the nation.

Erie was one of only 26 cities in the country, and the only city in Pennsylvania, to receive the recognition from the IRS.

This camp is made possible by local sponsors, including The Erie Community Foundation.
Clickhere to see how thankful the campers are for your support!

In March, nearly 2,000 students in the Erie School District were sent notices of school exclusion excluding them from school on or after May 1 if families do not comply with new student immunization requirements. The Pennsylvania Department of Health regulations (28 Pa. Code §§23.81-87) require the exclusion from Pennsylvania schools of any student(s) who does not meet the minimum immunization requirements.

The new immunization requirements affect students in grades K-12. While approximately 84% of Erie students have provided proper immunization documentation to their school nurse, 16% (approximately 2,000 pupils) still need to obtain the required immunizations or submit the documentation.

"Credit for article Edinboro University's Online magazine ":http://www.edinboromagazine.com/nonprofit-extends-edinboro-universitys-educational-mission/
February 15, 2012

Incubator launch already successful!

After nearly a decade and more than a half million dollars in the making, StARTup Incubator – a local nonprofit organization that extends the educational mission of Edinboro University to regional economic development – recently debuted with a highly successful launch.

According to Donna Douglass, Acting Executive Director, the StARTup Incubator already has nine member clients starting businesses. Product lines range from creative utilitarian items to hand crafted body products.

Edinboro University officials say the incubator links the school’s renowned strength in the arts and technology to the region’s strength in manufacturing, combining all three components. Thus, StARTup helps entrepreneurs as well as early-stage art-based and traditional manufacturing companies in their growth and development by providing a wide range of assistance, such as affordable space, shared support and business development services.

Under this unique concept, the aim is to foster businesses that will create not only wealth and jobs, but also grow and diversify the cultural and economic base of Northwest Pennsylvania.

For example, Ryan Bookhammer, a high school teacher by day, has designed a device he calls “Clip’en.” With book bags and back packs being frowned upon these days in many school districts, the “Clip’en” helps students keep track of writing utensils.

Ryan says, “Working with the StARTup Incubator has helped me outsource the manufacture of my design right here in Erie County and receive mentorship on marketing methods.”

Another StARTup client, Karen Rzepecki, won the 2011 InnovationErie Design Competition sponsored by Edinboro University, the Erie Art Museum, the Incubator, and others. She discovered a huge market of Mason jar collectors looking for unique replacement screw tops. So she designed a durable version and is having them made here in Erie County as well. Her company, ReCAP, plans to produce different variations of unique cap designs, including travel drink tops, piggy bank tops and other specialty designs.

“Right now, I am sponsoring a packaging design contest for art students,” Karen said. “For details, please contact Laura Bell, Facilities Manager at StARTup, at www.startupincubator.org.

Douglass is more than pleased with client progress.

“Not all of our clients are manufacturers, but all have a unique creative aspect to their businesses and are making great progress with our guidance. Several clients’ endeavors involve performance art, for example,” she said.

Incubators in general are non-profit organizations that nurture the development of entrepreneurial companies, helping them to survive and grow during their start-up period. The goal of business incubators is to produce successful companies that will leave the program financially viable and operationally freestanding.

Incubators offer their clients business support services and resources tailored to their needs. But incubators are not just about cheap office or studio space or shared administrative resources. The heart of the program is the service it provides its clients – networking with other entrepreneurs and with experienced leaders; help with strategic business and marketing plans; access to capital; and development of the skills needed to make a business successful.

“The incubator presents another opportunity for our region to alleviate brain drain,” Douglass said. “For example, Edinboro University animation graduates now have access to all the equipment and software they need to freelance without having to make large personal investments and without having to move to the West Coast or Manhattan for gainful employment.”

Douglass, a graduate of Edinboro and Penn State Universities with undergraduate and graduate art and education degrees, has vast experience in the region’s art, education, business and philanthropic communities.

She said the incubator, operating in close collaboration with Edinboro University’s large and nationally-respected Art Department, will offer a variety of services to its clients, including studio and manufacturing space, marketing support and networking opportunities.

Douglass also said, “One very exciting plan this year is the new track in the co-sponsored InnovationErie contest. The $10,000 prize for 2012 will go to a winning design for an applied media arts concept to be produced in the Incubator’s computer labs and video/photography studios. We’re even conducting a class on writing your proposal for the InnovationErie contest, so check out the StARTup website at www.startupincubator.org to register.”

Dr. Terry Smith, Dean of Edinboro’s College of Arts and Sciences, said StARTup Incubator received support from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education in the form of an $183,000 Planning and Feasibility for Business Infrastructure grant to create an “Art-based Manufacturing Incubator.” An Entrepreneurial Leadership Center grant of $208,000 was awarded a year later. The incubator also received grants from the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, the Erie County Keystone Innovation Zone, the Erie Community Foundation, and, with the support of Senator Jane Earll, from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Several private individuals also made financial contributions.

Dr. Smith said the largest grant, $332,500, came from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

United Way of Erie County, the Nonprofit Partnership and the Erie Community Foundation invite you to learn more about the Commonwealth's proposed fiscal year 2012 budget including the "block grant" approach to funding human services at the county level. The discussion will also include strategies that local nonprofits can employ to withstand anticipated reductions in funding that directly affect our neighbors in need.

Joining us will be Tony Ross, President of United Way of Pennsylvania, and a representative from Gov. Tom Corbett's administration. United Way of PA has taken the lead on the state budget issue, hosting a series of town hall meetings across the state in 2011 and again this year. The Erie town hall meeting is one of eight being held across the state in March and April.

In addition, Bob Wooler, Director of The Nonprofit Partnership, will moderate a panel discussion that includes the following panelists:
• Jonathan Evans, President/CEO of Safe Harbor Behavioral Health
• Shari Gross, Director, Erie County Department of Human Services
• Michele Zieziula,CEO, Northwest PA Workforce Investment Board
• Dr. Bob Light, Senior Assoc. Dean for Research, Graduate Studies and Outreach, Penn State Erie
• Patrick Herr, Associate Director, Community Shelter Services

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Mike Jaruszewicz at 814.456.2937 ×227.

In advance of the town hall meeting, you may want to read a recent op-ed piece written by Shari Gross entitled "State cuts of social programs could be 'catastrophic.'" Here is the link.

“Bill’s foresight shows the power on an endowment,” said Mike Batchelor, president of The Erie Community Foundation. “Through his thoughtful estate planning, Bill selected 14 of his favorite charities and decided to give them each a percentage of the income from his endowment every year.”

Schuster also requested The Erie Community Foundation to annually ask the eligible nonprofits to submit specific proposals indicating how they would use the gift. “Bill wanted to insure that there was a check and balance to his gifts and the money was used wisely,” continued Batchelor. “He also wanted us to publicly announce the gifts in hopes to encourage others to leave charitable legacies.”

In celebration of these gifts, The Erie Community Foundation and Gannon University will host the annual Schuster’s day event on Wednesday, March 7th at 2 p.m. in the Schuster Gallery of Gannon University’s Nash Library. The fourteen charities, who Mr. Schuster named in his will, will receive grants as follows:

h2.Nonprofit 2012 Gift
American Red Cross $2,423.18
Community Country Day School $4,794.80
Discovery Square $3,608.99
Erie Art Museum $1,185.81
Erie Playhouse $1,185.81
Erie Zoological Society $1,185.81
Hospice of Erie $4,794.80
Humane Society of Northwest PA $2,423.18
Junior Philharmonic $9,589.60
Lake Erie Ballet/Erie Civic Ballet $4,794.80
Stairways $4,794.80
United Way of Erie County $4,794.80
Vision & Blindness Resources-Erie $1,185.81
Visiting Nurses Association $4,794.80

Total $51,557.00

More specifically, the gifts will be used as follows:__

American Red Cross will purchase disaster supplies including vests and jackets with reflective material and GPS units for the emergency vehicles. Their goal is to keep volunteer disaster action teams safe and efficient in the field in a disaster setting, especially at night.

Community Country Day School will buy art supplies including paints, clay and canvas for their growing school and counseling program.

Discovery Square will use their Schuster gift to underwrite costs of snow removal, and garden and ground maintenance.

The Erie Art Museum will use their money to support programs and general operations of the Art Museum.

The Erie Playhouse will support the Youtheatre Outreach Programs such as workshops, tours, school visits, classes, and summer camp.

The Erie Zoological Society will purchase additional education pieces for the Adventure Center Lend–A-Hand Station as well as to buy hands-on science experiment kits.

Hospice of Erie will purchase nursing supplies such as blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximeters. They will also continue their employee wellness program.

The Humane Society of Northwest PA will spay/neuter 75 adoptable animals at the shelter.

The Junior Philharmonic will use money towards the bus, van and truck expenses for the annual tour of five schools. They will also use the money to update equipment and to balance their budgets.

Lake Erie Ballet/Erie Civic Ballet will use the gift to help offset the cost of hiring musicians for the 54th annual production of the Nutcracker.

Stairways Behavioral Health will purchase supplies, materials and equipment for participants attending workshops at Center City Arts.

United Way of Erie County will use their grant for the recognition event honoring the Tocqueville Award Recipient for 2012.

Vision and Blindness Resources will use the money for their after school and summer program for blind children. Also, the grant will provide for staff expenses including supplies, transportation and other costs.

Visiting Nurse Association will replace out-of-date computers and printers for the office and supervisory staff.

For more information about the power of an endowment or questions about establishing one, please contact Kevin Moore 814-454-0843.

On February 16 leaders from each of the collaborations spoke about the importance of high quality early care and education. Betsy Bort, Vice President of ERIEBANK, Eric Root, Senior Vice President with Erie Insurance, Nick Scott, Jr. Vice President of Scott Enterprises, all business leaders and members of the Early Learning Investment Commission for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, emphasized the benefits to our community from children receiving a high quality educational experience early in life. Joe Markiewicz of CORE/Penn State Behrend highlighted the undesirable outcomes when we don’t intervene early.

Following the educational presentation Mike Batchelor, President of the Erie Community Foundation announced the Foundation’s commitment of $100,000 for each of the first two years of the Fund and its commitment to seek donors for support of the initiative. Bill Jackson, President of United Way of Erie County, stated commitment from United Way of Erie County to support the initiative financially as well as to coordinate tax credit donations to be contributed to the Fund. A third vehicle for support will be cause related marketing efforts coordinated through Success By 6. Erie’s Future Fund has a $600,000+ per year goal and will provide high quality early childhood education for 285+ children from families with low income.

At the event the following generous commitments were announced:
$10,000 per year for three years from the Northwest Institute of Research
$10,000 from a donor advised fund at The Erie Community Foundation
$18,500 tax credit donation from Gateway, a division of Highmark
$165,000 tax credit commitment for the coming year from Erie Insurance
ERIEBANK committed to a $2,000 tax credit and Scott Enterprises committed to a tax credit too.

To view results click" here.":http://www.erievitalsigns.org/economy_homeownership_view1

Nearly 2,000 students in the Erie School District will be sent notices of school exclusion next month, excluding them from school on or after May 1 if families do not comply with new student immunization requirements. The Pennsylvania Department of Health regulations (28 Pa. Code §§23.81-87) require the exclusion from Pennsylvania schools of any student(s) who does not meet the minimum immunization requirements. The exclusion date in the Erie School District is May 1, 2012.

The new immunization requirements affect students in grades K-12. While approximately 84% of Erie students have provided proper immunization documentation to their school nurse, 16% (approximately 2,000 pupils) still need to obtain the required immunizations or submit the documentation. Tuesday’s news conference is one part of a comprehensive public information campaign during which the superintendent will urge parents to contact their child’s physician immediately to complete the required shots and return the required immunization form to the school nurse.

In February, The Erie Community Foundation invited community partners such as the Erie County Department of Health and UPMC Hamot to meet and discuss the issue and find potential solutions for children who do not have insurance or have no other access to vaccines (for example, they have insurance however their medical provider does not provide the required vaccine).

"This community issues has been a good example of how The Erie Community Foundation can convene partners toward solutions to community issues," said Mike Batchelor, president of The Erie Community Foundation.