Friday, February 21, 2014

April is Money Smart Month in Kansas City. Join The Prosperity Center, Rockhurst University and Catholic Charities for Free Film Screenings. We will discuss financial education and personal finance literacy topics including:
  • Banking
  • Budgeting
  • Money management
  • Saving and investing
  • Financial planning
  • Credit
  • Debt management
  • Financial decision making
  • Financial fraud and scams
  • and more!


The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) starring Will Smith
Friday, April 11 from 7:00pm-10:00pm 
Lucky (2010) an HBO documentary
Friday, April 25 from 7:00pm-10:00pm


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Free IRS-Certified Tax Preparation

The Prosperity Center is an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site offering FREE tax preparation for individuals and families with gross annual household income of $52,000 or less.

Our site is located in the Rockhurst Community Center at 54th Street and Troost Ave from 8:00am to 12:00pm on Saturdays during this tax season.

Registration is required for volunteer assistance, but you can self-file your federal returns and state returns for free at www.MyFreeTaxes.com/PCKC.

Register on our website or call to schedule an appointment.

What to bring:
  • Social Security card for each family member or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter
  • Valid photo ID
  • W-2 forms from all jobs worked in 2013
  • All 1099 forms for other income, if any
  • Total paid for child care, provider name, address and tax ID
  • Any other tax-related documents for 2013
  • Proof of bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of refund 
  • A copy of your 2012 tax return (if available)
  • All adults on return must be present to sign
Prosperity Center Tax Volunteers can help your refund grow by depositing it into your savings account, retirement account or US Savings Bonds. Let us help you file your taxes and plan for your future financial goals!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Tax Season Volunteer Opportunities


The Prosperity Center has a number of volunteer opportunities this tax season. As an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Site, we offer free tax help to individuals and families with incomes under $52,000. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome. Contact us to sign up.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Site Coordinator
Manage all facets of a VITA site, including managing volunteers, setting up the Site, transmitting returns, contacting clients concerning rejected returns, retransmitting corrected returns, and collecting and submitting data. The Site Coordinator must be comfortable using a computer and have the ability to use Microsoft Windows-type programs. In general, advanced-level tax certification is required.

Financial Specialist 

Help Prosperity Center clients understand the value of transactional and/or savings accounts. The Financial Specialist may open accounts for clients who choose to establish one of these relationships. Computer and Internet experience is required for this position. A background in financial education or financial services is helpful.

Greeter 

Act as the initial contact to the taxpayer, helping coordinate traffic flow and ensuring that the taxpayer qualifies for free tax assistance. The Greeter has each client sign in and provides information sheets to be completed. No income tax knowledge is necessary for this position.

Information Assistant 

Gather appropriate documentation for the Tax Preparer, reviews the client information sheets for completion, and provides appropriate data as noted on information sheets. No income tax knowledge is necessary for this position.

Interpreter 

Facilitate bilingual communications between the clients and the tax preparer. No income tax knowledge is necessary for this position.

Quality Control Reviewer 

Check each return for accuracy and completeness before it is transmitted. The Quality Control Reviewer completes and initials a checklist for each return. Advanced-level tax certification is required.

Tax Preparer 

Review client documentation, interview the client, and prepare the client’s personal federal, state, and local income tax returns on a computer. You must be comfortable using a computer. Basic-level tax certification is required.

Tax Coach 

Help taxpayers who choose to prepare their own returns under the assisted self-preparation model. The Tax Coach must be comfortable using a computer and have the ability to use Internet tax programs. It is recommended that you be familiar with completing your own tax returns. Basic-level tax certification is required.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

2014 Community Workshops and Tax Prep

We are kicking off the new year with new community workshops. The Prosperity Center is also a VITA tax preparation site, providing free income tax filing assistance for households with income of $52,000 or less.

Workshops are free and open to everyone, but registration is required. Contact us to register and get started toward your 2014 goals!

Prosperity Center for Financial Opportunity
2014 Community Workshops

EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION & FINANCIAL COACHING
ABC's of Personal Finance
January 25th
10:00 am

Filing Your FAFSA

February 11th

  4:00 pm

Living on a Fixed Income

March 11th

  4:00 pm

LinkedIn Networking

April 8th

12:00 pm

Choose to Save

May 17th

10:00 am

Online Job Applications

May 31st

10:00 am


TAX PREPARATION
February 15th8:00 am-Noon

February 22nd

8:00 am-Noon

March 15th

8:00 am-Noon

March 29th

8:00 am-Noon

April 12th

8:00 am-Noon

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

November Success Story



Congratulations to Prosperity Center client Kent on his full-time position that will offer benefits and a competitive salary in a field of his interest! Well educated and experienced, he came to the Prosperity Center discouraged after being laid off 5 years ago, working odd jobs and freelancing to make ends meet. Employment Coaches helped him improve his resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile and practice his interview skills, while Financial Coaching and Income Supports access helped his family live on a budget. Just over a month after he became a client, Kent was offered a position through a source referred to the Prosperity Center. He shared his gratitude in an email:

“I cannot thank you enough for the benefits there has been working to get to this point with Tiffany and Kourtney. The resume worked and it is clear that without your passing my resume to them, I would not even know about the job and I wouldn’t be in this new opportunity. Thank you so much for your help and confidence in recommending me for the position. I can’t tell you how great it feels to be doing something again that is in my core skill set.”

Thanks to his motivation and dedication to his family, Kent was able to overcome the barriers of long-term unemployment. We are proud to have him as a client and look forward to hearing about the steps he is taking in his new career.