Press Releases
United Ways of California Praises Inclusion of CalEITC Outreach and Free Tax Preparation Assistance Funding in Legislature’s Budget, Urges Governor Newsom’s Approval
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Contact:
Anna Hasselblad, Public Policy Director
United Ways of California
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 916-317-4997
(Sacramento, CA) - California legislators approved a $15 million investment in CalEITC Outreach and Free Tax Preparation Assistance (FTPA) to leverage one of our state’s most powerful poverty-fighting tools, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). United Ways of California enthusiastically applauds this action and urges Governor Newsom to approve this funding in the final budget agreement.
This investment in outreach and free tax filing assistance comes after weeks of intense deliberation by the Senate and Assembly and months of advocates pushing for targeted investments to ensure more households are aware of and can get help filing their taxes to claim these credits. This funding will emphasize reaching and assisting California’s immigrant and underserved communities, who have been hit especially hard during the economic crisis brought forth by COVID-19. This decision redresses a failure to fund free tax filing assistance in last year’s budget, and in addition, it calls for this funding to be “ongoing,” which would remove uncertainty about the continuation of the program. The $15 million in ongoing annual funding will be allocated for CalEITC Outreach and FTPA grants to qualified community partners.
California Legislature Adopts Healthy Start Framework for Historic $2 Billion Investment in Community Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
CONTACT
Anna Hasselblad, Public Policy Director
United Ways of California
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 877.355.8922 x15
(Sacramento, Calif.) - Yesterday, both the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees agreed to build on lessons learned from California’s successful Healthy Start program, an integrated model for supporting children in receiving the services they need to thrive through local school-community collaboratives. The Healthy Start program provided grants to schools to develop wrap-around services, yielding dramatic results for children in increased reading and math scores, reduced substance use, and higher graduation rates, from its inception in 1991 until the latter part of 2007-2008, when it was ultimately defunded as a result of the Great Recession and its economic pressures. The Healthy Start program led to the development of similar models, such as community schools, across the state. Now, the Healthy Start framework will be the foundation for the Governor's historic $2 billion proposal for a Community Schools Partnership Program that will transform how child and family-serving systems work together to support healthy development.
A Moment for Sober Reflection and a Recommitment to Equal Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2021
CONTACT
Pete Manzo
President & CEO
877 355 8922 x2
United Ways of California, issued this statement regarding the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, convicted of murder in the killing of George Floyd.
We hope the guilty verdict handed down today provides some measure of justice and peace for Mr. Floyd and his family. What is left after the verdict in Minneapolis is a nation still reeling from the seemingly unrelenting occurrence of killings by police of unarmed individuals, disproportionately people of color, and stark disparities in administration of justice based on race, ethnicity and class.
Governor Announces a Second Round of Golden State Stimulus in May Revision Preview
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 10, 2021
Contact:
Anna Hasselblad
Public Policy Director, United Ways of California
916 317 4997
Advocates come together to praise this move, outline a bold and equitable proposal to build on the Administration’s May Revision, and craft a vision for inclusive economic hardship relief
[Los Angeles, Calif.] - California is facing record budget revenues and Governor Newsom’s proposal today to expand the Golden State Stimulus makes powerful use of a portion of this windfall. Advocates from the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Coalition are heartened by the May Revision proposal, knowing that this is a starting point for negotiations within the Legislature. The CalEITC Coalition looks forward to working with legislators and the Governor to ensure those most impacted by the pandemic are equitably supported and that our community voice is heard throughout this process.
Statement From United Ways on Golden State Stimulus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Contact:
Peter Manzo (323) 309-8522
Anna Hasselblad (916) 317-4997
Golden State Stimulus, Eviction Protections, and Rent Relief Urgency Budget Proposal Announced by Governor Newsom with Legislative and United Way Leaders
The stimulus will reach low-income Californians, including undocumented households that file taxes with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number; local leaders note urgency and readiness to connect families to relief
(Los Angeles, CA) — Statement from United Ways of California and Local United Way Leaders:
“Today marks a critical moment in California’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic with Governor Newsom’s Budget Proposal to provide a much needed $600 state stimulus check to low-income residents via the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) structure. This combined with extending eviction protections and providing rent relief funds comes at the right time as so many households struggle to stay afloat financially,” said Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California, (UWCA). “Local United Ways throughout California are on the frontlines of connecting communities to services and assistance, raising and disbursing millions of dollars in 2020 alone to help tens of thousands of families grappling with the devastating impacts of COVID-19. 2021 will require a similar commitment to getting aid where it is needed most, and we are ready to partner closely with the Legislature and the Newsom Administration to see this budget proposal through with urgency.”
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