OP Annual Report 2017: High Tech High Touch

Tax Return Assistance Operation Pathways provides tax return assistance to residents through MyFreeTaxes.com, a program provided free of charge to persons earning less than $64,000 a year. Since 2004, Operation Pathways has led a community-based Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program called Buck$Back at Foxwood Manor in Levittown, PA. Each year, volunteers help hundreds of taxpayers improve their financial situation. Tax preparation volunteers receive online and classroom training to prepare a limited scope of tax returns. Since its beginning in 2004, Buck$Back volunteers at Foxwood Manor in Levittown, Pennsylvania have produced measurable results. In 2017 • Over 450 tax returns were completed at Foxwood Manor, generating over $620,000 in federal refunds and over $25,000 in state refunds.

Randy’s Story: Cigarettes to Savings Randy is a resident of Alexander House in Hagerstown, Maryland and participated in their first smoking cessation class in October 2016. The program was brought to Alexander House by Sandy Berry, the resident services coordinator, and was sponsored by the Washington County Health Department. Randy attended each session and completed the 8-week program successfully. He has been a non-smoker ever since. Shortly after completing the program, Randy participated in the America Saves Week program. Operation Pathways’ sites participate in American Saves Week every year. Residents are encouraged to make pledges to open savings accounts and make saving a habit. Randy opened a savings account with $25 and made a pledge to save the money that he had been spending on cigarettes. Recently, at an Alexander House community council meeting, Randy informed Sandy that he has $1,400 in his savings account and he continues to have automatic “cigarette payments” deposited from his paycheck.

Teen Internship Program In the Pathway to Work Summer Internship Program, teen interns are employed by the

property management companies contracted at the properties where they work, and report directly to the resident services coordinators assigned to the same. Operation Pathways lays a solid foundation in the lives of teens who participate in the program. The interns’ coursework enables them to fulfill the program’s two primary goals: preparing them for the world of work and teaching financial responsibility. In 2017 •  93% of teen internship participants opened their first bank account •  93% of teen internship participants met their savings goals

Where you live matters.

FISCAL YEAR 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 11

Powered by