Entergy Foundation grants LU's V.I.T.A. program
April 14, 2021 | by Shelly Vitanza
The Lamar University Community Relations Department was recently awarded a grant for $19,000 from Entergy Texas to provide tax support services through a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. 
This year, V.I.T.A. assisted 600 individuals and families who qualified for special credits such as the EITC, Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly and netted the highest dollar amount of returns since the program’s inception in 2008 with initial funding from Entergy.
The tax program, offered free for individuals with low to moderate income ($57,000 and below) who cannot prepare their own tax returns, helped its clients gain $735,000 in tax returns.
“We’re grateful to Entergy for their continued support of this program that has such a positive impact on eligible taxpayers in our community,” said Norman Bellard, assistant to the president for community relations. “I’m proud that through this program we put nearly three quarters of a million dollars in the hands of needy community members this year.”
V.I.T.A. provided trained volunteers from the community, as well as staff and students from Lamar University, to provide the tax services for individuals and families, students, senior citizens and the non-English speaking population at several Community Tax Centers in the Golden Triangle.
In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, the Community Tax Centers offered free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program received their refunds in half the time compared to mailed returns and even faster if the refund was deposited directly into a bank account.
This year, V.I.T.A. assisted 600 individuals and families who qualified for special credits such as the EITC, Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly and netted the highest dollar amount of returns since the program’s inception in 2008 with initial funding from Entergy.
The tax program, offered free for individuals with low to moderate income ($57,000 and below) who cannot prepare their own tax returns, helped its clients gain $735,000 in tax returns.
“We’re grateful to Entergy for their continued support of this program that has such a positive impact on eligible taxpayers in our community,” said Norman Bellard, assistant to the president for community relations. “I’m proud that through this program we put nearly three quarters of a million dollars in the hands of needy community members this year.”
V.I.T.A. provided trained volunteers from the community, as well as staff and students from Lamar University, to provide the tax services for individuals and families, students, senior citizens and the non-English speaking population at several Community Tax Centers in the Golden Triangle.
In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, the Community Tax Centers offered free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program received their refunds in half the time compared to mailed returns and even faster if the refund was deposited directly into a bank account.