Silverton Foundation
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Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the Silverton Foundation's vision is of increased opportunity and equity so that people are empowered to improve their lives by building on their own strengths and resiliencies.
Through its grant making, the Foundation supports agencies and programs which advance school readiness, transition to college and career, and economic inclusion. Through its activities, the Foundation strives to foster greater community awareness of and commitment to social enterprise.
2009 Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes talented individuals who have shown extraordinary leadership and innovation in building an organization to address the social needs of the central Texas community. The Award carries with it a $100,000 Silverton Grant which is directed to the organization of the Award recipient.
The 2009 Award winner is Melvin White of Digital Workforce Academy. Read a profile of Melvin White in the Austin Business Journal here.
The 2009 Award was made on May 28, 2009 at a presentation ceremony at the Austin Hilton Hotel, with over 800 leaders of the central Texas business, civic and philanthropic community in attendance.
Learn more about the background (click on year) and agencies of past winners:
2008: Richard Halpin of AmericanYouthWorks
2007: Steven Jackobs of Capital IDEA
2006: Susan McDowell of LifeWorks
2005: Walter Moreau of Foundation Communities
2004: Margo Weisz of PeopleFund
Applications for the 2010 Award will not be available until the first of the year. For future reference you may download the 2009 application form and financial data supplement (both must be submitted) here. For questions regarding the nomination process or the information requested, please contact Ernst & Young directly via telephone at 512-473-1623, or via email at amy.warmke@ey.com.
Free Tax Preparation at Community Tax Centers
Foundation Communities offers a free income tax assistance program in central Texas to individuals with incomes up to $25,000 and households earning up to $50,000. Their IRS certified tax preparers offer quality, professional tax services for free.
During the annual tax season ended April 15 there are ten locations - and beginning May 12 a year around tax center is operated at the principal office of Foundation Communities located at 3036 South First Street, Suite 101, Austin, Texas.
The Community Tax Centers offer more than just income tax preparation. Click here for more information on servcies such as:
- money for college - self employment and small business services - - matched savings accounts - financial coaching - ITIN assistance -
More About Tax Assistance for Low Income Working Families
A lead gift from the Silverton Foundation enabled Foundation Communities to establish Community Tax Centers to ensure that low income working families in central Texas claim and receive their Earned Income Tax Credit. For the tax year ended April 15, 2009 the Centers processed 17,096 returns! These returns yielded over $25 million in refunds. Ten Community Tax Centers were in operation throughout central Texas for the 2009 tax season.
The Foundation extended its funding commitment to enable the Community Tax Centers to operate year around. Activities have expanded to provide small business services, financial and credit counseling, immigrant assistance to obtain ITIN numbers and file returns, and special circumstance return extensions and review.
Click here to read the full 2008 tax season report.
Click here to learn how you can get involved as a volunteer in support of the work of the Community Tax Centers!
