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VITA Helps Hundreds

As perennially predictable as Punxsutawney Phil, VITA threw open its doors on Monday Feb 4 for the 2008 tax season. Hundreds of Equity members turned up on a cold damp morning at AEA National headquarters to secure appointments for free tax assistance, which is provided by VITA volunteers from now through April 25.

Now celebrating its 31st season, VITA NY is the only IRS-sanctioned tax assistance program specializing in performers' tax returns in the country. Each year, VITA prepares thousands of complex federal, state and local tax returns for more than 2500 AEA, AFTRA and SAG members.

Opening Day ! L-R Mary Lou Westerfield, AEA National Director of Policy (and a VITA volunteer); volunteer Leonard Garbin; tax attorney/AEA member Sandra Karas; VITA Co-Founder Conard Fowkes; volunteers Bea Wolfe, Elizabeth Flax	Calling # 134 AEA member LaDonna Burns with VITA Volunteers Betsy DeLillo and Carol Emshoff
Volunteer Leonard Garbin assists AEA member Nicki Gallas. Maisie approves !	Volunteers Patricia Guinan, Jerry Alan Cole helped monitor the crowds
	How much ? VITA Co-Founder Conard Fowkes assists AEA member Joelle M. Lette with her return, as Dodi Keenan looks on.