Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Honored

Leeward Community College
Contact:
Kathleen R Cabral, (808) 455-0524
Dir of Mktg, Chancellor's Office
Posted: Oct 6, 2014

VITA Team at the State Capitol
VITA Team at the State Capitol

Leeward's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program Team was honored as one of 18 outstanding state teams nominated for the Governor's Award of Excellence on Friday, October 3 at the State Capitol Auditorium. The 5 member team of Roy Kamida, Shelley Ota, Tina Lee, Evelyn Wong and Warren Kawano, was recognized for exemplary and outstanding performance.

For more than two decades, the VITA program has provided free income tax preparation services to low and middle income taxpayers in the community. Under the guidance and leadership of accounting professor Roy Kamida, a band of over 80 volunteers are trained and staff the on-campus site from February through March, every Saturday morning and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. 

This year, the Leeward VITA site prepared over 800 tax returns, and $1.4 million were returned to the community. 

The VITA Team was selected as the University of Hawai'i's nominee for State Team of the Year Awards Program.