45 Years of VITA

On Wednesday, June 1, at Chef Yu in New York City, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program celebrated 45 years of helping SAG-AFTRA and AEA members complete their tax returns for free. Volunteer tax preparers, who are also union members, have been helping their fellow performers navigate oftentimes confusing tax codes for over four decades. Special thanks go out to SAG-AFTRA New York Local Board member Sandra Karas, one of the early volunteers of the program, and who now serves as its tax director. Many SAG-AFTRA members may recognize her for the tax return seminars she has provided for years, most recently via the President's Task Force on Education, Outreach & Engagement livestream series. Congratulations to VITA for 45 wonderful years!

Photo: Back row, from left, VITA volunteers Edwardyne Cowan, Justine S. Harrison, Pat Nesbit, Marietta LaFargue, Carol Emshoff, Susan Sigrist, Christine Lemme, Gordon Stanley, David Sitler. Front row, from left, VITA volunteers Marilyn Reagan, Uriel Menson, VITA Site Coordinator Mike Lesser, VITA Tax Director and SAG-AFTRA N.Y. Local Board member Sandra Karas, AEA Executive Director Al Vincent Jr., AEA VITA volunteers Sandra Bloom and Bernadette Cancelliere.