State Treasurer Ma and Assemblymember Nguyen Kick Off CalEITC Coalition Pledge for Prosperity
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United Ways of California is committed to connecting Californians to the financial resources they need to thrive. As part of our work toward this commitment, we are proud to be a co-lead organization of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Coalition. This group of more than 40 organizations advocates for the continuation and expansion of the CalEITC, Young Child Tax Credit, Foster Youth Tax Credit, and related policies that uplift families across the state.
United Ways of California is proud to stand with the Coalition to promote the Pledge for Prosperity, which launched during CalEITC Awareness Week in January.
The Pledge for Prosperity invites policymakers, labor unions, local businesses, and nonprofit, community-based, and faith-based organizations to become Prosperity Champions by pledging to protect and strengthen California’s most powerful anti-poverty tools, which include:
- California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)
- Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC)
- Free Tax Preparation Assistance and accompanying Education & Outreach programs
On Feb. 1, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen joined CalEITC Coalition members in signing the Pledge for Prosperity at the Coalition’s CalETIC Awareness Week press conference at the State Capitol. During the event, Treasurer Ma and Assemblymember Nguyen encouraged Californians to take advantage of free tax help to claim credits like the CalEITC, YCTC, and the Foster Youth Tax Credit.
Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, Senator Susan Rubio, and Assemblymember Luz Rivas have also signed the Pledge for Prosperity.
The coalition has made immense progress, resulting in the state putting more than $1.3 billion in cash annually directly into the hands of nearly 3.5 million Californians with low incomes. Access to these funds allows California families to pay for necessities like groceries, housing, transportation, and childcare. As our Real Cost Measure study shows, there is still work to do, as millions of Californians struggle to earn enough income to meet basic needs.
United Ways of California is proud to be a Prosperity Champion, and we are calling on leaders across the state to make a big down payment on future prosperity by protecting and expanding life-changing programs like tax credits and free tax filing.
