PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Aonya McCruiston
aonya@goldenstateopportunity.org

GOLDEN STATE OPPORTUNITY TO LAUNCH ‘MILLION 4 A BILLION’ CAMPAIGN TO HELP CALIFORNIANS CLAIM THEIR REFUND & STIMULUS CHECKS SAFELY ONLINE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, April 15, 2020 — Given the financial devastation that many Californians find themselves facing due to COVID-19, access to money and resources without delay is more important than ever.

Today, on what would have been Tax Day (April 15), Golden State Opportunity (GSO) is launching the ‘Million 4 a Billion’ campaign to help Calfornians remain financially secure and stable amidst heightened unemployment, as well as food and housing insecurity.

GSO’s ‘Million 4 a Billion’ campaign will ensure that the $1 billion Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature set aside for refunds from the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) reaches the pockets of workers who need cash in the face of layoffs, lost income, and general financial insecurity.

In the coming weeks, GSO’s CalEITC4Me program will be leveraging our proven digital and mobile messaging outreach tactics, as well as mobilizing a massive phone banking effort, in order to reach one million Californians who are likely to be eligible for a tax refund with the California and federal EITCs.

“Our team is 100% committed to helping low-income Californians, many of whom were already struggling, to weather the grueling economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Amy Everitt, President of Golden State Opportunity. “With access to stimulus checks and tax refund cash hinging on whether people file a return, we’ll be reaching one million low-income Californians to help them file their taxes, so they can claim money that they’ve already earned and desperately need.”

In addition to the $1,200 federal stimulus checks, low-income Californians are also eligible for up to $8,000 through state and federal EITC refunds.

Working with our community partners, GSO will connect Californians with free online tax filing resources they can access safely from their homes, aided by trained tax volunteers. In addition to scheduling an appointment to file their taxes, those contacted will also learn of other resources, such as how to sign up for CalFresh or apply for unemployment benefits.

There is no reason for Californians facing financial devastation to wait to collect their tax refund. This money is available right now, and GSO’s ‘Million 4 a Billion’ campaign is dedicated to ensuring that it reaches distressed California workers as quickly and easily as possible.

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Golden State Opportunity (GSO) is a nonprofit dedicated to ending poverty by providing all Californians with the tools to build financial security and thrive. Our central program is CalEITC4Me, a public-private campaign focused on the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC).