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Gina and Marty Richardson: Funding the Next Generation in Austin, Texas

Making a Difference

Gina and Marty Richardson: Funding the Next Generation in Austin, Texas

Five years ago Gina Richardson began looking for something meaningful to which she could dedicate her time.  Her children were grown and out of the house.  The business she and her husband started twenty years before had truly taken off, allowing them time and resources to focus on other things in life.  And so, Gina put her ‘ear to the ground’ and searched for a project worthy of her energy and enthusiasm.

 

Inspired by an article in Newsweek about a certified public accountant (CPA) in Chicago who was helping low-income people file their tax returns, Gina—an accountant herself—was intrigued by the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and its positive impact on low-income households.  Gina began thinking about helping low-income people file tax returns in her hometown of Austin, Texas.

 

Gina and her husband, Marty, immediately embarked on an ambitious project targeting vulnerable populations in East Austin.  “We didn’t know what we were doing at the time,” laughs Gina. “Marty and I created fliers and dropped them off at local churches, calling ministers to follow up when we could.”

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