Stacy Opitz's fundraiser -- $40 for 40 years of service

In celebration of our 40th year of free tax preparation, I am trying to get as many people as I can to donate $40 to help low-income indviduals access their tax refunds and maximze tax time's impact on their economic security.

I have worked at AccountAbility Minnesota (AAM) for two years as the marketing and communications director.

For 40 years, AAM has provided free tax and financial services to low- and moderate-income individuals, families and sole proprietors in the Twin Cities and across Greater Minnesota. We were founded upon the belief that an individual’s access to quality tax assistance and should not depend solely on his or her ability to pay for such services.

Each year, AAM leverages the help of more than 550 volunteers who serve nearly 12,000 customers helpign them to claim nearly $22 million in tax refunds.

Too many of the working individuals and families we serve often lack access to mainstream financial institutions. To meet their needs, we offer a spectrum of financial services, including access to free savings accounts so customers can directly deposit their refunds and develop a relationship with the financial mainstream.