The City of Hawthorne will provide free income tax preparation services for seniors and qualifying residents through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Services will be offered Saturdays from March 14 through April 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Hawthorne Memorial Center. This program will be facilitated by members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity founded on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University Bloomington. The fraternity has grown to include more than 150,000 members with over 700 undergraduate and alumni chapters across the United States and internationally.

The VITA program provides free tax preparation assistance to seniors, low- to moderate-income residents, and families who may qualify for valuable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). By helping eligible residents file their tax returns and access available federal and state tax credits, the program provides meaningful financial support to working families. Consistent with Hawthorne Municipal Code sections 2.24.115 and 2.24.116, the City will provide a fee/deposit exemption for use of the Hawthorne Memorial Center, as this event constitutes a community-wide program that positively impacts Hawthorne residents and benefits both seniors and low-income families.

Participation in the VITA program ensures that eligible residents receive the full tax benefits available to them, which in turn can bring additional economic resources into the Hawthorne community.