Jessie Carlson Grows Her College Fund
This tax season Jesse Carlson, a 2013 graduate from Dupree High School, staffed the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site hosted by Four Bands. She and another staff member prepared 431 tax returns, resulting in $1.1 million being refunded to residents of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. This was a 20% increase over the previous year!
In order to work at the VITA site, Jesse was certified by the IRS through an online course. In addition to preparing and e-filing tax returns, Jesse answered questions and provided guidance to taxpayers.
We have been working with Jesse since 2011 when she enrolled in our Youth Entrepreneur Internship program. Through our youth and matched savings programs, Jesse was able to use over $6,000 for college expenses. Jesse plans to use the money she has earned by working at Four Bands to continue her college education next fall at the University of South Dakota where she will major in Humanities. She will be the first in her family to earn a college degree.
“Everything that Four Bands does has helped me with my future,” says Jesse.