The City Council of Detroit Presents Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants with Spirit of Detroit Award
TROY, Mich., June 7, 2006 – The City Council of Detroit has presented The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) with a Spirit of Detroit Award in recognition of their efforts in assisting low-income Detroit residents.
The MACPA has served as an Adopt-A-Site Sponsor for the Detroit-based Accounting Aid Society (AAS) for three years. In 2006, a team of 20 MACPA volunteers, including CPAs, accounting professionals and students, completed more than 100 tax returns for
low-income individuals and families in the Metro-Detroit area at Focus:HOPE on two Saturdays in February.
The clients receiving these free services met income eligibility requirements of up to $20,000 annual income for individuals and up to $38,000 for families. Generally unable to afford the valuable advice of a CPA, they likely would miss out on the tax credits they could receive without the help of MACPA members.
“Thanks to the MACPA and almost 700 other volunteers, the Accounting Aid Society helped 8,925 low-income clients this year receive the tax refunds and tax credits they deserve through free income tax preparation services. Returns for the 2006 tax season amounted to $8.6 million,” said Marshall J. Hunt, CPA, Director, Tax Assistance Program, Accounting Aid Society. As AAS's primary service, the Tax Assistance Program has returned more than $138 million in total tax returns to southeastern Michigan since it began in 1976.
The Spirit of Detroit Award recognizes individuals, events and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership and dedication to improving the quality of life for the City of Detroit.
The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants is a diversified, professional, member-driven organization serving more than 16,000 CPAs and affiliated professionals throughout Michigan. Visit MACPA’s web site at www.michcpa.org.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Donna Caleel, MACPA (248) 267-3712
