Funding to Help Underserved Families Recoup Thousands in Earned Tax Benefits MCLEAN, Va., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- With tax season underway, the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), a leading voice for vulnerable children and their families in America, will help thousands of low-to moderate income families across the country file their tax returns and recoup thousands in earned income tax and income tax credits. The efforts are made possible by a $750,000 Freddie Mac Foundation grant and are part of CDF's ongoing public education and financial literacy programs to help underserved working families move out of poverty and achieve long-term financial independence. "The Freddie Mac Foundation invests in programs that stabilize and strengthen children and their families. That's why we're proud to support CDF's innovative efforts to help more underserved families move out of poverty and realize their personal and financial dreams," commented Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., chairman, Freddie Mac Foundation. The efforts are part of CDF's ongoing public education and financial literacy initiative, "Creating Local Interfaith Alliances to Leave No Child Behind," designed to build faith-based alliances in targeted communities nationwide to help underserved families improve their financial conditions. The Foundation's continued investment will enable CDF to open 130 new Volunteer Tax Assistance (VITA) sites and file 112,000 tax returns on behalf of low-or moderate-income working families over the next three years. "We thank Freddie Mac for renewing its commitment to helping children and working families make ends meet. Now more than ever we need to make certain that working families get back every dollar for which they are eligible to help cover expenses like food, rent, utilities, and health care so they can stay employed and keep their families healthy," said CDF President Marian Wright Edelman. Since 2002, with the assistance of faith alliances and funding by the Freddie Mac Foundation, CDF has helped low-to moderate-income taxpayers file more than 114,000 returns and receive approximately $170,000 in tax refunds and child tax credits. Over the past 15 years, the Foundation has invested nearly $280 million, bettering the lives of more than 1.7 million children. Along with Freddie Mac, the Foundation is the largest corporate philanthropist in the region. Since 1991, the Foundation's work has helped prevent child abuse and neglect; find permanent, loving homes for foster children; transform an inner-city school into a full-service community school; and help children and their families become independent by investing in programs that leverage both support services and housing. The CDF grant is another important way that the Freddie Mac Foundation is helping underserved families become more self-sufficient and independent. The Children's Defense Fund's Leave No Child Behind(R) mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. They pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick or into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. They have never taken government funds. Additional information can be found at childrensdefense.org. Created by Freddie Mac in 1991, the Freddie Mac Foundation is dedicated to creating hope and opportunity for children and their families. As the largest corporate funder in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have invested nearly $280 million in organizations serving the community. http://www.freddiemacfoundation.org/ DATASOURCE: Freddie Mac Foundation CONTACT: Shawn Flaherty, +1-703-903-4384, or Jennifer Meyer, +1-703-903-3877, both of Freddie Mac Foundation Web site: http://www.freddiemacfoundation.org/ http://childrensdefense.org/

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