Spotlight
Volunteer Corner
Kimberly B. (Kimberly)
Kimberly is a former Houston business owner with a background in business administration, an MBA, and several years' experience working with both business and personal taxes. Her reaching out to Beyond Careers in the 2021 tax season was a great thing to occur for Beyond Careers. Kimberly believes in giving back to the community so as pandemic restrictions were winding down but not completely lifted, she found a way to remotely do that with Beyond Careers Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
Beyond Careers VITA is a partner with the Internal Revenue Service- Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (IRS-SPEC), East Early College High School, GetYourRefund (GYR) to upload their tax documents and MyFreeTaxes. Beyond Careers financial supporters are Comerica Bank and CenterPoint Energy.
To date, Kimberly has completed her second season with Beyond Careers VITA. Kimberly said she enjoys the challenge of helping our clients get the best tax outcome and educating them on how to prepare for the coming tax year. She is a strong believer in lifelong learning and will continue to refine her tax knowledge in the off season as preparation for the coming tax year. Kimberly said she has enjoyed her time working with the people of Houston and Beyond Careers VITA and looks forward to many more years of service in the future.
Kimberly has been instrumental in our success for the past two tax seasons she has
volunteered with Beyond Careers VITA. With her level of expertise, she was able to help with complex situations for several of the tax returns. Kimberly’s hard
work and dedication helped us to successfully reach our goals.
For the 2023 tax season, Kimberly will be promoted with Beyond Careers VITA to
a management position as a Trainer and an additional Administrator.
Vanessa C. (Vanessa)
Vanessa will be graduating in May of 2024 with her High School Diploma from East Early College High School and an associate degree from Houston Community College.
In December 2023, Vanessa was accepted at Rice University and will pursue her higher education in accounting, finance and administration.
Beyond Careers Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) began working with East Early College High five years ago when Principal Square reached out in response to an invitation we sent to her Principal Square also volunteered with VITA when she was in college pursuing her accounting degree.
Beyond Careers VITA is a partner with the Internal Revenue Service- Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (IRS-SPEC), East Early College High School, GetYourRefund (GYR) to upload their tax documents and MyFreeTaxes. Beyond Careers financial supporters are Comerica Bank and CenterPoint Energy.
In 2021, Vanessa initially signed up to volunteer with Beyond Careers through her school counselor, Mr. Walton. In 2023, Vanessa began volunteering with Beyond Careers VITA for her second year for the 2022 tax season.
For the 2022 tax season, Vanessa was assigned as a Team Leader to help new volunteers understand how to file clients' tax returns and check the client's documents provided. Vanessa said that doing this task at the beginning of this year’s tax season furthered her learning of how and what it means to be a leader. Also, she became more familiar with the process of calling clients to go over their tax returns before filing with the IRS, and she enjoyed what this task provided her. Vanessa said she was able to gain valuable new social skills, patience, and how to think fast during a situation by becoming more familiar with the process of calling clients to go over their tax returns before filing with the IRS. Vanessa said the skills she has gained by volunteering with Beyond Careers VITA are skills she hopes to use throughout her life and her future career.
Vanessa has been exceptional in her hard work and dedication. For the 2023 tax season, Vanessa will be promoted to a mid-management position as a Trainer and Site Coordinator.
Recognition from U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
On March 12, 2022, U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee presented a Resolution of Congressional Recognition to Stephanie Square, Principal at ECHS VITA Club in partnership with Beyond Careers.
Cover Folder for Recognition
Cover Folder for Resolution for Congressional Recognition.
Partnership Innovation Recognition from SPEC
On April 26, 2017, the IRS-SPEC Director awarded a Partnership Innovation Recognition for the University of Houston-Downtown and Beyond Careers.
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