A program that paired Calvin College students with low-income families to offer free tax services proved to be a huge success this past spring.

Over a period of two months some 23 Calvin consultants, including 18 students, three alumni and two faculty, worked approximately 200 hours helping people at or below the poverty level file their returns.

When all was said and done over 150 federal returns and 140 Michigan returns were filed. Nearly 100 individuals found out they qualified for Michigan property tax credits and over 70 qualified for the Michigan home heating credit. Finally 40 individuals qualified for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

The net result: almost $100,000 in refunds from federal, state and city returns.

Such numbers were gratifying for all involved, especially student coordinator Craig Haan (above) of Grand Rapids.

"Calvin has been doing this program for about 20 years," said Haan, an Accounting major and graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School. "It's been a tremendous success in the past and we were pleased by the success this year. Our objective was to find as many tax credits as we can. The people are very nice and are generally very excited when they see they are going to get a refund."

The Calvin faculty coordinator for the program was professor Ray Slager.