GARY ISKOWITZ & THE VITA PROGRAM

Leaving a legacy is important to Gary Iskowitz.  What began as a fledging VITA Program at California State University Northridge -- with 10 volunteer students and Gary as its only instructor -- has flourished to more than 300 students, multiple volunteer instructors and more than 12 VITA sites in surrounding communites.

A former IRS revenue agent, Gary began his VITA volunteer journey 40 years ago when he founded CSUN's first VITA Program.  He believes that compassion is the number one attribute of a VITA volunteer, and has seen it in the faces of young students and instructors who offer their time to help a taxpayer who may have a language barrier, or lack of tax knowledge or resources to comply with tax laws.

After serving with the IRS in the Los Angeles area, Gary retired as assistant chief of the examination division in Baltimore.  In addition to his various IRS posts around the country, Gary instructed tax law courrses at CSUN, Seattle University and Maryland's Loyola University, where he also initiated VITA programs.  According to Gary, "It's important to mentor and develop talent that can continue to provide an ongoing outreach to the community long after the founder is gone."

Through the years, the CSUN VITA program has received many awards and recognitions, including a presidential award from former President George Bush, the Hammer Award from former Vice President Al Gore, the Commissioner's Award from the Commissioner of the IRS, and recognition from the Los Angeles City Council and the California State Senate, among others.

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