2025-2026 Appeal
Help Kick-Off our Appeal! Donate Today!
Fall is here and so is another school year with tax season right around the corner! Let's recap how your donations have impacted so many since The Elsie Foundation's inception:
- 7 students received new technology equipment
- 17 students participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinic during 2023, 2024, and 2025
- 306 Chester residents were helped by the VITA clinic on Widener University's campus, the only VITA site in Chester, PA. Without funding, this site would not be in operation.
Please help us meet our fundraising goal of $7,100!
Every dollar you give goes directly towards our mission. All administrative costs are covered by other resources. Donate now!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to date. Your gift matters.
Together, we are changing lives, one student and one community at a time.
Where your donations go
2026 VITA Clinic
Your donations will help fund the VITA clinic for the 2025 tax season from January to April 2026.
Pictured in March 2025: Deb, Founder of The Elsie Foundation; Wyatt, a manager with The Community Action Agency of Delaware County, the agency that operates the tax clinic in partnership with Widener; and donor, Mike Borinski.
2025 VITA Clinic
Widener students, with faculty supervision, begin participation in the VITA clinic by going through rigorous tax education training. Afterwards, they work in the tax clinic on campus through April 15th interviewing and helping eligible Chester residents prepare and file their income tax returns.
2024 VITA Clinic
Mesoma & Ayon - Fall 2024
The Foundation's Financial Literacy Award has funded the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinic at Widener University since 2023.
Mesoma & Ayon - Fall 2024
Mesoma & Ayon - Fall 2024
Mesoma is majoring in business analytics with a finance minor. Since middle school, her plan has been to become a lawyer but for now, she's focused on her current studies at Widener. In addition to securing a technology grant for herself, Mesoma advocated for another student, Ayon, to receive a grant too. Through the generosity of donors like you, The Elsie Project was able to award two grants this year.
Arielys - Fall 2022
William - Winter 2020
Arielys is a rising Psychology major at Widener University. With an Elsie Project grant, she was able to get a Dell laptop, 24" monitor, wireless keyboard, mouse, HDMI cables, a printer, and a TI-89 calculator to help make it possible to attend college and keep up with her rigorous studies.
William - Winter 2020
William - Winter 2020
William, a 17-year-old who headed to Millersville University in January 2021, asked for "anything for college" on his Christmas list. The Elsie Project answered the call and purchased him a new laptop to help him on his educational journey.
Joseph - Fall 2020
Joseph, seen here as a freshman, was aging out of the foster care system and needed financial help to acquire the technology equipment required for his college education at Widener University. The Elsie Project stepped in to assist.
Princess - Winter 2018
Princess was first student to receive a technology grant from The Elsie Project. She's pictured here with co-founders, Deb & Jamie McCracken.
Fundraising for The Elsie Project and Financial Literacy Award is Underway
Your contributions will enable us to meet our goals of providing new technology equipment to students and helping fund financial education programs, like VITA, to benefit communities in need.
Thank you for your support!
