Ralph Santoliquido
Husband and wife team up to help others during tax season
“I devoted my career to helping others and now I look forward to helping folks during tax season.”
A month after his retirement Ralph Santoliquido was looking for ways to fill his days. A call for volunteer tax preparers on WYEP peaked his interest, and he reached out to learn more about United Way’s Free Tax Prep Program.
With a career as a case worker for the Department of Public Welfare, Ralph had devoted his life to helping others. After learning more, volunteering with the Free Tax Prep program seemed like a great way for him to continue giving back to his community and making a real difference.
“The clients are so very thankful that we’re helping them for free. Even small refunds make a big difference to them. These refunds might be the help they need to get them back on their feet,” shared Ralph.
Ralph is excited to start his fifth year as a tax preparer with United Way’s Free Tax Prep Program at the Human Services Center Corporation, a United Way partner agency, in Turtle Creek. His wife, Carla, will join him as a greeter. “She greets the clients and makes sure they have all of their paperwork, and then she sends them back to me,” Ralph shared. “Over the years, we’ve grown our skill sets. I’ve been trained to do more advanced work, and Carla has given advice to help new greeters.”
The two have helped hundreds of clients, but one in particular sticks out in Ralph’s mind – a college senior paying her way through school. She had received a scholarship that was being considered income, causing her to owe money at tax time. “I was able to help her find documentation that she had spent the scholarship money on education expenses such as books and supplies and she ended up getting a refund,” Ralph said. “She was so relieved and thankful. It felt great to help her work through this issue.”
Ralph encourages others in the community to consider signing up to prepare taxes this coming tax season. “It’s a very rewarding way to spend your time where you can really make a difference for people and continue learning and growing even in retirement.”
To sign up as a United Way Free Tax Prep volunteer, visit www.swpafreetaxes.org. To see if you’re eligible for the program, dial 2-1-1.
