Upcoming and Past Chapter Events!


Please submit articles for local chapter events.
Day of the Dead Celebration hosted by Austin H.I.R.E. Chapter 

 The tradition of setting up ofrendas dedicated to the departed dates back to the Pre-Hispanic era. They are prepared a few days before the 1st and 2nd of November, the dates when it is believed that the dead return to visit their friends and relatives. An ofrenda is a table or altar in Mexico and other countries that is decorated with offerings and symbols to honor deceased loved ones.


The chapter invited everyone to join them for the Day of the Dead Celebration by showing how They celebrate Dia De Los Muertos by creating a display which was then entered into a contest for best creation.


All entries were displayed from Oct. 31- Nov. 4th
Great ofrenda pictures – Thank you for sharing!
Great ofrenda pictures – Thank you for sharing!

Philadelphia HIRE Chapter families and friends celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with a bike ride.

On Sunday, September 22nd, 2024, at 1:30pm, Philadelphia HIRE Chapter families and friends came together to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. They rode bicycles through the Schuylkill River trial along Kelly Drive. It was an amazingly perfect day, 70-degree weather, full sunshine, nice breeze, no humidity, but what made it perfect…was the sense of community. They got together to ride as one (and some hiked) and to collect supplies for Philadelphia school teachers. 

Thank you to all who contributed.
North Texas HIRE Chapter 2nd Scholarship Event

North Texas HIRE Chapter held another scholarship fundraiser to end the Hispanic Heritage Month. On Friday, October 13, 2023, it was tostada plate with rice & bean plus a drink. Thank you to all the volunteers and employees who stopped by to make this event a success. Enjoy the pictures. 
HIRE of South Florida Held Happy Hour for HHM

HIRE of South Florida held a Hispanic Heritage Month get-together at Sweet Caroline’s karaoke bar in Miami’s Brickell area on September 29th. We had a great turnout, with employees from the Miami POD coming out to sing songs and have a laugh.

 

“I like to think the good vibes helped prevent a government shutdown. Who knows?”  - Anthony DeCarvalho, HIRE of South Florida President.

 

Upper Row: Zikar-Mark Ghaowi, Steven Jaramillo, Anthony Rozo, Anthony DeCarvalho

Lower Row: Maria Baez, Cheryl Bernal, Ninoshka Chang
North Texas HIRE Chapter - Annual Scholarship Fundraiser

North Texas HIRE Chapter held their Annual Scholarship Fundraiser on September 22nd. It’s been three years since we had our fundraiser since the pandemic. We had a very good turnout. Thank you to all the employees who came by to support the HIRE scholarship program. HIRE appreciates you!!! Enjoy the pictures of the event, posted above and below.  
NTX HIRE Chapter Networking Event

On Thursday, August 17th HIRE North TX Chapter held its first networking mixer hosted by the new North TX Chapter board. The event was held at Four Corners Brewing Company in downtown Dallas and served as an opportunity for new and existing members to connect with other IRS employees. The event also featured raffle door prizes, and career tips from our board members and long-time employees. We also discussed the Servicewide site for detail positions, as promised we’ve provided the link here to share: Servicewide Opportunities Home Page (irs.gov)

 

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend! Please be on the lookout for future events, fundraisers and volunteer opportunities being announced soon.

For over 25 years the Hispanic Internal Revenue Employees (HIRE) of South Florida has served the Spanish-speaking community with free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.


This tax season, 5 volunteers dedicated their Saturdays to helping the community, processing over 200 tax returns (electronic and some paper returns). Volunteers also assist Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole-speaking taxpayers with routine questions on obtaining an ITIN and earned income credit. This year’s most frequently asked questions were on how to treat stimulus payments and how to compute the correct additional child tax credit.


As with last filing season, precautions were taken to ensure preparers and taxpayers could socially distance – however ‘café cubano y pastelitos’ continued to forge the strong relationship between HIRE and the community that’s characterized our site for over 20 years.


HIRE of South Florida in motion

Meet the Crew

Gianimyr Fantauzzi serves as the Alternate Site Coordinator and is currently an acting group manager in one of the Miami Collection groups. Being the site coordinator helps develop leadership skills.

Idalia Blandon, CPA, volunteers to come and learn about taxpayer issues up front, and to stay up to date with changes in the tax law. Idalia says that volunteering at a VITA site gives her 14 credits towards her CPA license!


Heidi Rodriguez, revenue agent also comes to give back and help the community. “I love to come out to volunteer because I have a lot of fun helping taxpayers. I do it because the people that come to the site are grateful for our services and bless us after we help them.”

Manny Cuervo, former stakeholder liaison and dear friend to many, stresses that tax season is the highlight of the year. The camaraderie and the excitement of tax updates keeps him coming back.


Pictured from left to right are Gianimyr, Idalia, Heidi and Manny

Herbert Rodriguez, permanent GM in South Florida and currently an acting territory manager, is the site’s coordinator and its head coach. Rain or shine Herb works with his local church and with the City of Doral, FL to enhance the taxpayer experience and ensure that taxpayers get the services they need.

Barbara Dixon, HIRE Austin Chapter board member contributes her volunteer time for the 10th year! Despite the Easter Basket donation drive being canceled again this year due to the pandemic; Barbara and enthused volunteers Janie Ramirez and Shirley Rivera, received donations from the IRS employees at Austin campus and Cedar Bend. The contributions made it possible for Barbara and her volunteers to deliver 109 baskets, eggs, grass and 20 backpacks, 4 baby bags and 2 girl baskets to SAFE Alliance and 500 eggs, 20 backpacks, 4 baby bags and 3 girl baskets to the Salvation Army’s Women & Children’s shelter. The charity recipients were excited and filled with gratitude in response to IRS employee donations! Thank you Barbara Dixon and HIRE Austin Chapter volunteers for making Easter 2022 a ‘hoppy’ one for many children!  
RGV IRS Employees Spreading Holiday Joy To Local Orphanage

RGV HIRE members and fellow IRS employees were busy December 2021 making Christmas wish lists true for the children at Sunny Glenn Orphanage. These IRS employees did not hesitate to share their blessings with the children by donating clothes, shoes, toys, makeup, electronics & gift cards. Sunny Glenn staff and children were very thankful and the gifts brought them happiness during this holiday season.

 

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for helping making these children happy on Christmas; for them to feel and know there’s people that care for them.


Irasema Garcia, RGV HIRE President


(Due to the children’s privacy we are unable to show their picture so instead we are showing a selection of the gifts and a Sunny Glenn employee.)
2021 Philadelphia HIRE Christmas Dinner Party
December 16th, 2021 the Philadelphia HIRE Chapter held it's holiday celebration at the Juniata Golf Foundation (Juniata Golf Club). 

Members and their families enjoyed dancing and games along with a delicious holiday meal served up by the retired members (Patty Mesa, Former President Marisol Carrasquillo, and Marcy Morales).

The event was attended by numerous HIRE members and their families including; Mr. Rafael Enrique Diaz, Chapter President, Wanda Smith, Chapter Vice President, Audrey Tucker, Evette Cuevas, to name just a few.

The event was sponsored by Rosa "te cocina", Titi's Learning Academy, Compare & Save Supermarket, Juniata Golf Club, as well as the local HIRE Chapter.


Hispanic Internal Revenue Employees & Stakeholder Liaison and Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication host interactive Lunch and Learn Session in Memphis.

Hispanic Internal Revenue Employees “HIRE”, Stakeholder Liaison and Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication “SPEC” collaborated to host interactive 2021 Hispanic Heritage Lunch & Learn sessions via Zoom to the IRS Memphis Campus. Maritza Rabinowitz, Senior Stakeholder Liaison and Yanira Morales, Senior Relationship Manager sponsored Hispanic Heritage presentations for the Memphis IRS Campus. Maritza and Yanira, who are both HIRE members, proudly represent Hispanics within the IRS. Hispanics represent about 14% of the workforce in the Internal Revenue Service. They presented two informative segments about the contributions of Famous Hispanics, Latino’s traditions, a surprise Trivia contest, and Live Flamenco dance demonstration. HIRE members highlighted Hispanic and Latino contributions to our society as well as to the global society. The winners of the Trivia contest received traditional candies from Puerto Rico! The IRS Memphis Campus Acting Field Director thanked HIRE for the collaboration and expressed that the nearly 90 participants over the two sessions are testament to the interest in EDI activities.

The Brookhaven HIRE Chapter celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with several workshops.
Each Friday, throughout the 2021 celebration, the Chapter invited not only its members, but all who want to join them to discuss the many ways people of Hispanic Heritage have influenced the world around us. 


The first Friday session dove into the art world and discussed painters and graphic artists that have represented and showcased Hispanic culture and iconography.  A discussion meant for everyone, regardless of prior exposure to the art world, examined some of the art pieces old and new as participants discussed the social context of the pieces as well as how it made the participants feel and what childhood memories they stirred. 


The second Friday they delved into the world of music.  As each genre of music was discussed, a short snippet of the genre was played.  As some participants reminisced about their childhood, others talked about how the music made them feel and others yet about how the artist influenced their lives.  


The next Friday session centered around customs and traditions. Participants discussed how customs and traditions differed from one country to another as well as how the traditions have developed as well as merged with others in our ever-changing world.  


The second to last session was a journey around the country that highlighted the vestiges of its Hispanic heritage. 


And finally, the last session looked at the influential people of Hispanic descent that have lent their voices and lives to the causes they hold dear making history along the way.

 

 

"Trusting My Journey and Making the Best of It".
26th ANNUAL Women’s Conference

Friday, September 24, 2021
Location: "The Painted Table" (Formally TorNino's)
5080 N. Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA, 93710
Registration: 7:45 am - 8:30 am
Conference: 8:30 am - 1:15 pm

SPEAKERS: 

Maryann Enciso
Director, Wage & Investment Area 4
Field Assistance (CARE) 		                Michele Casarez
IRS-CI Special Agent
Oakland Field Office



Grace Santa Cruz
Program Manager
SB/SE Campus Collection Operations    

Alyssa Justice
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Owner – Wel Nourished

Music and Entertainment provided by DJ Birdie and Diana Mora.
For tickets contact the Women’s Committee Chairperson, Jenny Martinez-Boggs at (559) 453-2614

*Photo 2019 Women's Conference speaker: Amy Rotella, Staff Assistant, Fresno Management and Secretary Services
HIRE of South Florida Finishes Successful VITA Filing Season 

In South Florida, Hispanic Internal Revenue Employees (HIRE) take VITA seriously.   For 20 years HIRE of South Florida has partnered with Stakeholder, Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) to provide tax preparation to our Spanish-speaking community.

While last year’s site had to close unexpectedly in March due to the pandemic, this year preparations were in place to launch the site as soon as filing season started.  Site Coordinator Herbert Rodriguez was able to secure a large space where tables were spaced out to allow for social distancing. PPE and hand sanitizer was offered to all taxpayers.  

Six volunteers were also ready to step up to the plate when filing season was extended to Mid-May. They graciously continued to give up time with their families to come help the community on Saturday mornings.
(See below for photos)

HIRE of South Florida welcomes everyone wanting to help others. Volunteers are from Exam, Collection, Stakeholder Liaison and SPEC, as well as IRS-retirees, and students seeking to take the Enrolled Agent exam.  Tax law and software training is provided.  This is a great opportunity to network with fellow and former IRS employees, other volunteers and the community in general. Taxpayer education is also a nice addition to your resume.

For more information on becoming a VITA volunteer in South Florida contact Herbert Rodriguez.

For more information on HIRE contact Karen Balen.
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