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The Tzu Chi Scholars program, which return preparation to 1,731 low-income families
offers thousand-dollar college scholarships to in 2012, up from 879 households assisted in
graduating high school seniors, grew more than 2009.
fifty percent between 2009 and 2012, from 211 Among the most notable developments
to 329 recipients nationwide. During the same in this period was the growth of the Happy
three-year span, IRS-certified volunteers nearly Campus Program, which arose from the earlier
doubled the number of families they served book distribution project and was officially
through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance established in 2009. As of 2014, volunteers were
(VITA) program, by providing free income tax providing a variety of compassionate services,

Volunteers held weekly hot meal distributions in
Los Angeles’s Skid Row for several years.

9 2 Tzu Chi uSA WiNTER 2014