Annual
Report
2024

Letter From Irene

Irene BaldwinExecutive Director
Ariva

Dear Friends,

I’m pleased to share with you our 2024 year-end report. 2024 was another exciting year for us; we continued to grow in the Bronx, expanding our services and partnerships to better support the financial health of our neighbors and our community.

Our new project, the Bronx Seniors Financial Empowerment Project, was a huge success. Working with four of the Bronx’s preeminent senior services providers (Bronx River Community Center, Fordham-Bedford Community Services, JASA, and PEP for Seniors) we provided free, onsite tax assistance to close to 800 Bronx seniors in 2024. And in 2025, thanks to the project’s anchor partners (Flagstar Foundation, New York Foundation for Eldercare, and the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation), we will be expanding our free tax assistance and integrating it with free one-on-one financial counseling to assist seniors in achieving current and future financial goals.

Our Ventanilla Program also had some exciting news. With the support of our long-time partner M&T Bank, we expanded our onsite financial counseling program from the Mexican Consulate to a second location at the Consulate General of Ecuador in New York City. The Ecuadorian Consulate has been a wonderful host and partner, and there is great enthusiasm for the program from Consulate visitors. We look forward to growing this partnership in the years to come.

But 2025 also has big challenges ahead. The hostility of the current Presidential Administration’s proposed policies toward immigrants, and the NYC Administration’s public commitment to partner with them on some of those proposals, does not sit well with us here in the Bronx. Half of us are newcomers and the other half doesn’t have to climb very far up our family tree to meet our immigrant ancestors. We do not know what the next few years will bring, but we do know that the people of the Bronx are resilient and will weather whatever challenges we face.

At Ariva, our mission and programs are unchanged. We continue to support financial empowerment and inclusion for all New Yorkers, and we stand with our immigrant neighbors.

Here’s wishing you the bluest sky and hoping something better comes tomorrow.

A happy and healthy New Year to all.

Irene Baldwin

Where We Serve

  • Ariva at Spring Bank

    69 East 167th St.
    Bronx, NY 10452
    Year-Round Tax Preparation &
    Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at University Heights

    67 West Tremont Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10453
    Year-Round Tax Preparation &
    Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at West Farms Housing

    6 West Farms Sq.
    Bronx, NY 10460
    Year-Round Tax Preparation

  • Ariva at Part of the Solution (POTS)

    2450 Grand Concourse Avenue
    Bronx, NY 10458
    Tax Preparation, Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ)

    1384 Stratford Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10472
    Tax Preparation

  • Parkchester Enhancement Program (PEP)

    1525 Unionport Rd.
    Bronx, NY 10462
    Tax Preparation, Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at JASA

    2049 Bartow Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10475
    Tax Preparation

  • Ariva at Eastside House

    201 St. Ann’s Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10454
    Tax Preparation

  • Bronx River Community Center

    1619 East 174th St.
    Bronx, NY 10472
    Tax Preparation

  • Ariva at Serviam

    2848 Bainbidge Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10458
    Tax Preparation

  • Mexican Consulate of New York

    27 East 39th St.
    New York, NY 10016
    Financial Counseling

  • Consulate of Ecuador

    800 2nd Ave., 2nd FL
    New York, NY 10017
    Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at Bridge Builders Community Partnership

    156 West 164th St.
    Bronx, NY 10452
    Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center

    220 East 204 St, Suite A
    Bronx, NY 10458
    Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at West Farms

    1 West Farms Sq.
    Bronx, NY 10460
    Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at Part of the Solution (POTS at Webster Ave.)

    2759 Webster Avenue
    Bronx, NY 10458
    Financial Counseling

  • Ariva at Legal Hand-Bronx

    3213 Third Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10451
    Financial Counseling

  • Bronx Workforce

    400 East Fordham Road
    Bronx, NY 10458
    Financial Counseling

  • 163rd Street Improvement Council

    490 East 167th St,
    Bronx, NY 10456
    Ready to Rent

  • Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS)

    198 East 121st St.
    New York, NY 10035
    Ready to Rent

  • Office of NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez

    2065 Morris Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10453
    Ready to Rent

  • University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP)

    2715 Bainbridge Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10458
    Ready to Rent

  • St. Jerome H.A.N.D.S.

    330 East 138th St.
    Bronx, NY 10454
    Ready to Rent

  • Susan’s Place

    1911-21 Jerome Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10453
    Ready to Rent

  • HANAC

    27-40 Hoyt Avenue South
    Queens, NY 11102
    Ready to Rent

  • Legal Hand-Jamaica

    149-13 Jamaica Avenue
    Queens, NY 11435
    Ready to Rent

  • Legal Hand-Crown Heights

    250 Kingston Avenue
    Brooklyn, NY 11213
    Ready to Rent

Our Community

1

65%

28%

7%

  • 65% Hispanic/Latino

  • 28% African American

  • 7% Other

2

28%

30%

21%

13%

8%

  • Less than $10,000

  • $10,000 - $19,999

  • $20,000 - $29,999

  • $30,000 - $39,999

  • $40,000 or more

3

49%

51%

  • 49% Spanish

  • 51% English

4

8%

14%

17%

16%

16%

29%

  • 16 - 24

  • 25 - 34

  • 35 - 44

  • 45 - 54

  • 55 - 64

  • 65+ years

Our Programs

TAX PREPARATION

In its 21st year, the Ariva tax program remains a vital resource for the community. In 2024, we expanded access and enhanced services to better meet the needs of our growing and diverse population. We opened 10 in-person tax preparation sites, along with virtual and drop-off services, to improve accessibility, including four sites dedicated to seniors. Through the invaluable support of key partners and volunteers, we were able to provide critical resources and assistance to those who need it most, especially in light of the migrant crisis and the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable populations.
Responding to Community Needs
In 2024, we formed a new partnership with the Ecuadorian Consulate of New York to offer tax preparation and ITIN application services to the Ecuadorian community, filing 128 returns and 122 ITIN applications. This collaboration aims to ensure that immigrants have the support they need to navigate the tax system and access essential services.
Establishing New Community Partnerships
Our tax program launched a transformative initiative to serve seniors in the Bronx, made possible by the generous support of the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Flagstar Foundation, and the New York Foundation for Eldercare. In line with our mission to provide accessible, free tax preparation services, we dedicated four tax sites specifically for seniors, focusing on neighborhoods with high senior populations: We partnered with local senior centers and community organizations to raise awareness and promote the availability of these free tax services. These efforts played a crucial role in driving participation and ensuring that seniors in underserved areas had access to the support they needed. As a result, we successfully assisted 741 seniors with tax preparation, while also providing access to one-on-one financial counseling services.
Expanding Vital Support to Seniors

FINANCIAL COUNSELING

In 2024, Ariva provided one-on-one financial counseling to 4,728 people at 15 partnering community-based organizations. Our clients received guidance on improving their budgets, learning different ways to save, building and establishing their credit, and reducing and managing their debt. We are also committed to assisting our clients with wealth building, which includes ensuring they are screened for eligibility for public benefits.
Empowering Communities in the Bronx and Beyond
With our community partners and supporters, we strive to foster a more equitable and prosperous future for all New Yorkers. In 2024, we continued our commitment to supporting New York City’s hard-working immigrants by helping them better understand how to navigate the complex United States financial system. This effort is aided by our partnerships with several Latin American Consulates and immigrant-serving organizations, including the Mexican Consulate, the General Consulate of Ecuador, and the Consulate of El Salvador. La Ventanilla, the Financial Education Window, an initiative made possible by support from M&T Bank and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, aims to empower Spanish-speaking immigrant communities with tools for economic security and financial decision-making. In operation at the Mexican Consulate for over 10 years, in 2024 La Ventanilla, with funding from M&T Bank, expanded to the Consulate of Ecuador in New York, providing access to information about secure and affordable banking options, the credit systems in the U.S., and setting financial goals. We offered Tax Days and workshops on credit building, small business development, and entrepreneurship.
Serving Immigrant Populations
Many low-income and vulnerable New Yorkers don’t realize how much their credit history and finances play a role in their eligibility for affordable housing. In 2024, Ariva provided financial counseling that helped hundreds of low-income NYC residents prepare their finances to apply for affordable housing. We assisted clients with setting up accounts through Housing Connect, applying to affordable housing lotteries, preparing for the housing interview, organizing client documentation once selected, reviewing credit, discussing debt management, developing realistic budgeting strategies, saving for emergencies, opening bank accounts to pay rent, and being fully prepared to move in.
Facilitating Access to Affordable Housing
In 2024, our Bronx Small Business Program played a vital role in empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners by offering free, comprehensive services, workshops, and expert guidance. The Bronx entrepreneurship support program served 121 clients, conducted five business workshops, and helped 47 clients create detailed business plans. Participants benefited from one-on-one counseling, business planning support, Employer Identification Number (EIN) application assistance, and resources to determine business structures and learn about financing options. As we look to 2025, we remain dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and contributing to the vibrancy of our community.
Supporting Entrepreneurs

Our Volunteers and Clients

I’m of a certain age, and coming up to Social Security. I had my head in the sand for many years and didn’t really look at where I stood. This is a first start to get a handle on where I am, and what I can and can’t do,” says Carolyn, an Ariva financial counseling client. With the guidance of one of our financial counselors, Carolyn says she is now looking at her “personal bigger picture” and thinking about decisions to improve and secure her financial future. Since utilizing our services, Carolyn has learned to budget her income, find the right debt consolidation resources to alleviate her financial stressors, and explore ways to reduce expenses. “I’m not only in a new chapter but also in a totally different place now after meeting with Ariva,” she says.

Carolyn G., Ariva Financial Counseling Client

It’s my dream to open my own daycare. I love kids,” says Nicole, an entrepreneur who utilized Ariva free small business services. “I felt like I was drowning, and I didn’t know how to get out of the situation. Ariva’s team took the time to explain everything to me—how to save, how much to save, and where my credit score needs to be,” she says. She feels closer to launching her Bronx daycare center today because of her financial planning work and the financial empowerment she is experiencing as a result

Nicole, Ariva Small Business Client

“Taxes are scary for everyone—for me, for you, for the clients. To be able to help people through it and have them come out with money in their pockets is amazing. Volunteering with Ariva is unlike anything else I’ve done,” says Ellen. A tax program volunteer with Ariva since 2020, she had no previous taxrelated experience before training with Ariva. In one case, she helped a young woman with a complex tax situation secure a life-changing tax refund: “Her aunt helped her realize she was missing out on stimulus checks and the Earned Income Tax Credit for the last two years,“ Ellen explains. “We helped her file returns for the two years and claim the credits for herself and her family, which amounted to almost $6,000.” These kinds of experiences illustrate the impact of both our tax preparation and volunteer programs. ”

Ellen Egeth, Ariva Tax Volunteer (pictured far left)

Our Board of Directors

Officers

  • Heng LyChair
  • Steven FlaxVice Chair
  • Susan GrbicTreasurer
  • Astrid AndreSecretary

Directors

  • Lemuria Alawode-ElWalter BlenmanDiana Breen
  • Josh Garcia Natalie Lozada
  • Myriam Rebling

Our Team

Administration

Irene BaldwinExecutive Director

Angelica MuñozExecutive Assistant

Roy NielsenFiscal Director

Bellamy PuchFiscal Associate

Teri WadeCommunications Manager

Tax Program

Nilda BonillaAdministrative Assistant

Libretta ChampagneSenior Tax Preparer

Maribel MontillaSenior Program Director

Claudia MunozSenior Tax Preparer

Madelin QuezadaSenior Tax Preparer

Isabelle StorellaVolunteer Coordinator

Financial Counseling Team

Sergio Aguilar DiazFinancial Counselor

Felix ArellanoProgram Manager

Sidy DiakhateSenior Financial Counselor

Sharon FortisProgram Manager

Elizabeth Gomez CastrillonFinancial Counselor

Keyla JimboFinancial Counselor

Kaalvin MelendezFinancial Counselor

Kerly MorenoFinancial Counselor

Adelaida MorinSenior Program Director

Jose O'BoyleAdministrative Assistant

Nelson QueralesFinancial Counselor

Raul Sosa RuizAdministrative Assistant

Jose SouffrontFinancial Counselor

Melissa ToonkelProgram Director

Fernando ZeaFinancial Counselor

By the numbers

2024

8,164 Tax returns filed
622 ITINs
4,728 Financial counseling clients served
499 Tax clients who also received financial counseling
254 People received entrepreneurship support services

Our Commitment to Community Partnerships

We rely on a community of partners to reach and serve the families, seniors, and residents of the Bronx. At this year’s Toast to Ariva, our annual fundraising event and community gathering, we celebrated our longstanding partnership with University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP) under the leadership of Executive Director Jim Buckley, who also served as an Ariva board member for 10 years. We’re so grateful for all of our sponsors and for the opportunity to honor our community partners year after year. Read more about the 2024 Toast to Ariva celebration here.

What a night!

Vision
For
2025

In 2025, we will continue to help thousands of New Yorkers pursue better financial futures by providing free tax preparation and financial counseling services. Our team and leadership are committed to responding to the unique needs of the populations we serve, including seniors, immigrants, and entrepreneurs, and to forming new, mutually rewarding community partnerships that will expand our impact and build economic justice, opportunity, and inclusion in the Bronx and across New York City.

GET INVOLVED

Volunteer or Intern With Us
By serving as a volunteer tax preparer with Ariva, you can help the community, learn new skills, and be part of a dedicated team. Some of our volunteers have returned each year for more than a decade. College students are welcome to intern with us for college credit. Find out more about the benefits of volunteering or interning: ariva.org/volunteer/ 
Support Our Work
We exist to help New Yorkers build financially empowered and prosperous lives—and we can’t accomplish this important mission without your support. No dollar amount is too small! Every little bit helps us bring free financial services to those who need it most. Please consider making a donation: ariva.org/donate/ 

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS

Individual Donors

  • Lemuria Alawode-El
  • Astrid Andre
  • Irene Baldwin and Mike McGrath
  • Shanthi Bhadriah
  • Heather Blumberg
  • Judy Blumberg
  • Diana Breen and Michael Ritter
  • Jim Buckley
  • Daeman Di Stefano
  • Aubrie Fennecken
  • Friend of Ariva
  • Orville Froome
  • Grbic Family Fund
  • Gary Hattem and Frazier Holloway
  • Douglas Houston
  • Heng Ly
  • Colleen Marocco
  • Allison Mayle
  • Linda McLaughlin
  • Maribel Montilla
  • Adelaida Morin
  • Kathleen Scott
  • Marie Sturm
  • Bob Swanton
  • Teri Wade
  • Anita Williams
  • Gerard Wollweber

Corporate

  • Apple Bank
  • BankUnited
  • Capital One
  • Dime Community Bank
  • Flagstar Bank
  • Fordham-Bedford Housing Corporation
  • HF Printing Solutions
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • M&T Charitable Foundation
  • OceanFirst
  • Renew & Redesign Consulting
  • Spring Bank
  • West Farms Square LLC

Foundation

  • The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation
  • The Irene Ritter Foundation
  • Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
  • New York Foundation for Eldercare
  • Robin Hood Foundation

Government

  • NYC Council Member Amanda Farías
  • NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
  • NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development
  • NYC Department of Youth and Community Development
  • NYS Department of State
  • U.S. Department of the Treasury – Internal Revenue Service

In-Kind Support

  • Bitly
  • Fordham-Bedford Housing Corporation
  • Spring Bank

Partners

  • 163rd Street Improvement Council
  • Bridge Builders Community Partnership
  • Bronx River Community Center
  • Center for Urban Community Service (CUCS)
  • Consulate of Ecuador in New York
  • Consulate General of El Salvador in New York City
  • Consulate General of Mexico in New York City
  • Eastside House
  • HANAC
  • JASA
  • Legal Hand Bronx
  • Legal Hand Crown Heights
  • Legal Hand Jamaica
  • New York Cares
  • NYC Health & Hospitals
  • NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
  • Office of NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez
  • Parkchester Enhancement Program
  • Part of the Solution (POTS)
  • Serviam Hall (FordhamBedford Housing Corporation)
  • Spring Bank
  • St. Jerome H.A.N.D.S.
  • Susan’s Place
  • University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP)
  • West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center
  • West Farms (Fordham-Bedford Housing Corporation)
  • Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ)
  • NYC Small Business Service (Workforce 1)

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