Tip of the iceberg: A fundraiser

In my recent trip to the arctic circle, I learned a lot of fun facts. Here are some of my favorites:

• The ice in icebergs is estimated to be 1.2 millions years old and they take 2-3 years to melt
• A polar bear was once recorded swimming for nine days straight
• Walruses eat mollusks by creating a vacuum with their lips and sucking the meat out of the shells without breaking them
• The global seed vault in Svalbard holds over 900,000 varieties of crop seeds and has the capacity to hold 4.5 million

Unfortunately, when the trip ended I had to return to reality and deal with some very un-fun facts facing the communities we serve at work:

• The federal government is phasing out paper checks, leaving unbanked families with limited options to receive tax refunds and other crucial benefits
• The pandemic-era pause in student loan payments ended last year and almost 10% of student debt is currently in default or 90+ days delinquent, affecting 5.4 million borrowers
• 22 million Americans on ACA plans could see their monthly health insurance premiums jump 114% and many could lose coverage
• The average household paid about $100 more in energy bills in 2025 and will see further increases in 2026

While I wish I could spend all my time frolicking amongst the icebergs, I feel lucky to work for an organization that addresses the issues facing our community and helps families navigate these uncertainties. By connecting underserved communities to free tax prep services, affordable banking products, and judgement-free financial coaching, we help keep more money in people's pockets so they can make ends meet. 

Like many nonprofits, finding consistent and flexible funding is a constant battle. Individual donations make a huge difference in our ability to deliver programming. Any amount helps!

Thank you for your consideration. As a gesture of my gratitude, please enjoy these highlights from the arctic circle.