Intuit Announces 25 Finalists in ’Power to Get More Done’ Stimulus Grant Competition

Accounting and Tax Professionals Competing for $20,000 Awards to Grow a Practice or Start a New One

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif . – Twenty-five accounting and tax professionals from 19 states are finalists in Intuit Inc.’s (Nasdaq: INTU) Power to Get More Done Stimulus Grant competition.

The finalists, including 12 businesses owned or co-owned by women, are each eligible to receive $10,000 in cash and up to $10,000 in Intuit products and services to help grow their practice or start a new one. Intuit will award grants totaling up to $200,000 to 10 professionals and firms in late June.

“These 25 finalists are the cream of the crop, exemplifying how they plan to use the grants to offer new services, create new jobs and provide economic growth for their communities,” said Georg Gerstenfeld, vice president of marketing for Intuit’s Accounting Professionals Division. “The number and quality of applications were outstanding and underscore what a vital role accounting and tax professionals play in the health of our overall economy. From the more than 700 applicants, these finalists stood above the rest.”
Community Commitment

Within their applications, the finalists consistently demonstrated a willingness to help their communities by offering financial training to students, minorities and small businesses. Additionally, many performed volunteer work, promoting assistance to low-income families and working to increase financial literacy among high-school students.

The 25 finalists are:

Tamara Babcock (Mitchell, Ala.)
Amy Mezo (Jonesboro, Ill.)
Rebecca Bambarger (Chino Hills, Calif.)
John Pearson (Norwalk, Conn.)
Robert Beninger (Cocoa, Fla.)
David Pickett (Orrville, Ohio)
Aliyah Bonaparte (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Nathan Rice (Williston, Vt.)
Darren Brady (Charlotte, N.C.)
Renee Richard (Tucson, Ariz.)
Ramona Brookins (Orlando, Fla.)
Daniel Ruotolo (Mount Laurel, N.J.)
Wendy Cumming (Soquel, Calif.)
Susan Schutz (Glendale, Colo.)
Dirk Dixon (Clive, Iowa)
Kevin Stith (Louisville, Ky.)
Gerri Harrison (Johnson City, N.Y.)
Marybea Varvel (Camino, Calif.)
Anita Howell (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Tammy Williams (Elkins, W.Va.)
Daniel Kavanaugh (Pleasanton, Calif.)
Donna Wilson (Culver City, Calif.)
Randall Kelly (Lewis, Kans.)
Robert Wright (Upper Marlboro, Md.)
Reynaldo Lozano (Greeley, Colo.)
Support During Economic Uncertainty

Intuit launched the Power to Get More Done initiative earlier this year to help accounting professionals succeed in these uncertain economic times. The grant competition was designed to help tax and accounting professionals either grow an existing firm or start a new one.

More than 700 entrants submitted high-level business plans that explained how they would use the money to expand their business while helping their community. A panel of accounting professionals, an Intuit executive and representatives from three co-sponsors judged the applications and selected the finalists.

Co-sponsors include the National Society of Accountants, the National Association of Enrolled Agents and the National Association of Tax Professionals.

In addition to the grant competition, the Power to Get More Done initiative offers accounting and tax professionals discounts that they can pass on to their small business clients to help them save time and money.