Providing financial assistance to relatives is something many people do. For the millions of Mexican-Americans sending money to family in Mexico, this could yield tax breaks in the United States.

Taxpayers must claim the people being supported as dependents to be eligible for the $3,650 dependent exemption. Generally, a dependent must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico. Exceptions are made for certain adopted children.

Eligible expenses that may be claimed include food, lodging, clothing, education, medical and dental care, recreation and transportation. All qualified expenses must be verified with the appropriate receipts and documentation.

To claim dependents in Mexico, specific qualifications must be met:

• Taxpayer must provide more than 50 percent of the dependent’s eligible living expenses
• The dependent must be a:
  - Child, stepchild, foster child or their descendant
  - Sibling, stepsibling or half sibling
  - Parent, grandparent or their direct ancestor
  - Stepparent
  - Niece, nephew, aunt or uncle
  - Son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law
  - The dependent’s gross income from U.S. sources may not exceed $3,650 for 2009, unless disabled
  - A dependent must not file a joint return for the year unless to claim a refund of taxes withheld

“Because so many Mexican-Americans provide for their loved ones in Mexico, more people could take advantage of this dependency exemption than already do,” said Silvia Delgado, tax specialist at H&R Block. “But, it’s important to understand what steps need to be taken in order to claim a resident of Mexico as a dependent.”

In addition to meeting basic exemption qualifications, the taxpayer must submit a form W-7 to get an Individual Tax Identification Number from the IRS for the dependent. Taxpayers and dependents who are not eligible for Social Security Numbers must have an ITIN to submit a tax return in the United States.

An ITIN is a tax processing number that is issued to individuals – regardless of immigration status – who have a tax reporting obligation but do not qualify for a Social Security Number.

H&R Block has more than 10,000 Spanish-speaking tax professionals trained to do ITIN returns, 2,200 Spanish-designated offices and a Spanish Web site. In 2009, H&R Block served more than 1.6 million Latino clients.

For more information, call 1-800-HRBLOCK to find a nearby tax professional who can explain the complexities of claiming dependents residing outside the United States.

About H&R Block
H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world’s preeminent tax services provider, having prepared more than 500 million tax returns since 1955. In fiscal 2009, H&R Block had annual revenues of $4.1 billion and prepared more than 24 million tax returns worldwide, utilizing more than 100,000 highly trained tax professionals. The Company provides tax return preparation services in person, through H&R Block At Home™ online and desktop software products, and through other channels. The Company is also one of the leading providers of business services through RSM McGladrey. For more information, visit our Online Press Center at www.hrblock.com/espanol.

Nationally-recognized Nettelhorst Elementary School named 2010 champion

Chicago, Ill. (March 5, 2010) – Nettelhorst Elementary School students had much more to celebrate today than just the end to a week of ISATs.  More than 150 U.S. Cellular associates stunned the North side school with the news that they are the 10th and final winner in the 2010 Calling All Communities campaign. Nettelhorst is the first ever Chicago public school to win a coveted $100,000 prize awarded to 10 schools who received the most community votes.
“I would like to commend U.S. Cellular for inspiring schools and communities across the country to join forces by supporting children and their education,” ,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “It is programs like Calling All Communities that truly lead by example showcasing how one person or one community can make a difference in a child’s life.”

For what would be the final time of this year, cheering U.S. Cellular associates tossed t-shirts, hurled 100 Grand candy bars and congratulated ecstatic students and teachers. Brightly-colored confetti filled the playground as television cameras jockeyed for position to catch the excitement. Teachers embraced U.S. Cellular associates and each other, crying tears of joy.

“I’m in shock but it’s a good shock,” said Nettelhorst Principal Cindy Wulbert, after U.S. Cellular officials reached out to their more than 43,000 Facebook fans for help track her down the night before the big surprise. “This is unbelievable but we have the best parents in the world. You wouldn’t believe how many late nights they spent gathering support for our school. They all pulled together to make this happen.”

Located in the East Lakeview neighborhood, the CPS Magnet school has received national attention for the high academic achievement of its more than 600 pre-K through 8th grade students. Nettelhorst is often cited in the media as an example of innovation and renewal in urban public schools and has been featured on CBS, PBS, NPR, 60 Minutes and The New York Times and the Chicago papers.

Nettelhorst was in 17th place when the campaign’s last Top 20 list was posted in December. In the end, the school beat out more than 6,800 contenders across the country, joining nine other champions that received the most community votes during the two-month-long campaign.

Winning schools in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, North Carolina, Washington, and Oregon also received $100,000 to use any way they choose. Wulbert said the school is still deciding how to use its jackpot, but most likely portions of the funds will be invested into the Community Schools Program and renovating the science lab.

“Though a Chicago school had not won before, we always knew our schools had the heart to do it,” said Derek Estes, director of sales in Chicago for U.S. Cellular. “Our Chicagoland associates couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate with such an inspirational school.”

Calling All Communities voter participation this year nearly quadrupled with 430,000 votes cast for 6,800-plus schools nationwide. All 10 winning schools in this year’s campaign have been announced. Visit uscellular.com/callingallcommunities or U.S. Cellular’s Facebook page to view the results.
Continuing its commitment to investing $4.5 million in schools in 2009-2010,

U.S. Cellular will launch its popular Calling All Teachers campaign this fall, funding $1 million in classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org.

About U.S. Cellular
The 9,000 associates of U.S. Cellular believe a wireless phone enhances people’s lives and a wireless company should be in the business of bringing people together. U.S. Cellular has a wide range of monthly plans, including those with unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited free incoming calls and options to prepay. The company has a growing catalog of phones like the BlackBerry® Tour and the touch-screen LG Tritan and HTC Touch Pro 2, which offer e-mail and Web access. Those features are delivered 10 times faster over U.S. Cellular’s 3G Mobile Broadband network. U.S. Cellular believes in the power of the community and has made a commitment to invest more than $4.5 million in teachers and schools during 2009 and 2010. Based in Chicago, the company is the nation’s sixth-largest wireless carrier, serving 6.2 million customers across the country. To learn more about the company visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com.  You can also check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, HEALTH CARE LEADERSHIP

The HCL program is particularly suited to those who are health care professionals with technical and clinical skills who now want to expand their career opportunities by developing management, supervision and leadership skills. Learn to understand an increasingly complex regulatory and business environment. Complete this program in as little as 13 months. *

* Depending on transfer credits. Additional coursework may be required.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Earn your degree in as little as 16-18 months. Develop your business instincts and management skills to prepare for a variety of careers in business, management, human services and health care.

ELIGIBLE COLLEGE TRANSFER CREDIT

• All NLEI & Spanish Coalition for Jobs business and vocational programs
• Life & work experience
• Prior community college, university & military training
• Licences & certications
• Assistance with degree transfer from foreign countries

NLU INFO SESSIONS AT NLEI MAIN CAMPUS

• Classes meet 1-day per week at NLEI main campus
• FREE PARKING
• Ease of access (I-55, I-90, I-290 & Lake Shore Drive)
• Aim for college degree in 3 years

Call to RSVP at 773.247.0707 ext 254, or hbarcelo@nlei.org

Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble Live
ANDY’S JAZZ CLUB
11 E. Hubbard, Chicago, IL
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 9pm-1am

$10 Admission
www.calje.org

Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble Live
JAZZ SHOWCASE
806 S. Plymouth Ct, Chicago, IL
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @  11pm-12am

Inner-City Children Benefit Concert
www.calje.org

CALJE made its debut by kicking off the “Jazz en Clave” Latin Jazz Festival at Chicago’s HotHouse, alongside the Grammy Award Nominated drummer Dafnis Prieto’s Quintet, Jane Bunnet, and virtuoso violinist Alfredo de la Fe. “This 15 piece band, playing before a standing-room only crowd at this international music venue in the South Loop left everyone gasping and wanting more dazzling sounds after their near two hour flawless set”- Jazz Chicago Reviewer, James Walker.

Founded in 2006 by Nicaraguan Pianist/Composer, Darwin Noguera and Mexican Trumpeter/Composer, Victor Garcia, these long-time musical collaborators envisioned an endeavor for Chicago that would follow in the innovative footsteps of the pioneering Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra, Irakere, and the Arturo O’Farrill Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra.

CALJE Band:
Victor Garcia- Trumpet, Composer
Darwin Noguera- Piano, Composer
Nythia Rivera- Vocals
Papo Santiago- Vocals
Tito Carrillo- Trumpet
Alfredo Rodriguez- Trumpet
Greg Ward- Alto Saxophone
Rocky Yera- Tenor Saxophone & Flute
Steve Eisen- Baritone Sax
Craig Sunken- Trombone
John Mose- Trombone
Joshua Ramos- Bass
Ernie Adams- Drums
Juan Picorelli- Timbales
Victor Gonzalez – Congas
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Screening Info:
Thursday, March 18 @ 7:30pm
North Riverside Mall Classic Cinema
7501 West Cermak Road
North Riverside, IL 60546

e-Hispanics.com will be giving away 25 screenings passes to the first 25 individuals that send an email to info@e-Hispanics.com.  Each screening pass will allow 2 guests to enter the screening. Please enter ’REPOMEN’ in the subject line when entering. Please send your full name and contact information. All winners will be contacted via email. If you are selected, screening passes DO NOT guanrantee seating. Passes are honored on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please arrive early!

DARWIN NOGUERA

Pianist/Composer Darwin Noguera launches debut album, “The Gardener”, with Evolution Quintet. It was on the preliminary ballot in this year’s Grammy Awards for best album of the year.

Noguera delights in combining traditional Latin forms and hard-hitting jazz, to the benefit of both idioms. Of course, that mash-up has existed since Jelly Roll Morton first added “the Spanish tinge” to his ragtime masterpieces, and when, shortly later, the flowering of American jazz left its impact on the dance bands of Cuba and Puerto Rico. But there’s always room for a fresh approach, as proved in the 40s, when bebop embraced Afro-Cuban rhythms; and in the 50s and 60s, with the rhumba and the bossa nova; and again in the 90s by the Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez and the Puerto Rican saxist David Sanchez, both of whom enriched the Latin Jazz idiom with the folk traditions of their native lands.

LALO’S  – LIVE THURSDAYS
733 W Maxwell Street, Chicago IL 60607
Thursday, March 11, 2010 @ 7:00 – 10:oopm

DJ from 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Early Arrival Suggested
No Cover

Drink Specials:
$4.50 Daiquiris & Piña Coladas  – $4.50 Ultimate  Martinis

For reservations, please call 312-455-9380

(Have a drink on us!)

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EL  PAYO

El Payo is the only rumba and nuevo flamenco group of its class in Chicago. Its members come from diverse countries such as Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. El Payo’s distinct sound is influenced by a rich combination of upbeat rumbas, traditional and nuevo flamenco, as well as a repertoire of classic Latin American songs.

LALO’S  – LIVE THURSDAYS
733 W Maxwell Street, Chicago IL 60607
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 7:00 – 10:oopm

DJ from 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Early Arrival Suggested
No Cover

Drink Specials:
$4.50 Daiquiris & Piña Coladas  – $4.50 Ultimate  Martinis

For reservations, please call 312-455-9380

(Have a drink on us!)

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2012

Back by popular demand, e-hispanics.com brings you 2012 a Spanish Alternative Rock/Pop band from  the southeast side of Chicago.

In early 2007, 2012 performed at The Portage Theater at the opening of director Juan Frausto’s movie “Get Pony Boy”.  2012 wrote a song specifically for a scene in the movie “Por Mi Libertad” which was featured in the movie and in the 2012’s new CD La Profecia.

2012 has since been winning audiences in surrounding states with shows in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin as well as Southbend, Indiana and of course in the Chicagoland area. They have opened shows for expectacular bands such as Moderato, Fobia, La Natalia LaForcade and many others.

Listen to their music, visit them in myspace!

LALO’S  – LIVE THURSDAYS
733 W Maxwell Street, Chicago IL 60607
Thursday, March 25, 2010 @ 7:00 – 10:oopm

DJ from 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Early Arrival Suggested
No Cover

Drink Specials:
$4.50 Daiquiris & Piña Coladas  – $4.50 Ultimate  Martinis

For reservations, please call 312-455-9380

(Have a drink on us!)

Maya Home Entertainment

02/16/10

Miguel (Mauricio Isaac), writer of the torrid telenovela titled “Destiny of Love,” is out joy riding and smoking pot with a few friends when he is pulled over by the cops. Things look dicey until Miguel reveals his occupation. It turns out that Bracho (Dagoberto Gama), the portly middle-aged cop, is a huge fan of the series. He begs Miguel for an inside scoop, and Miguel tells him that Gabriela, the show’s villain, will marry her lover. Bracho lets Miguel off the hook and quickly brags about the scoop to everyone he knows. Unfortunately, Ana Victoria (Gabriela Roel), the actress who plays Gabriela, decides to quit the show and Miguel must write the character off the show by giving her a fatal disease. When the next episode reveals Gabriela’s imminent demise, Bracho becomes the laughing stock of the police precinct. When he begins stalking Miguel, pressuring him to change the story line, matters quickly spin out of control and a hilarious sequence of events unfold.

Directed by Sergio Umansky, MEJOR ES QUE GABRIELA NO SE MUERA stars Mauricio Isaac (Terminales), Dagoberto Gama (Amores Perros), Gabriela Roel (Old Gringo), Alejandra Barros (Sultanes del Sur), Eduardo Santamarina (La Fea Mas Bella), and Alexis Ayala (Yo Amo a Juan Querendon).

DVD Specs:
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Duration: 1 hr. 26 min.
Studio: Maya Home Entertainment (DVD)- Producciones Tercer Mundo (theatrical)
Country: Mexico
Directed by: Sergio Umansky
Cast: Gabriela Roel, Mauricio Isaac, Dagoberto Gama, Alejandro Barros, Eduardo Santamarina, Alexis Ayala and Martin LaSalle
Format: Standard DVD- Spanish with English subtitles
Price: $19.98 (SRP)

e-Hispanics.com will be giving away one DVD copy of MEJOR ES QUE GABRIELA NO SE MUERA to the first 10 individuals that send an email to info@e-Hispanics.com.  Enter “Gabriela No Se Muera” in the subject line when entering.  All winners will be notified via email.  

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MEJOR ES QUE GABRIELA NO SE MUERA

Maya Home Entertainment

Miguel (Mauricio Isaac), el escritor de la tórrida telenovela “Destino de Amor”, está fumando marihuana en su coche con sus amigos cuando la policía les detiene. La situación no va demasiado bien hasta que Miguel descubre a qué se dedica. Resulta que Bracho (Dagoberto Gama), el grueso policía de mediana edad, es un gran fan de la novela. Bracho le suplica a Miguel que le revele algún detalle sobre la novela y Miguel le cuenta que Gabriela, la mala, se casará con su amante. Bracho les deja ir y pronto comienza a fanfarronear con sus amigos sobre la anécdota revelada por Miguel. Desafortunadamente, Ana Victoria (Gabriela Roel), la actriz que encarna a Gabriela, decide abandonar la novela y Miguel debe escribir su salida, dándole una enfermedad terminal. Cuando en el siguiente capítulo se anuncia el inminente fallecimiento de Gabriela, Bracho se convierte en el centro de todas las bromas por parte de sus compañeros policías. Es entonces cuando empieza a acosar a Miguel, presionándole para que cambie la historia. Pronto la situación se empieza a ir de las manos, dando lugar a situaciones muy divertidas.

Dirigida por Sergio Umansky, la película MEJOR ES QUE GABRIELA NO SE MUERA es protagonizada por Mauricio Isaac (Terminales), Dagoberto Gama (Amores Perros), Gabriela Roel (Old Gringo), Alejandra Barros (Sultanes del Sur), Eduardo Santamarina (La Fea Mas Bella), y Alexis Ayala (Yo Amo a Juan Querendón).

Ficha Técnica
Género: Comedia/Romance
Duraciónn: 1 hr. 26 min.
Estudio: Maya Home Entertainment (DVD)- Producciones Tercer Mundo (cine)
País de orígen: México
Dirigida por: Sergio Umansky
Elenco: Gabriela Roel, Mauricio Isaac, Dagoberto Gama, Alejandro Barros, Eduardo Santamarina, Alexis Ayala y Martin LaSalle
Formato: DVD Estándar. En español con subtítulos en ingles
Precio: $19.98 (Valor Sugerido al Público)

UNO has always created new avenues of public leadership; engaging Latinos toward civic action. More than ever, we also have a responsibility to train new leaders – to develop them to be more than just angry activists, satisfied with rhetoric and symbolism. Our job is to help new leaders generate results rather than frustration; to keep them from becoming disillusioned by the public decision-making process, or worse, disengaged from it altogether.

The MLI provides individuals with a greater appreciation for the ambiguities and nuances of the public arena and the challenges of public life.

UNO is now accepting applications for the MLI class of 2011 online. We hope you Apply Today!

For more information, visit www.mlichicago.com. 

With a combination of our email marketing strategies, social media and traditional marketing experience, e-Hispanics.com can assist your business and/or company to build a strong connection with the fast paced growing, Chicago Hispanic community.

And, our pricing is a fraction of the cost of what you would spend on television, radio and print advertising.

FIND OUT MORE!

Thursday, March 11 @ 7:30pm
Kerasotas City North 14
2600 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, Illinois

e-Hispanics.com will be giving away 20 screenings passes to the first 20 individuals that send an email to info@e-Hispanics.com. Each screening pass will allow 2 guests to enter the screening. Please enter ’OUR FAMILY WEDDING’ in the subject line when entering.  Please send your full name and contact information. All winners will be contacted via email. If you are selected, screening passes DO NOT guanrantee seating.  Passes are honored on a first-come, first-served basis.