For Dr. April Murdaugh, United Way of Northeast Florida’s RealSense program wasn’t just a resource. It was the turning point that took her from homelessness to being the first African American woman in Northeast Florida to own a wealth management and financial planning firm. 

Murdaugh, who now holds a doctorate in education, moved to Jacksonville from New York City 18 years ago following a divorce. A single mother of three, she found herself homeless just two years after relocating despite having a master’s degree. 

“You can be a hard-working person and still be homeless,” Dr. Murdaugh said. “I didn’t think that would ever happen to me.” 

Homeless and living in a shelter, Dr. Murdaugh reached out to United Way 211, a free 24/7/365 information and referral hotline. The call center specialist connected her to RealSense, catapulting her journey to success. 

United Way’s RealSense initiative operates locally the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program. Through IRS-certified volunteers, RealSense helps low- to moderate-income households file their taxes at no cost, ensuring they receive the refunds and credits they’re eligible for without paying for tax preparation services. It was through a financial literacy program tied to RealSense that Dr. Murdaugh first found support. 

“I was a wreck, a complete mess financially, and they didn’t judge me,” she said. “They helped me with my basic personal finances. They encouraged me — and that was the most important thing.”

Murdaugh later used RealSense’s free tax preparation services, an experience that saved her money and reshaped how she thought about her finances altogether. 

“They supported me,” she said. “I am really passionate about this organization.” 

Dr. Murdaugh credits RealSense and a mindset shift with helping her push through those early years. 

“My focus was on the end result,” she said. “It’s temporary. I will make it through this. I’m here, but I won’t be here long.” 

Her resolve, paired with what she learned through RealSense, gave her a foundation to rebuild — one budget and one saved paycheck at a time. 

At her core, Dr. Murdaugh describes herself as an educator. As she stabilized her own finances, she began teaching free personal finance classes to anyone who would listen. 

“I was doing this work for free — I was broke, renting out the Duval County libraries to teach people” she said. 

That passion eventually became Woman to Woman Financial, her firm dedicated to helping women navigate money without judgment. 

“I’m a huge advocate for cultivating a non-judgmental space,” she said. 

She believes her lived experience adds something training alone can’t. 

Today, Dr. Murdaugh sits on RealSense’s advisory council, which serves as a strategic group of community leaders and subject matter experts who provide guidance, advocacy and support to strengthen the RealSense program and advance its mission of improving the financial security of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households across Northeast Florida. She’s returned to RealSense to help the very program that once supported her family. 

RealSense has operated more than 41 tax sites across six counties over a 20-year span. They currently operate 19 sites across four counties every tax season and celebrated 20 years of service in 2024. For Murdaugh, it’s proof of what the program can do when it meets someone exactly where they are — and why she’s spent the years since paying that forward. She hopes  her impact outlasts her and inspires others to reach out to RealSense for help or get involved through volunteerism. 

“Seek the resources — there are resources out here to help you,” Murdaugh said. “Don’t feel shameful. Don’t let your pride stop you from taking advantage of the resources.” 

United Way’s RealSense initiative needs volunteers all year, not just during tax season, in roles including greeters, filers and quality assurance helpers. Visit unitedwaynefl.org/realsense to start your volunteer journey today. You can also support the RealSense program through a donation — make a gift of any size at unitedwaynefl.org/give to change a life like Muradaugh’s today.