2025 Grant Ballot

It’s time for your voice to be heard!

As a member of the Women’s Fund of Smith County, your vote is critical to our mission – to enrich the lives of women and children in Smith County.

Below, you will see information on requests from 9 Smith County nonprofit organizations. These requests have been thoroughly vetted by our Grants Committee and have been found to satisfy our eligibility requirements.

Please take some time to read the descriptions and watch the brief videos provided by the agencies to help you better understand their projects. 

If you would like to review the entire grant application, we have copies available at the Women’s Fund office. Just let us know if you’d like to come by and review the packets.

When you’re ready to vote, simply click the link to the online ballot and follow the instructions provided.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE

Hope Haven of Texas: Foster Family Training and Counseling Space

Discovery Science Place: “Performance Playground” Phase One

Unbound Now: Expansion of 24/7 Crisis Response and Case Management for Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth

East Texas Youth Orchestra: String Project- Implementing an After-School Beginning Orchestra Program

Tyler ISD Foundation: Empowering Tyler ISD Students Through Social Emotional Learning and Sensory Support

East Texas Crisis Center: Transitional Housing Program

The Arc of Smith County: Adventure Camps for School Aged Children Who Happen to Have Intellectual Disabilities

Mosiac Counseling Centers of East Texas: Expanding Access: Bridging Gaps in Child Mental Health Services

The Mentoring Alliance: North Tyler Summer Camp Launch: Providing Essential Supplies and Equipment

 

Hope Haven of Texas

Foster Family Training and Counseling Space

    This project will provide funding to expand our child placing agency and improve our office space so that we can better care for foster and adoption families. This will create a multi-purpose meeting and training space to licensed families, and a dedicated room to provide counseling services. Hope Haven demonstrates Christ’s love to forgotten children and teens in the foster care system by providing home, healing, and hope because every child deserves to be safe and equipped for the future.

      Discovery Science Place

      “Performance Playground” Phase One

        We are developing this new exhibit in two phases. Phase One will focus on renovating half of the space and installing the interactive floor and wall. Phase Two will complete the remaining renovations and add the 50-foot racetrack. We are currently seeking funding from the Women’s Fund of Smith County to support Phase One which will open in 2025.

        Unbound Now

        Expansion of 24/7 Crisis Response and Case Management for Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth

          Unbound Now seeks funding to expand its 24/7 crisis response and case management services for commercially sexually exploited youth into Smith County. Unbound Now’s four Smith County advocates, housed at the Children’s Advocacy Center, operate a 24/7 crisis response line and provide emotional support and emergency assistance such as clothes, toiletries, and personal items for youth when they are recovered from trafficking.

          East Texas Youth Orchestra

          String Project- Implementing an After-School Beginning Orchestra Program

            ETYO will implement an after-school program in Tyler ISD elementary schools, starting with Jack, Owens, Bell, and Clarkston beginning in September 2024 and expanding in Spring 2025 with additional funding. ETYO will provide each site with 15 violins sized for the 5th grade elementary school students who wish to participate. Instruction will be provided by ETYO staff and Tyler ISD music educators in beginning string techniques. In 2025, with this funding, the learning sessions will expand to accommodate up to 30 additional students at up to two additional schools who will meet in the weeks of the school calendar.

            Tyler ISD Foundation

            Empowering Tyler ISD Students Through Social Emotional Learning and Sensory Support

            This project funds three (3) nurturing therapeutic sensory rooms located at Clarkston, Rice, and Bell Elementary Schools and provides social-emotional learning (SEL) training for all campus staff to significantly support the development of our students, empowering them in social and life settings. Together, these initiatives will enrich classrooms and equip students with the tools needed to thrive in social interactions, academic pursuits, and their future roles within our community.

            East Texas Crisis Center

            Transitional Housing Program

              East Texas Crisis Center (ETCC) requests funding to establish its first transitional housing program for survivors of domestic violence in Smith County. The Transitional Housing Program (THP) will include rental assistance and supportive services to support women and children fleeing domestic violence. THP will address the biggest challenge for the majority of survivors; access to affordable housing and the needed services required to rebuild their lives and sustain a violence free future

              The Arc of Smith County

              Adventure Camps for School Aged Children Who Happen to Have Intellectual Disabilities

                This project delivers specialized camp experiences for school-aged children with unique needs in Smith County, addressing the scarcity of suitable camps in East Texas. It ensures safe, beneficial activities that enhance coping, communication, teamwork and other needed skills for children with disabilities such as sensory processing disorders. Some attendees may require a parent present for optimal care and support.

                Mosiac Counseling Centers of East Texas

                Expanding Access: Bridging Gaps in Child Mental Health Services

                Mosaic seeks funding to expand its youth and family services to meet the growing demand for child mental health care in Smith County. Funding will be used to: (a) Hire a full-time licensed provider to serve more youth and family clients. (b) Ensure sustainability by enabling contracts with new insurance providers. (c) Add a staff member to the client services team to support new clients, manage billing, and ensure compliance. (d) Provide resources for dedicated therapy spaces.

                  The Mentoring Alliance

                  North Tyler Summer Camp Launch: Providing Essential Supplies and Equipment

                    Funding will support costs to purchase supplies like inflatables, electronic equipment, manuals, games, administration tools and more for a new Summer Camps site in a North Tyler location targeting kids and families from low income and single parent households. When school is out of session, many of these kids don’t have access to essentials—nutritious food, the chance to learn and explore in safe environments, interactive games, and more. It can be 3-months of isolation and being left behind.