Academy of Dance – TJC

Connecting cultural arts and education to build community

Three Nutcracker school shows, and 3 Alice in Wonderland school shows will be held free of charge for local ISDs, private schools, and home-schooled students. During the performance, a narrator will provide insight to how the movements tell a story encouraging critical thinking/imagination. Students will receive a behind-the-scenes education in the workings of a production. The question/answer session following the performance allows students to have a well-rounded cultural arts education.

Kourage Health

Kourage Health’s Movement Innovation Studio:
A space inspired by women, designed to lift everyone.

Kourage Health respectfully requests funding from the Women’s Fund of Smith County to support investments in our new Movement Innovation Studio, an empowering space where patients and families affected by cancer and other chronic illnesses can access group exercise, caregiver support, and educational workshops. Located at 820 S. Baxter Ave. in Tyler’s medical district, the studio will be part of our new headquarters, named in honor of our founder, Dr. Gary Kimmel, and his wife, Phyllis.

ARC of Smith Co

Gone Camping

This project provides inclusive, flexible camp experiences for children with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in Smith County. With indoor and outdoor options, it accommodates varied interests and needs, such as allergies, asthma, or sensory sensitivities, while promoting coping, communication, and teamwork. Parent participation is welcomed, especially when additional support is needed. However, one of the goals is to provide much needed provide respite to parents, (moms).

Mentoring Alliance

Summer Childcare for Single Mothers in Need

The affordable childcare crisis doesn’t take a break during the summer, and for single moms, it only gets harder. Mentoring Alliance Summer Camps provides a lifeline: income based scholarships towards a full day, high quality program at local school campuses, where kids are safe, active, and learning while their parents work. In Summer 2026, we plan to add a fifth location, expanding access for working single moms and low-income families who deserve a safe, enriching place for their kids.

Camp Tyler Foundation

Quality Adaptive Recreational Gear and Increased Bedspace for Special Needs Youth

Camp Tyler serves as a welcoming community camp for all young people, including those facing physical, emotional and mental challenges. Because Camp Tyler is the only camp in North and East Texas willing to offer opportunities to enhance a camp experience for special needs children and families, we are seeking funding to offer recreational equipment that is adaptive to the campers’ needs in a natural environment and increase needed bedspace to accommodate increasing numbers of campers.

PAVE

Empowering Lindale Women and Their Families Through Education: Program Expansion

PAVE East Texas requests funding to expand education and workforce programs for women in Lindale and Northern Smith County. In partnership with Heart & Hands Ministries, LISD, the Lillie Russell Library, and TJC, this project will serve 83+ women through added GED and ESL services, enhanced support services, career training, and family-focused literacy activities, empowering women and their families to achieve lasting economic independence through education and skills training.

Starbrite

Equine Access Expansion Project

Starbrite is seeking funding for the purchase of a truck and trailer to safely transport therapy horses and equipment to off-site programs across Smith County. This one-time investment will increase access to equine-assisted services for women and children through outreach at schools, shelters, care facilities, and community events.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County (CACSC)

Digitize Client Forms and Documents

Request to purchase iPads and necessary accessories to digitally collect client information as well as scan and safely store all existing client files, all to better serve our clients. The iPads and use of Microsoft Forms and Adobe software will allow us to digitize the important forms and files that are a crucial part of a child’s case when they come to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County (CACSC) to raise the bar in client care, information security, and staff efficiency.

Christian Women’s Job Corps of Tyler

Computer Lab Expansion

Microsoft Office training is a primary component of all CWJC programming. Effective October 2025, Windows 10 operating systems will no longer receive Microsoft updates, security or support. CWJC’s classroom computers are on Windows 10 and have processors that cannot be upgraded to Windows 11, leaving them operable but unable to update and vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. To maintain security and functionality of classroom technology, a computer lab expansion is needed for new equipment.

CHRISTUS Foundation

A Miracle in Motion: Transport Isolettes for Level III NICU Patients

CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Foundation seeks funding to purchase two brand new Airborne Transport Isolettes, ensuring fast, safe transport for premature and critically ill newborns in East Texas. Our current isolettes are aging and overstretched, operating far beyond their intended capacity. Any mechanical failure or downtime could result in critical, even fatal, delays in care. Your support will close the gap, bringing lifesaving care to our most fragile infants without a moment lost.

East Texas Youth Orchestra

String Project: Expanding the After-School Beginning Orchestra Program

ETYO implemented an after-school program in three Tyler ISD elementary schools in the 2024-25 school year. ETYO will add three schools in 2026, providing each site with 15 violins sized for the 5th grade students who elect to participate during the weeks of the school year. Instruction in string techniques will be provided by ETYO staff and Tyler ISD music educators at no cost to students. The opportunity to add new schools will expand the program to accommodate a total of 60 students.

Friends of the Tyler Public Library

Tyler Public Library Bookmobile

Tyler Public Library is seeking funding to invest in a customized public library bookmobile that will act as an extension of public library services, bringing library programming, materials, and wireless access to various parts of the Tyler community. The customized F350 Transit van will come equipped to library specifications and allow our local library to meet the community where they are through a weekly schedule while also being available to community events.

Gold Network of East Texas

HERO Camp: Camp Retreat for Childhood Cancer Families

We are creating a restorative therapeutic retreat/camp weekend for families of kids with cancer at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center.