CURRENT GRANTS
2026 GRANTS
On January 29, the Women’s Fund of Smith County awarded 6 impact grants totaling $259,485 for 2026. These grant awards bring our cumulative giving since 2009 to $3,831,953, impacting 38 Smith County nonprofit agencies and countless lives.
Thank you to our Women’s Fund Members, our sponsors and donors, and many other community partners who have helped make our mission possible!
The Arc of Greater East Texas – $38,520
Flexible Camp Experiences for Children with IDD
Together, we awarded $38,520.00 to The Arc of Greater East Texas. These funds will enable The Arc to provide an inclusive, flexible camp experience for children with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in Smith County. With indoor and outdoor activities, the program will accommodate varied interests and needs, while promoting coping, communication, and teamwork. In addition to offering perfectly tailored experiences for these children, the camps will also offer much-needed respite for the parents of the children served.
The Arc of Greater East Texas is part of a non-profit, nationwide volunteer organization of involved parents and family members, active professionals, and interested friends who work on behalf of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1962, The Arc of Greater East Texas serves more than 1,500 families.
Camp Tyler Foundation – $47,345
Adaptive Recreational Gear for Special Needs Youth
Next, the Women’s Fund of Smith County awarded $47,345.00 to the Camp Tyler Foundation to fund quality, adaptive, recreational gear and increased bedspace for special needs youth. Camp Tyler serves as a welcoming community for all young people, including those who are facing physical, emotional, and mental challenges. This equipment will afford youth with special needs the unique opportunity to be an active participant in camp activities, versus observing from the sidelines. The additional bedding supplies will allow Camp Tyler to accommodate an increasing number of campers.
Located on beautiful Lake Tyler, with over 300 acres of forest, prairie, and meadow, Camp Tyler Outdoor School provides unique, interactive outdoor learning experiences to enrich students’ education. Camp Tyler provides a crucial tool to forge connections with the natural world and our environment by inspiring curiosity and enjoyment of nature.
Christian Women’s Job Corps – $42,620
Computer Lab Expansion
Together, we awarded a third grant of $42,620.00 to Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) to fund its computer lab expansion. Microsoft Office training is a primary component of all CWJC programming, and last year, their operating systems became obsolete and vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. Funding from this grant will expand the capacity of CWJC to prepare women with the computer skills needed to gain employment that leads to a living wage and allows them to better provide for their families.
CWJC is entirely funded through charitable giving, and its mission is to equip its students for success; empower them with dignity and hope; and encourage them with the love of Jesus.
Gold Network of East Texas – $31,000
HERO Camp
The fourth grant of $31,000.00 was awarded to The Gold Network of East Texas and will fund HERO Camp, a camp retreat for families experiencing perdiatric cancer. The therapeutic and restorative retreat is designed to strengthen broken and hurting families who have been devasted by a childhood cancer diagnosis by building the families up and connecting them with others in the community who share their experience. The goal of HERO Camp is to come alongside cancer families in a practical way by providing encouragement, family togetherness, and meaningful relationships that combined help to assist these families by improving their mental health and long term quality of life.
The Gold Network of East Texas began as a passion project led by three moms, who started out by organizing a 5K race to raise awareness of childhood cancer. Over the last 10 years, that 5K has grown into the Gold Network of East Texas – a community committed to supporting local families facing childhood cancer.
Mentoring Alliance – $50,000
Summer Childcare for Single Mothers in Need
Our fifth grant of $50,000.00 was awarded to The Mentoring Alliance to support summer childcare for single mothers in need. This grant will help bring full-day, high-quality childcare during the summers, where children enjoy a camp-like environment that also provides educational support to bridge the “summer gap”, as well as fun activities in community with other kids and skilled counselors, and much more. This particular grant will support the addition of a new fifth location, expanding access to this critical service to single and working moms across Smith County.
The Mentoring Alliance exists to mobilize godly people into the lives of kids and families, to provide tangible help and eternal hope.
Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center– $50,000
Truck and Trailer
Our sixth and final grant award of $50,000.00 was given to Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center and will fund the purchase of a truck and trailer. This additional equipment will enable Starbrite to expand its existing services beyond the confines of its physical location in Tyler, making it possible to bring the transformative power of equine therapy to off-site locations, including schools, shelters, care facilities, and community events around Smith County.
Starbrite is a service organization that utilizes equine-assisted activities to spread the love of Christ by empowering youth, adults, and veterans with a variety of needs and abilities.