Making an Impact on the Economically Disadvantaged

Cornerstone League recognizes member credit unions and chapters for their growth and community endeavors to exemplify the “people helping people” philosophy.

Texas Trust Gives Foundation Delivers $50,000 in Community Impact Grants

^{Read time: 1 min, 40 secs}

Helping students achieve success in and out of the classroom is the emphasis behind the Texas Trust Gives Foundation. The foundation issued $50,000 to seven school districts supporting various initiatives to support students beyond the classroom. Most grants were issued for district-wide programs supporting economically disadvantaged students and their families.

First-year recipient Cedar Hill ISD will use its grant to expand its Longhorn Care Closet, which provides students in need with school uniforms, socks, backpacks, and general school supplies. The grant will allow the district to support a larger number of students.

For Grand Prairie ISD, the grant will help support its social work HUB, a community resource that offers a food pantry, clothes closet, and hygiene products, as well as mental health resources and housing assistance for students’ families.

A grant awarded to Athens ISD in Henderson County will help reduce the hunger gap facing hundreds of students each weekend. Every Friday throughout the school year, eligible students will receive a backpack filled with nutritious, kid-friendly food to eat until Monday, when school meal programs resume.

Lewisville ISD’s grant will allow the district to provide low-income families with their needs, including required vaccinations. With a significant percentage of students classified as low-income, the Texas Trust grant helps families with their initial back-to-school expenses, freeing their limited income to cover other expenses.

Arlington ISD used its funding to provide backpacks and required grade-level school supplies for economically disadvantaged students across its campuses. The grant equips students with essential tools to start the school year and foster academic success.

Mansfield ISD used its funding to provide approximately 500 students with new school shoes. The district demonstrated to the students that the community cares about their well-being. It also freed parents to budget their money for other family necessities.

HEB ISD, another first-year community impact grant recipient, will use its funds to help cover uniform costs for the district’s new Navy National Defense Cadet Corps. The NNDCC is a leadership development program that has been shown to increase academic achievements and lead to greater success following high school graduation.

“We are committed to helping support the students’ entire well-being,” said Washima Huq, executive director of the Texas Trust Gives Foundation. “Each of these districts serves a large percentage of students from economically challenged homes, and that creates hardship when it comes to the students’ ability to learn.”

The Texas Trust Gives Foundation issues various grants three times each year and offers annual scholarships to students pursuing technical, associate's, undergraduate, and graduate degrees.