The Texarkana Area Community Foundation (TACF)awarded 47 grants totaling $68,407.00. An additional 17 checks totaling $10,700 from the Andrew G. and Sarah S. Goesl Endowment, for a total of $79,107.00 was presented to area recipients on Thursday at a gathering at the Texarkana Regional Arts Center.
The TACF is an affiliate office of the Arkansas Community Foundation (ACF) consisting of Executive Director Ken Cox and an advisory board. The ACF is a nonprofit, statewide, incorporated public foundation that promotes building philanthropic funds and smart giving in order to improve and strengthen Arkansas communities. The ACF offers tools to help Arkansans protect, grow, and direct their charitable dollars while learning of and supporting charitable programs for Arkansas, and partners with others to create new initiatives that address gaps in resources. Since 1976, more than $120 million in grants have been awarded to improve the communities within Arkansas. The ACF works in all 75 counties in Arkansas and currently has 28 local offices directly serving 41 counties. It was established in 1976 with a gift from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation as a 501(c)3 public charity where gifts receive the highest possible tax deductions. The mission of the ACF is to engage people, connect resources, and inspire solutions to build community.
Among the many groups to receive the awards were:
1st Choice Pregnancy Center – Funds to replace clothing racks in the Mommy Store where clients spend earned Baby Bucks for clothing, diapers, and other items.
3 Bostons Museum – Grant to use for the purchase of furniture and fixtures for museum interior.
The Alzheimer’s Alliance, Tri-State Area – A grant to purchase misting fans for the outdoor pergola to keep the patio area more comfortable for clients and their caregivers. Also to purchase an icemaker for the Respite Center. Alzheimer’s Alliance also received a check from the Goesl Endowment.
The American Red Cross – A grant for relief services, primarily for single-home fires in Miller County. To assist after personal disasters leave families in financial crisis.
ArkLaTex Blessing Center, Inc. – A grant to purchase baby diapers, pull-ups, and baby wipes that are distributed to social service organizations that are helping families in need through comprehensive programs and services.
The Ark-Tex Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging – A grant for Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Case Managers to go into clients’ homes for assessment for AAA services. While in the home client may be screened for fall prevention.
Beech Street Communications KLFI-TV – A grant to purchase a JVC Mobile News production camera. The camera will record city-wide events including parades and high school football games informing our community of events and information in the Texarkana area.
Bowie County Child Protective Services – A grant to stock the Rainbow Room with clothing, diapers, car seats, pack n plays, hygiene items and more. These items are always needed as are cots, bedding, and a TV w/DVD player when children must be kept at the CPS office overnight.
Bowie County Dive Team – A grant for underwater communications masks which will allow divers to communicate under and above water.
Boy Scouts of America – A grant for the Learning for Life K-12, Character Development Program which features grade-specific and age-appropriate lesson plans and activities for all students, girls, and boys. The curriculum is presented by educators, Learning for Life representatives, and career and community speakers. A feature of Learning for Life is the Character Camp Outdoor Learning Experience at Camp Preston Hunt.
Challenged Outdoorsmen of America – A grant to host youth hunting events. Youth with special needs are taught skills in protecting the environment, natural resources (wildlife, Firearm safety, outdoor camping and how to survive in the outdoors. COA’s goal is to develop honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team play, and self-assurance.
Citizens for a Better Community – A grant for The Benevolent Children’s Project which began in 2007 to provide clothing, shoes and Christmas Gifts for approximately 50 Children living in poverty in the Fouke, School District. Citizens for A Better Community, partners with the Fouke School district and the Parent Teacher Organization in this effort.
The city of Texarkana Texas – A grant to benefit the Texarkana Farmers’ Market.
Community Alternative Prevention Program – A grant to purchase a tractor-pulled tiller for the community garden. The Community garden in Ashdown reduces the impact of food shortages in low-income areas and allow residents greater access to nutritious food.
For the Sake of One – A grant to provide support and resources to families currently in the foster care system in Miller, Bowie and surrounding counties. Foster care is supported by maintaining a resource room, encouraging caseworkers, mentoring biological parents, recruiting new foster families, and supporting current foster families.
Girl Scouts – Diamonds of AR, OK & TX – A grant for Girl Scouts Troop Recruitment and Support programs to increase the number of troops and quality of their Girl Scout Leadership Experience in southwestern AR and Bowie County. Girl Scouts – Diamonds of AR, OK & TX Girl Scouts – Diamonds of AR, OK & TX also received a check from the Goesl Endowment.
Harvest Regional Food Bank – A grant for the Backpack program to provide child-friendly nutritious meals to children struggling with hunger each weekend of the school year. For the 2017-2018 school year, the Food Bank plans to reach over 700 elementary students on 25 campuses in the Texarkana area.
Hospice of Texarkana – A grant to purchase a laptop computer for nurses to document care at the bedside of hospice patients. Also, books will be purchased for grieving adults and children. Hospice of Texarkana also received a check from the Goesl Endowment.
Howard County Children’s Center – A grant for the Rainbow Learning Center to purchase cots, tables, chairs, and inside play equipment for infants and toddlers.
Howard County Historical Society – A grant for a handicapped parking space beside the museum.
The Jamison’s Center of Kindness, Inc. – A grant for the E.N.R.I.C.H. After School Program and the E.N.R.I.C.H. Summer Program. E.N.R.I.C.H is a tutoring and Summer enrichment program for children from 6 through 15 years old.
The Junior League of Texarkana – A grant to supply books to local school children to encourage reading through the Spring into Reading program.
Texarkana College, KTXK FM Texarkana Public Radio – A grant for the broadcasting of programs on 91.5 KTXK FM, a Non-Commercial Public Radio Station and National Public Radio Affiliate. KTXK provides long-form news, local news, and features of interest to the community. It broadcasts classical and jazz music along with other fine arts programming. KTXK also received a gift from the Goesl Endowment.
The Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, Inc. – A grant to update its current student computers to assist those in the community needing their GEDs, and to help with computer literacy, learning English (ESL), and basic & family literacy. The Literacy Council also received a check from the Goesl Endowment.
Little River County Historical Society – A grant to repair water damage and secure electricity on the second floor.
Main Street Texarkana – A grant for planting and maintenance of planters, small bedding, and general beautification within the Main Street Texarkana district, in historic downtown Texarkana. This project aims to keep the public areas clean and attractive for the surrounding attractions and businesses.
Nicks Mission Backpack Program – A grant to provide backpacks filled with nutritious foods for hungry school children in eight area school districts. This program was created in memory of Nick Shumake who tragically lost his life on June 11, 2010, at the Albert Pike Campground. Nick had a passion for helping others.
CASA of NE Texas – A grant for the Children Training Curriculum Enhancement Program to improve advocacy for 30 new volunteers.
Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation – A grant for the 7th Annual Shakespeare in the Park program at Washington State Park.
Randy Sam’s Outreach Shelter – A grant for cooperative assistance and case management which are key for client self-sufficiency. Funds also purchase food, plates, utensils, cleaning supplies and identity documents. Randy Sam’s Shelter recently expanded their facility to provide more bed space and additional services including a library, computer lab, and extra life skills classes.
Rosehill Neighborhood Improvement Association – A grant to improve the most troubled neighborhoods in Texarkana through coordination of neighborhood associations, the Housing Authority of Texarkana and police and fire departments.
Runnin’ WJ Ranch Therapeutic Center, Inc. – A grant for riding scholarships for students in their therapeutic riding programs. The Ranch provides therapeutic riding sessions for children with special needs to enhance physical strength, and improve behavioral and emotional development.
The Salvation Army – A grant for The Boys & Girls Club of Texarkana’s nutrition and education programs in their after-school and summer programs. The Salvation Army also received a check from the Goesl Endowment.
The Shreveport Opera – A grant for the Shreveport Opera Xpress to perform in economically disadvantaged schools in the Texarkana area.
Southwest Arkansas Counseling & Mental Health Center, Inc. – A grant to install step running boards to two (2) passenger vans to provide safety and prevent injuries to the consumers transported on a daily basis.
Stuff a Bus of a United Way of Greater Texarkana – A grant to collect new school supplies and backpacks to prepare children in need (K-12) for school. United Way partners with the local Rotary clubs, the Kiwanis Club of Texarkana, and Texarkana Resources for the Disabled as well as other community groups to collect and distribute the needed supplies. This helps each student to start school on an equal footing.
Telford Prison Ministries, Inc. – A grant to provide school supplies to children of inmates at the Telford Unit in New Boston, Texas. TPMI becomes familiar with student needs through visits by parents and grandparents at the Visitation Center and Haven of Hope in New Boston, Texas.
Texarkana Area Crimestoppers – A grant for the monthly fee for a 24/7 answering service manned with trained staff for citizens of the Texarkana area to call at any time. Tips are then provided to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Texarkana Arts and Historic District – A grant for development of a Two States Tactical Urbanism Guide and two Tactical Urbanism projects within the Arts and Historic District of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas.
Texarkana Historical Society and Museum – A grant to create a Lego Wall Station at Discovery Place. This wall will be incorporated into the Tinkering Studio to provide an additional resource for children (and caregivers) to brainstorm and design. The activity is both fun and stimulates the learning and cognitive process for the participants.
Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council Arts Integration Institute – A grant for Arts on Main, a community education program for visual arts that provides courses in drawing, painting, clay, sculpture, theatre, photography, fiber arts, and more for children and adults. Offerings are at every artistic level. Arts on Main supplies provides extra-curricular opportunities in the arts for under-served children. TRAHC also received a gift from the Goesl Endowment for general operating support.
Opportunities, Inc. – A grant to follows the guidelines of the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program. Federal guidelines no longer allow deep-fat frying as a way of preparing food on-site. Opportunities must update its kitchen equipment to accommodate the required changes by the purchase of a convection oven to improve the nutritional value of meals served to Opportunities’ children and adults.
Texarkana Symphony Orchestra – A grant to produces two annual student concerts to introduce children in grades K-12 to the world of symphonic music. TSO provides an internally produced educational packet for classroom teachers to use in discussion and instruction prior to attending the concert. Conductor, Marc-André Bougie, selects repertoire that not only highlights the instrumental families of the orchestra but also introduces students to the larger narratives of form and style in music. These concerts are produced and performed by TSO’s professional musicians and guest artists.
Hands-on Texarkana – A grant for the Skilled Parenting and Youth Volunteer Organization programs. Hands-on Texarkana also received a check from the Goesl Endowment.
Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Young Writer’s Program – A grant for The Young Writers’ Workshop program to provides a two week (half-day) literacy camp for 80 students.
United Way of Greater Texarkana – A grant for the Dolly Parton “Imagination Library” which mails hard-bound books monthly to children’s households; putting books in the hands of newborns all the way up to age 5. All children are eligible to receive books for free! Their parents/guardian fill out a card at the hospital and they will begin receiving books up until their 5th birthday. United Way of Greater Texarkana also received a check from the Goesl Endowment.
Watersprings Ranch – A grant for the Forever Families program to alleviate the load experienced by caseworkers and local group homes. The program brings together churches and local families to become foster parents of children at the Ranch.
Other gifts from the Andrew G. and Sarah S. Goesl Endowment:
Angel Fund Foundation
Christus St. Michael Health System Foundation for general support
Domestic Violence Prevention Center, Inc. general support.
Ozark Mission Project
Partnership for the Pathway General Support
Texarkana Animal League, general support.
Texarkana Arkansas Education Foundation.
Texarkana Area Community Foundation, Operating Endowment.
