Blog Posts

It seems like we just finished congratulating the class of 2023, but it is already time to reacquaint ourselves with local school zones and prepare for another school year. No group is more excited to begin the school year than the Class of 2024. This final year of...

The Edwin A. Blue and Janice Owen Miller Charitable Fund held at East Texas Communities Foundation (ETCF) in Tyler, Texas, awarded $98,000 to assist 15 charities serving Henderson County, Texas. “Mrs. Miller was a generous benefactor during her lifetime, giving both...

Several years ago we had the opportunity to check off a great National Park bucket list item with a vacation to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. One of the most remarkable features in Yellowstone in called the Grand Prismatic Spring. The hot spring is the largest...

Early giving is open and the leaderboard is currently tallying donations for the 8th annual East Texas Giving Day at www.easttexasgivingday.org. Although the actual 18-hour online fundraising event supporting local nonprofits is held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, it’s...

East Texas Giving Day is just around the corner on Tuesday, April 25th, so what should you be doing now to make the event a great day for local charities? Encourage nonprofits to register for the event, consider making a matching gift, create a Celebration Page, make...

We are approaching three years this spring since the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic hit, many plans for growth and expansion were put on hold. According to economist Ray Perryman in his annual economic outlook presented in Tyler last week, Texas businesses...

Happy New Year and welcome to winter in East Texas! Despite the relatively warm New Year’s Day, I have found myself repairing more frozen and broken pipes in the last week than I did during Snowmageddon in 2021. That was some cold front! East Texas weather is...

Thanksgiving cards are starting to arrive at our office so it must be time to gear up for another Turkey Trot! Several years ago a few members of our family were inspired to participate in the Tyler Turkey Trot 5K, held each year on Thanksgiving morning. It’s really a...

Halloween is an occasion that prompts some people in our community to drag out the strangest collection of yard decorations, including turning their yards into cemeteries. I don’t mean to spoil your enjoyment if that is your thing, but I just have too much respect for...

The Mrs. A.D. Francis Endowment Fund awarded grants to three public charities serving the Winnsboro, Texas, area. The fund, held at East Texas Communities Foundation in Tyler, Texas, made grants to the Winnsboro Center for the Arts, Winnsboro Community Resource...