Blog Posts
With Your Philanthropy, It’s OK to Vote Early and Often
It is an election year and candidates running for various offices are busy making their case for your support. If you are like me, you may be scanning the ballot for candidates that share your values. It is hard to predict exactly what opportunities and challenges an...
Let Saint Valentine’s Key Unlock Your Philanthropy
The history behind Valentine’s Day actually is based upon multiple individuals across history who share the same name. Fortunately for us, each of these Valentine’s shared altruistic characteristics and acts of service that have been woven together with cultural...
Charity Is Still The Main Rule
As we begin a new year under a new tax code, you may be wondering what the new rules are for individual charitable giving. I urge you to consider charitable giving rules not only from a tax perspective but from a personal perspective. The technical answer from a tax...
New Tools for Charitable Donor
In my opinion, some of the finest signs of progress and growth in Tyler over the last 10 years have been the opening of Northern Tool and Equipment and Harbor Freight Tools. I love tools. Perusing the aisles of Harbor Freight Tools is just as fun for me as going to...
Year End Reflections and Resolve
Depending on when you are reading this article, it may be too late to make a gift that will count toward your 2017 itemized deductions, but it is not too late to consider how your gifts impact the lives of others. You are probably not alone if you are attempting to...
Commerce Drives Philanthropy
It is a great pleasure for East Texas Communities Foundation to receive the 2017 Small Business of the Year Award from the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. When you think of local small businesses contributing to the economic vitality of our community, most people...
Art Education
I do not consider myself to be an art aficionado, but I do appreciate art that clearly tells a story. Perhaps it is the accounting major in me that is drawn to the intricate details of art, such as the iconic western scenes of Frederic Remington and Charles Russell....
Grace Under Pressure
Reflecting on 9/11 and witnessing the response to recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida, reminds me that most people respond to hardship and tragedy with tremendous grace and compassion. This innate response is the very root of the word philanthropy…loving people....
Home is Where The Heart Is
Summer is a time for many families to hit the road and explore America. Our family has had our share of the open road and interesting destinations this summer. I hope you have too. Early August is an especially popular time for many East Texans to seek refuge from the...
The Summer Giving Slump
Summertime has arrived in East Texas. The cool evenings and enjoyable 80 degree days of late spring have begun to yield to the uncomfortably warm southerly winds ushering in what I like to call Texas convection cooking, where we are all slowly cooked by the wind....