Thank you, members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) for joining us during Foundation Month, a time to honor the charitable work done by our partner organization, the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF). Today, we focus on two of TRTF’s most vital programs, “A Helping Hand” and the Disaster Relief Fund.
“A Helping Hand”
“A Helping Hand,” launched in 2010, provides public education retirees with charitable assistance for a one-time special need or other short-term hardship. Recipients include anyone who is receiving or is eligible to receive an annuity from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS). Applicants do not need to be a member of TRTA to apply.
Since its inception, TRTF has awarded more than $220,000 in aid to more than 220 recipients. This year, grants from TRTF’s “A Helping Hand” program have assisted retirees with medical and dental bills, energy bills, apartment rent, tree removal, car repair, hearing aids, and a new refrigerator, among other urgent needs.
Disaster Relief Fund
TRTF’s Disaster Relief Fund assists public education employees and retirees who require emergency financial assistance for a short-term hardship due to a disaster. Grant seekers are not required to be a member of TRTA but must be eligible to receive benefits from TRS. This year, TRTF has awarded Disaster Relief grants to repair home foundations due to flooding, roof repair due to hail, and property clean-up after wildfires.
To date, the Disaster Relief Fund has provided more than $375,000 in aid to more than 1,100 active and retired school personnel. With your help, TRTF will be prepared should another disaster strike and be ready to offer aid at a moment’s notice.
Do You, Or Does Someone You Know, Need Help?
If you are a member of TRTA and you (or someone you know) need(s) assistance, please contact TRTF at 1.800.880.1650 or by email at help@trtf.org.
All applications are reviewed independently and remain confidential. Recipients’ information will not be shared with the public unless the recipient provides permission to TRTF to share his or her story.
Please Donate
It is time to give big so that we may help our teachers and retirees! As a 501(c)(3), TRTF is in a unique position to raise donations and deploy them through our charitable programs.
Please consider making your tax-deductible charitable contribution to TRTF. You may donate online here or call 1.800.880.1650. TRTF also included its annual appeal letter and donation card in the third quarter issue of The VOICE, in TRTA members’ mailboxes now! You may use the donation card found on page 12 and the enclosed envelope to mail your donation to TRTF today.
Please stay tuned to the Inside Line throughout the month of November as we update you on TRTF’s programs and share stories from individual program recipients.
