November has been designated by the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) Board of Directors as a time to raise funds for and honor the charitable endeavors of our partner organization, the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF).
TRTF just launched its annual appeal to raise funds for its four primary charitable programs and its endowment fund: “A Helping Hand,” Classroom Assistance Grants, Beginning Teacher Scholarships, the Disaster Relief Fund and the Lehr-Pritchard Endowment Fund.
TRTF hopes to raise $100,000 in donations to support its programs to help educators of the past, present, and future! DONATE ONLINE TODAY!
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey swept through the Gulf Coast of Texas and destroyed the homes and lives of many residents in the Houston area.
Arlise Wilson is a retired math teacher from Missouri City, Texas. When she heard about Harvey’s arrival, she evacuated her home. After the storm passed, she returned to see that her house had been flooded from two sides. A creek behind her house had overflowed and breached her floors. Additionally, her house lies at the end of a hill. Despite a small moat, the overwhelming rainfall had also flooded the front of her house.
Wilson, a self-described problem solver, went to work protecting her belongings and renovating the flooring of her house. One major issue was the mold from the rainfall, which meant she had to have the floor stripped out and replaced.
“When I returned to the house, I knew that there would be an awful lot of upset, disarray and mess to deal with,” Wilson said.
Wilson received two grants from TRTF, totaling $750. She used these grants to protect her belongings and hire help to clean her house. She purchased approximately 30 large plastic tubs to protect her possessions as her house was turned upside down.
“That start was a really big help,” Wilson said about the grant. “That was one of the nicest mental breaks that I could have asked for. It’s that sense of, ‘My things are protected.’”
Wilson still has some of her possessions in those tubs, and she feels that many people’s lives will never be the same since the storm.
“Even if you have the resources or the help of a grant, it doesn’t take away the event and the resulting experience. It’s bad. B-A-D. And you don’t want to wish it on anybody,” Wilson said.
No one can be sure when the next major disaster will strike. Help support retired Texas educators during their time of need by donating to TRTF’s disaster relief fund.
How the Foundation Can Help Educators of the Past, Present, and Future
If you or a retiree you know is in need of financial assistance this holiday season, please email TRTF at help@trtf.org. TRTF has assisted many retirees with home repairs, dental work, hearing aids, medical bills, space heaters and much more!
If you know of a classroom teacher who is hoping to fund a great project for his or her students and is wondering where to find the money to accomplish this goal, have them apply for one of our thirty available Classroom Assistance Grants. Download the application here. (Deadline: February 28, 2019)
If you have a family member who is about to graduate from college and plans to teach for the very first time in the fall of 2019, let them know about our Beginning Teacher Scholarship program. We may be able to assist them in paying for certification tests or supplies for their first classroom. TRTF has twenty-one scholarships to give. Download the application here. (Deadline: February 28, 2019)
Donate Today
Since November 1, TRTA members have donated more than $60,000 to TRTF’s charitable programs!
Will you please consider donating today and helping us reach our goal of $100,000?
There are more than 90,000 members of TRTA. If we all give a little, we could do a lot! If you believe in the legacy of public education in Texas and want to show your support through a tax-deductible donation to any of our Foundation’s amazing programs, you may donate online today! You may also donate over the phone with a credit card at 1.800.880.1650. Please ask for Sarah.
The third quarter issue of The VOICE also featured a special article about the Foundation, along with TRTF’s annual appeal letter and donation card. You can mail in your donation using the pre-paid envelope included with your issue.
Foundation Month is your opportunity to make a difference for a fellow retiree who could use help, create an opportunity for classroom teachers and students, or help open the door for a new teacher brimming with youthful enthusiasm to teach young minds. Thank you for your support!
