From left, Doris Ramaly, executive director of Family Promise of Longview and Kyle Penney, president of East Texas Communities Foundation, hold a $5,000 check from the T.J. and LaVerne Plunkett Foundation in December 2022. (Tyler Morning Telegraph File Photo)

The T.J. and LaVerne Plunkett Foundation held at East Texas Communities Foundation in Tyler will be accepting grant applications now through 5 p.m.  Sept. 30. 

“The Plunkett Foundation has a generous history of supporting East Texas charities,” said Kyle Penney, President of East Texas Communities Foundation. “We are honored to continue their work making grants to worthy nonprofits serving our neighbors in need.”

Lifelong residents of Rusk County, T.J. and LaVerne Plunkett loved their community and were committed to improving lives throughout the region. Organizations applying to the T.J. and LaVerne Plunkett Foundation Grant at East Texas Communities Foundation must align with the conservative, Christian values exemplified by T.J. and LaVerne Plunkett and their family. Such values include integrity, honesty, stewardship, and respect for all life. Applicants must be tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations with 501/c/3 status and programs serving the counties of: Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Shelby, Smith, Upshur – with a preference on Rusk County.

Requests for support in the areas of arts and culture, education and job training, health and human services, Christian ministries, children and youth programs, animal welfare, or environmental concerns are welcome. Requests should not to exceed $10,000.

A grant committee will review all grant applications. Grant awards will be announced in November. Applications must be submitted electronically and can be found at https://etcf.org/nonprofits/grants/.

East Texas East Texas Communities Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving 32 counties in East Texas. The foundation distributed $13.7 million in grants in 2023 and currently manages over $130 million in over 501 unique charitable funds which support nonprofit organizations and student scholarships. The foundation, which was formed in 1989, has awarded over $138 million in grants and scholarships since its inception.