photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph East Texas Communities Foundation president Kyle Penney gives a TransCanada Charitable Fund grant check to Smittee Root of Leadership Tyler Tuesday. East Texas Communities Foundation honored 55 East Texas charities with a total of $316,566 in grant awards at a 25th Anniversary Grant Celebration at the Tyler Museum of Art.

Nonprofit leaders from throughout the region celebrated the work of the East Texas Communities Foundation, while at the same time being honored for what they’ve received.

The foundation on Tuesday recognized 55 East Texas charities that received more than $316,500 in grant awards this year during an event at the Tyler Museum of Art.

This marks the 25th anniversary of the organization, which serves to bring charities and philanthropists together by encouraging the creation of endowment and community funds.

Although the foundation has more than 200 funds in place, leaders celebrated six at the event.

The six funds highlighted at the event were: the Edwin A. “Blue” and Janice Owen Miller Charitable Fund, the Retail Merchants Association of Tyler Charitable Fund, the Tyler Library Foundation Fund, Smith County Community Builders Grant, TransCanada Charitable Fund and Evans-Merrick Music Grants Fund.

For a complete story about the grants and some of the projects they funded, read the Yes! Section in Thursday’s Tyler Morning Telegraph.