The Board and staff of the United Way of Smith County are deeply saddened to share that our Development Officer and dear friend, Dr. Aubrey Sharpe, recently passed away. His impact on our organization and the community as a whole is enormous. As a volunteer,...

The United Way of Smith County hosted its 3rd-annual Tyler Gives fundraiser on November 29th to raise funds for its network of local nonprofits. More than $220,000 was raised online in a single-day event held on Giving Tuesday. When adding the $75,000 in matching funds...

The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce presented Fitzpatrick Architects with the Small Business of the Year award for 2021-2022, highlighting not only their design influence in the community, but also their community service initiatives. Fitzpatrick Architects believes that great design is not stagnant. It should be...

Many in our community have reached out and asked if we are supporting the efforts in Florida. Yes, we are providing support as well as maintaining our own local disasters each and every day. Just in the past week, we have seen over 7 home...

The Northeast Texas Public Health District now offers the updated COVID-19 boosters with protection against the newest Omicron virus strains and to prepare for future surges of COVID. The Moderna bivalent booster is available for ages 18 and older, and the Pfizer bivalent booster is available...

The United Way of Smith County kicked off its 82nd annual campaign Aug. 2nd at the Woman's Building in Tyler. The organization has set a goal to raise $2.1-million during the campaign cycle, which ends March 31, 2023. After three consecutive years of campaign increases,...

The United Way of Smith County recently completed the annual filings to receive Membership Certification from United Way Worldwide. The certification process ensures our local United Way is adhering to procedures and protocols expected of all local United Way organizations. The detailed process also provides...

The United Way of Smith County hosted the 28th-annual Day of Caring on Friday, June 10th. More than 20 local companies provided volunteers to tackle numerous projects for local nonprofits. Projects included painting, landscaping, food prep and many others. The Day of Caring provides volunteers...

Brookshire Grocery Company, a community pillar sponsor for our local United Way shared on Friday that they will no longer carry imported products from Russia. The company shared this message on social media last Friday: "In support of the Ukrainian people, Brookshire Grocery Company will continue...

  Our team at United Way of Smith County volunteers to ring the bell for our local Salvation Army each year, and they still need volunteers for this year! If you or someone you know would like to get involved, visit RegistertoRing.com...

TYLER, TEXAS – Habitat for Humanity of Smith County has received a $300,000 Housing Preservation Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for critical home repairs for rural East Texans.   “We are so excited to once again receive funding from the USDA to help...

Join us for our annual Dementia Care Conference 2021 "In It Together." This conference is for professional and family caregivers. About this event   Date and time Wed, May 26, 2021 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM CDT Location Rose Garden Center 420 Rose Park Drive Tyler, TX 75702 Doors open at 8 am. Conference begins...

A HUGE thank you to our friends at Altra Federal Credit Union for answering the call to help meet some increasing needs this year in Smith County. On October 2nd, they presented us with a $25,000 gift. 100% will go directly to agencies assisting local families...

Millions of American families are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. In the past, this socioeconomic status was called “the working poor.” Today, there is new terminology used to identify this part of the population, and that term is A.L.I.C.E. Recently, I had the opportunity...

I often get asked, “Hey, I want to start a nonprofit because I am always helping people. Can I put you down as a board member?” While I don’t mind serving in that capacity, I do ask my friends and family if they are ready...

Being a child of the 90’s, we used to call one another and ask, “What’s the 411?” That meant, “What’s going on? What information to do you have?” At the time, “What’s the 411?” was a popular song as well. Today, I will briefly answer...

Drive around Tyler/Smith County and you will notice we live in a very blessed community. We deal with poverty and people in need just like all of our other East Texas communities. United Way's work goes beyond supporting some of those programs that are highly...

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="grid" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] As we enter the busy fall campaign season, many great causes and charity efforts will come under great scrutiny. Each year, we see the forwarded emails from a friend or co-worker with a plea to not support nonprofits this year....

Despite our best efforts as a community, many of our neighbors are not immune to falling under the poverty threshold. In fact, the vast majority of working people are just one paycheck away from a financial tailspin. In a place like East Texas, where charitable...

It's easy to overlook the fact that in Smith County, not all adults are able to read at a basic 2nd grade reading level or higher. (1 out of every 3 adults according to the Literacy Council of Tyler) Most problems that impact our neighbors can...

The verdict is out, and rural communities in East Texas have a particularly low health score in certain areas including one of the highest cancer mortality rates. The rates are higher than anywhere else in the state, according to Texas Department of State Health Services 2016...

Most of us feel like our assets (or liabilities for that matter) are too small and not worth the time or potential expense of setting up a will and planning for the future. When it comes to our children, we want them to be better...

Inspire Your Family to Give   Answering the call to give has been elevated to a new level over the past several years, following natural disasters, wars, and struggling economies in the US and around the globe. We are seeing a new generation witness the hardships and...

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] As we enter the holiday season, many great causes and charity efforts will come under great scrutiny. Each year, we see the forwarded emails from a friend or co-worker with a plea to not support nonprofits this year. The emails...

What exactly does United Way do? In spite of our 76 year history in East Texas and the partnership with the NFL, we get asked this question by some of our local neighbors just about every week! Here are some important points to know about your...

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text] Wow! We had a fantastic Day of Caring this past year with over 500 volunteers completing 39 projects across Smith County! What a privilege to take part in such an amazing event. Here are some snapshots of our fantastic volunteers...

[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="left" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you follow our social media or attend any of our campaign rallies at your office, no doubt you have heard that your gift to our local United Way directly impacts about 60,000 individuals in Smith County each year! Since the...

As United Way of Smith County celebrates 75 years in 2015, we have a lot to celebrate and to be thankful for. In 1940, a group of influential leaders in Tyler TX formed Tyler Community Chest as a way to bring people and resources together...

Despite our best efforts as a community, many of our neighbors are not immune to falling under the poverty threshold. In fact, the vast majority of working people are just one paycheck away from a financial tailspin. In a place like East Texas, where charitable...

Here at United Way of Smith County, we are blessed to call communities like Tyler, Lindale, Bullard, Whitehouse, Chapel Hill, and others home. While we live in one of the most beautiful and tranquil parts of Texas with some of the nicest people, there are...