Through five program areas, the Foundation funds organizations and projects that provide services to under-served and disenfranchised populations with defined needs, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for the people living, working or attending school in the funded communities.
Education
Knowledge empowers choices that influence our social and family environment, health and mental well being, career and income, home and neighborhood, and community and world view. The correlation between quality of education and quality of life is undeniable. It is one of the most powerful instruments for reducing poverty and inequality and lays a foundation for sustained economic growth. The Foundation recognizes how important it is for young people, especially those who face greater challenges in life, to attend and graduate from college.
Grants for education are made in the following areas:
- Program support aimed at preparing under-served students for college.
- Grants to colleges and universities for scholarships.
- Endowed funds to colleges and universities for scholarships to needy students.
As part of the Beaumont Foundation’s continuing commitment to supporting education, the Excellence in Education Program was created to celebrate and recognize superior contributions of teachers whose leadership and dedication inspire a spirit of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities. Each award recipient is honored at an awards gala and receives a crystal obelisk, a portrait and $10,000.
We currently offer awards in two geographic areas.
- Wayne A. Reaud Excellence in Education Award Created in 2009, fifteen (15) teachers from Southeast Texas are selected annually to receive this prestigious Award.
- Gilbert I. “Buddy” Low Excellence in Education Award Created in 2010, three (3) teachers from East Texas will be selected annually to receive this prestigious Award.
Social Services
The Foundation provides support to community social service agencies that provide services the in following areas:
- Support basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter and other direct aid for indigent, low income and other under-served populations.
- Serve the elderly by providing services to help senior citizens live independently.
- Promote economic self-sufficiency through education and training of youth and adults.
- Offer after school programs for economically disadvantaged children.
- Respond to an increasing demand, especially among families, for housing services. Whether it is housing counseling, help with home repair, rent or mortgage assistance, temporary shelter, or transitional housing.
With damage estimates as high as $21 billion, Hurricane Ike was the third-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, behind Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew. The 250-mile wide storm made landfall Saturday morning, September 13, 2008, on Galveston Island, Texas, as a strong Category 2 hurricane with winds of to 110 mph. Damage was widespread and severe across Orange County, Texas. The storm surge almost completely flooded Bridge City, breached the levee at the City of Orange, and traveled up the Neches River to flood Rose City. The Beaumont Foundation, in partnership with the Reaud Foundation, hosted a 2008 Orange County Hurricane Ike Relief “Bicycles and Bibles” Event in December. The Foundation awarded 1000 bicycles, bibles, jackets, shoes and other gifts to deserving children from Orange County, Texas from families who suffered devastating economic losses due to Hurricane Ike.
Children and Youth Programs
The future of our Nation depends upon how we protect and nurture our children and youth. Today, many children and youth have lives marked with abandonment, disruption, insecurity, loneliness, neglect, abuse, danger and fear. Others have disabilities or diseases that may prevent them from fitting in at school or participating in activities that other kids their age are able to experience. Some are placed in a child welfare system that moves them from foster home to foster home, making it impossible to establish friendships or to keep up with their peers in school, resulting in failure and alienation.
In addressing the needs of children (ages 0-14), we know much of what works and we know the powerful economic and social justifications for early investment. Tackling the needs of youth (ages 15-24) is more challenging. Today’s youth represent the largest cohort ever to enter the transition into adulthood and the issues they face – unemployment, lack of schooling and skills, risky behaviors, violence – represent enormous economic and social costs to society.
The Foundation believes that every child deserves to feel they have value, to feel loved, and to feel that they have something special to offer to the world, thus we collaborate with non-profit organizations who strive to improve the conditions of children who are living in less fortunate situations.
Health Care
The Beaumont Foundation dedicates resources to meet the unmet health care needs, provide lodging to families who are receiving medical treatment away from their home communities, and increase the availability of accessible and quality health-related services for under-served populations.
Foundation Initiated Programs
The Beaumont Foundation from time to time will seek solutions to identified needs through Foundation Initiated Programs. Currently, there are three Foundation Initiated Programs:
Children and Spouses of Fallen Heroes: To honor service and sacrifice. The Children and Spouses of Fallen Heroes Program supports families who have lost loved ones in the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Relying on information provided by the Casualty Assistance Office of the soldier’s respective military branch, the Foundation reaches out to all identified families of these brave men and women. Through this ongoing program, the Foundation has distributed over 1800 laptop computers to dependent children and spouses of military personnel.
The Foundation distributes a Children’s Bibles to the children of soldiers being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan through Ft. Hood, Texas, as well as including a Children’s Bible with each dependent child’s laptop computer.
The Children of Fallen Heroes Program was initiated in April of 2005 to honor the service and sacrifice of United States troops. The brainchild of Chairman Wayne A. Reaud, the program awards laptop computers to the children and spouses of military personnel who gave their lives in the ongoing conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan.