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Together for a Better Tomorrow (TBT) in the Environmental & Occupational Health Department at the School of Public Health advances Texas A&M University's commitment to public service by partnering with communities to address real-world challenges through community-engaged research, collaboration, and action. Philanthropic support allows us to respond to community-identified needs that often fall outside the scope of traditional research funding, while strengthening the impact of our work across Texas.

Guided by input from community members, Community Advisory Boards, Community Health Workers, and local partners, philanthropic contributions to TBT may be used across the following broad, non-exhaustive categories. These categories are intentionally expansive to allow responsiveness to community priorities over time.

A. Food Security and Basic Needs Assistance

• Emergency food assistance (e.g., grocery cards, food boxes)
• Holiday and seasonal food support (e.g., Thanksgiving meals, turkeys, Christmas food/gift distributions)
• Support for community food drives and nutrition-related events
• Collaboration with local food pantries and community organizations

B. Educational and Youth Support

• Back-to-school supplies (e.g., backpacks, notebooks, calculators)
• Educational technology (e.g., laptops, tablets, iPads, accessories)
• Learning materials for children, youth, and families
• Support for school-readiness and enrichment activities

C. Community Health and Wellness Support

• Personal hygiene and household items (e.g., hygiene kits, cleaning supplies)
• Participation in health fairs and outreach events
• Health promotion materials and community-appropriate educational resources
• Environmental health supports (e.g., water filters, safe water supplies)

D. Community Engagement and Appreciation

• Modest appreciation items for Community Advisory Board members (e.g., vouchers, gift cards, wellness services)
• Recognition of community partners and volunteers
• Support for CAB meetings and engagement activities
• Appropriate tokens of appreciation acknowledging time, expertise, and lived experience

E. Event-Based and Seasonal Community Support

• Holiday drives (e.g., Christmas toy drives, seasonal assistance)
• Community celebrations and educational events
• Support for pop-up outreach activities in collaboration with partner organizations

F. Research-Adjacent Community Support

• Materials and resources that facilitate ethical research participation
• Technology and tools that support data collection and participant engagement
• Translation, interpretation, and culturally responsive communication materials

To learn more about how your tax-deductible contribution—regardless of size—creates meaningful and measurable impact for the individuals, families, and communities we serve, visit tbt.tamu.edu to learn more about our TBT.