Mission Statement – Charitable Outreach Committee

Through the use of Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church Outreach Funds, we put Unitarian Universalist principles into action in our community and the world by supporting organizations and causes that promote the equal worth and dignity of every person and the interdependent web of all existence.

Charitable Outreach Committee Guidelines

In determining the projects, programs, organizations, and causes funded by the Outreach Fund, the Committee will consider:

  • Consistency with one or more of the seven Unitarian Universalist principles;

  • Emerson congregational priorities;
  • UUA Congregational Study/Action Issues for the year;
  • Ways to maximize Emerson’s contributions through leveraging dollars from other sources to the extent practical;
  • Use Outreach Fund money to provide significant amounts for a single project or purpose, thereby engaging the congregation in a singular worthy cause;
  • Ways to promote the visibility of Emerson UU Church and the Unitarian Universalist Association;
  • Share the Plate contributions will be used for smaller donations to organizations according to the principles and priorities established for such contributions.

Outreach Grants from the Emerson Endowment Fund Support these Programs

In 2020 – No monies were available from the Endowment Fund.

In 2019, Grants were made to Citizens Climate Education Third Coast, t.e.j.a.s. (Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services) and to RAICES (the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services).

In 2018, the Outreach Committee selected the Tahirih Justice Center Houston for their Children’s Border Project and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

In 2017 a grant to the Tahirih Justice Center Houston as funding for their Children’s Border Project, and a second and final grant to Texas Impact.

In 2016, a grant to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast and Texas Impact. An additional $25,000 was set aside for 2017 for Texas Impact to promote health justice in Texas.