Our Foundation is the educational arm of the Texas Retailers Association, as well as a community of retailers joining together to:

• Expand awareness of the retail industry to current and potential employees as well as in the community;
• Educate fellow retailers on key business practices and issues through roundtable discussions, workshops or seminars; and
• Improve the Texas workforce through the funding of scholarships and educational opportunities.

To date, TRA’s member retailers have funded more than $1 million in scholarships to students throughout Texas. Scholarships are given to students participating in the Toward Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant program, managed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, scholarships determined and managed by HGMRA (Houston Grocery Manufacturers Representative Association) and scholarships given out by the University of Houston Consumer Science and Merchandising Endowment Fund. To learn more about our programs involving training, scholarship programs TREF supports, or to become a part of our giving community, please contact Joe Williams at jwilliams@txretailers.org.

Read about the Texas Retailers Education Foundation's latest donation to TEXAS Grants:

TREF Presentation to TEXAS Grant Program - September 24, 2009

The University of Houston now offers an online program for students interested in pursuing a degree in the area of Consumer Science and Merchandising.

University of Houston Online Program for Consumer Science and Merchandising