The Kinder Foundation actively supports the community development and preservation of Houston’s historic Third Ward.

The Foundation provided early funding for the renovation of Emancipation Park, one of Houston’s most historically significant parks, and in 2016, affirmed its commitment to quality greenspace for all Houstonians by granting the Emancipation Park Conservancy with three years of funds to further park programming and operations.

A 2016 grant from the Foundation to the Young Mothers Residential Program at Project Row Houses afford young single mothers with support to pursue their education and fulfill their careers. The Foundation is continuing to provide annual direct support to PRH for its programs.

The Foundation’s contribution to The Lawson Academy’s capital campaign in 2016 encouraged the continued quality education of young students in the Third Ward. Reinforcing progress in the education arena, the Foundation also contributed to capital campaigns for Workshop Houston in 2016 and Yellowstone Academy in 2017.

In mid-2016 the Foundation provided the first of two grants totaling almost $1.8 million to fund feasibility studies for affordable housing, equitable economic development and ongoing community planning through the Emancipation Community Development Partnership, setting the stage for new investments and initiatives in these areas in the near future.  In early 2017, the Foundation also gifted the Emancipation Economic Development Council with funds to support its seven “early impact projects” including programs which encourage sustainable employment for residents; housing feasibility and rights research; and neighborhood improvement initiatives.

With initial funding of $2 million from the Foundation in 2018, Project Row Houses formed PRH Preservation, Inc. to ensure historic housing stock is being preserved in the Third Ward.