Smith County Medical Society Alliance Book Fair Foundation

11/05/2025

Join us for an informative talk on the importance of colon cancer screening with Dr. Richard Seidel.

09/23/2023

When the Brooklyn Bridge was completed after fourteen years of construction, Emily Warren Roebling -- who was born on this day in 1843 -- was the first to cross it by carriage, carrying a live rooster as a sign of victory. Early in its construction, Roebling's husband, the chief engineer in charge of the bridge’s construction, became severely debilitated and bedridden due to decompression sickness. Emily Roebling stepped in to become the first female field engineer in history and supervised the bridge's construction for over ten years until its successful completion. To read the incredible story of the "woman who saved the Brooklyn Bridge, visit https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=25975

For two inspiring picture books telling her story, we highly recommend "Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge" (https://www.amightygirl.com/secret-engineer) and "How Emily Saved the Bridge" (https://www.amightygirl.com/how-emily-saved-the-bridge), both for ages 5 to 9

For tweens, Roebling is one of five pioneering women in engineering featured in "Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Engineers" -- which also includes a variety of engineering projects kids can try at home -- for ages 8 to 11 at https://www.amightygirl.com/gutsy-girls-engineers

Roebling is one of the women featured in “Women of Steel and Stone: 22 Inspirational Engineers, Architects, and Landscape Designers” for teens and adults, ages 13 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/women-of-steel-and-stone

For adult readers, Emily Warren Roebling's story is also told in David McCullough's "The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge" at https://amzn.to/3sWpy4J

There is also a fantastic historical fiction novel based on her story for adults: "The Engineer's Wife" at https://www.amightygirl.com/the-engineer-s-wife

For fun ways to inspire the builders of tomorrow, we've showcased our favorite girl-empowering building toys in our blog post: “Building Her Dreams: Top 60 Building and Engineering Toys for Mighty Girls," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10430

09/15/2022

We now have a NEW project, that we would love our former supporters to know about....a book vending machine! Our first vending machine is placed at Bethesda Children's Clinic. Children who go in for a variety of office visits will receive a token from their medical provider to obtain a free book from our vending machine. We have partnered with the Texas Medical Association Alliance and their Texas BookShare Project. We raise funds through our Heels for Healing fundraiser to obtain monies to support the vending machine as well as continue providing funds for our healthcare scholarships at TJC and UTT. Check out the article below to learn more!

https://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=754821&p=140&view=issueViewer&pp=1&fbclid=IwAR0gVsWKAZALmtkWqIAMULXQXq9H9J3esTUqkFhbj8HkZVFfaQQnB7BQGBg

photo by Francie Batten Hodges Photography BOOK FAIR TO BOOKSHARE by Nancy Wrenn SCMSA Community Engagement T his new horizon reflects our continuing Mission—evolving from Book Fair to BookShare! The unveiling of the initial BookShare Vending Machine occurred at St. Paul Children’s Family Servic...

04/11/2022

We sold our Book Fair Building two years ago, and no longer have sales. Thanks to the generous support of book donors and book buyers, we now have large endowed healthcare scholarships at UT Tyler and TJC.

03/31/2021

https://www.kltv.com/2021/03/31/smith-county-medical-society-alliance-donates-tyler-colleges/?fbclid=IwAR0qoLkYFlGaSnoc0PznyB_Oox8_G2zVW3W6dvbbEyaTQFhcM1_8v76THK4

Tuesday the Smith County Medical Society Alliance donated a total of $290,000 to UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College.

03/31/2021

Smith County Medical Society Alliance president Joi Smith presented UTT and TJC with checks for $145,000 each. These funds were obtained through the sale of our Book Fair Building and contents and will be added to our endowed scholarships.

12/18/2020

Yesterday, members of Smith County Medical Society Alliance gathered at a local Salvation Army distribution location, where they supplied helmets for the 600 bikes, trikes, and scooters that will be given away on Friday.

It's always wonderful seeing our county chapters partner up with local organizations to serve their communities. Fantastic work, SCMSA and Salvation Army!

09/23/2020

For over 50 years, the Smith County Medical Society Alliance has held biannual Book Fair sales of donated books to raise money for healthcare career scholarships at TJC and later added scholarships for UT Tyler students.
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we have had to cancel our Spring sale, and now must cancel our Fall sale as well.

Our membership has now made the hard decision to sell our beloved Book Fair building and will no longer hold any sales. We have established endowed scholarships at both TJC and UTT and the majority of the proceeds of the building sale will be added to those funds so that scholarships will continue to be given for years to come.

We want to thank all of our loyal donors and shoppers who have supported us through the years. We will miss you.

04/22/2020

Feeding Tyler’s Healthcare Heroes! Thanks for your support!

04/15/2020

Thanks to all who have donated to the collaborative fundraising effort to Feed Tyler’s Healthcare Heroes! As of today, $27,000, which includes a 1k donation from the Smith County Medical Society Alliance and 20k from The Genocov Group has been raised. ALL contributions large or small, are appreciated. Ongoing donations are still needed for what may be a several month period that our hardworking doctors, nurses and all other allied healthcare workers are on the front lines fighting to help our community. Meals have already begun to be distributed to the hospitals under the direction of the administrators.