ichard H. Collins subscribes to the philosophy that those who benefit greatly from their community have a responsibility to make it greater.

To that end, Collins manages two philanthropic foundations that fund several initiatives that have as their goal improving the quality of life for all Americans.

Founded in 1984, The Today Foundation is a public foundation that has awarded over $6 million in scholarships to more than 6,000 children in grades K-8 in Dallas County to attend the school of their choice.

The Today Foundation's multiple programs are aimed at:

• improving education
• reducing crime
• preventing drug use
• building character
• boosting reading skills
• advocating tax reform
• exploring economic issues

Meanwhile, the Calvert Collins Family Foundation — founded by Carr P. Collins in 1962 — is private foundation that:

• works in conjunction with Southern Methodist University's Simmons School of Education and Human Development to develop effective scientifically based reading research and easy to use assessments.
  
• founded the Collins Academy in Jefferson, Texas to provide honor courses for area students and diplomas for high school dropouts. The Academy is working to build the Big Cypress Ecological Park and it operates a School of Environmental Studies.
  
• makes grants to public charitable, educational or religious undertakings.
  
• manages The House of the Seasons, a historic, 1872 home in Jefferson, Texas.
  
• acquires and restores distressed historic properties for restoration and resale.