| TGR Foundation | |
| Abbreviation: | TGRF |
| Status: | Non-Profit |
| Location: | Irvine, California |
| Leader Title: | Founders |
| Leader Name: | Tiger Woods, Earl Woods |
| Leader Title2: | CEO |
| Leader Name2: | Gordon McNeill |
| Main Organ: | Board of Directors |
| Affiliations: | TGR Learning Lab TGR EDU:Explore Earl Woods Scholarship Program TGR EDU:Create |
| Website: | TGR Foundation |
TGR Foundation was established in 1996 by Tiger Woods and his father, Earl Woods, to create and support community-based programs that improve the health, education, and welfare of all children in America. The charity began as a simple junior golf clinic where Woods introduced the basics of the game to inner-city kids. But everything changed in 2001, right after the events of September 11. Woods began to envision his foundation as a hub for STEM education for kids from underprivileged communities.[1]
Currently, the foundation has established several programs and events such as the TGR Learning Labs, Hero World Challenge, Genesis Open, The National, and Tiger Jam which all benefit and impact the lives of millions of children. The organization's primary source of funding comes from several golf events hosted by Woods, including three PGA tour events, the Pebble Beach Invitational, and the three-day Tiger Jam entertainment and golf event in Las Vegas. The foundation uses these funds to sponsor the charity's main priority: supporting education and career growth for disadvantaged youth.
The Tiger Woods Foundation does this through three primary initiatives, the first is educational and other enrichment programs at the learning center in Anaheim, such as after-school STEM programming for high school students. The second key initiative is that the foundation provides 25 students each year with a full college scholarship, focusing on students from challenging backgrounds, or those lacking financial support. The last initiative the foundation supports is called Pathways Forward. Pathways Forward is an event organized in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to raise funds to support students and educators who were facing challenges due to the pandemics' impact on education. It also aims to give students business skills to help them in their future careers.[2]
TGRF also established the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a 23-acre education and golf facility for kids in Southern California. While there, they can take classes in everything from science and math to languages and fine arts. Plus there will be a summer camp where kids from all over the country can enjoy the facilities.[3]
The Tiger Woods Foundation is about empowering minorities, especially underprivileged minority students. The TGRF’s goal is for these students to be given the support and resources needed to be successful in school and beyond. In over the 20 years that this foundation has been opened they have served more than 175,000 students, as well as employing 1,000 educators each year. The foundation has been so successful due to its goal of “developing self-advocacy skills in young people,” that its students have a 98.7% college graduation rate, which is one of the highest graduation rates of a scholarship program in the country. Going forward, teacher training will become an even bigger focus. The Foundation has partnered with the Discovery Education (a subsidiary of Discovery Communications, which owns the Discovery Channel) to digitize and disseminate the STEM curriculum it has developed to educators around the world.
One of the greatest things about this foundation is that Tiger Woods created this program because he saw a hole in society that he wanted to fill. He created this foundation because "I wanted a permanent, safe space for kids to explore their dreams" -Tiger Woods. He founded this program to help impoverished children and young adults, and in the past 22 years since it being opened, he has exceeded all expectations of this foundation.
Since its establishment in 1996, the TGR Foundation has achieved a remarkable milestone by raising nearly $150 million. This noteworthy achievement has enabled the foundation to establish a meaningful scholarship program, inspired by Tiger Woods' late father, that not only provides financial support but also offers recipients invaluable opportunities for mentorship, internships, workshops, and workforce development. Through these comprehensive services, the TGR Foundation is making a significant and lasting impact on the lives of young individuals as they navigate their collegiate journey and prepare for successful futures.[4]