NASSAU, Bahamas – When Tiger Woods was a child, his parents instilled in him one core principle: to make a difference in someone’s life every day.

“At TGR Foundation, we do just that, making a meaningful impact on young people’s lives every day,” said Woods.

Founded by Tiger in 1996, the TGR Foundation’s mission is to empower students to pursue their passions through education. Its signature programs target students from under-resourced communities, providing access to education and opportunities to prepare for their future. But to continue to have a positive impact on young people’s lives and meet the needs of increasingly young people in today’s world, a large budget is required and this is where events like the Hero World Challenge become crucial.

The Hero World Challenge was founded in January 2000 by Tiger and his father Earl and is held annually with Tiger as host. The Foundation and the World Challenge have been equally successful over the past 25 years.

“Without tournaments and special events and player games, we wouldn’t be able to serve as many kids and make as much of an impact as we have over the years,” Tiger said, reflecting on the 25th^Th Playing the Hero World Challenge, the TGR Foundation’s longest-running fundraising event, and what came out of it. “These are all events that have allowed us as a foundation to have an impact not only in Southern California, but also in the areas where we have held these events.”

As the Hero World Challenge has grown in stature, the TGR Foundation has expanded its impact. In 2001, Tiger made the important decision to focus his work on access to education and creating a “safe space for children to learn, grow and chase their dreams.” From this direction emerged the TGR Learning Lab in Anaheim, California, and the Earl Woods Scholar Program, both launched in 2006. (329 first-generation college students have participated in the program and achieved a 98 percent graduation rate. The highest scholarship completion rates in the country and the flagship TGR Learning Lab have supported more than 195,000 Southern California students.)

Event revenue for nonprofits is incredibly important because it is typically unrestricted dollars. The TGR Foundation also hosts the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational and other golf events such as the TGR Junior Invitational in association with Pebble Beach Resort and the Nexus Cup.

“We generate over $10 million a year in our event revenue, which helps us build the infrastructure to go into communities and build these learning labs in partnership with communities,” said Cyndi Court, CEO of the TGR Foundation, which runs its took up the role in summer 2023. “If you look at it that way, Tiger isn’t just building a family foundation that gives away money; He’s really building a nonprofit.”

She compared the Tiger Foundation’s potential to established, well-known powerhouses like St. Jude’s and Special Olympics.

“Tiger is developing a vision that could be really huge, and that’s why we’re starting to look at other markets and working with other partners who are passionate about their cities and want to make an impact,” she said. “We started talking about how we can ask people to join us and roar and create a movement for what we can do together. It’s really important that the events fund the infrastructure so we can grow.”

Therefore, Tiger and the TGR Foundation are committed to expanding their TGR Learning Labs to more communities in need. In spring 2025, the TGR Learning Lab will open in Philadelphia at Cobbs Creek, where TGR Design is also renovating the Cobbs Creek Golf Course, followed by a lab in Los Angeles at Lulu’s Place.

“Every city in America needs a learning lab,” Court said. “There are 10 million children in America who still live in poverty. So there is a big opportunity gap. We believe that if we can close the opportunity gap, the education gap will be closed.”

The TGR Foundation already has eight employees on-site in West Philadelphia serving over 2,000 young people before the new learning center opens there next April.

“That also speaks to the flexibility of our programming,” Court said. “I really believe that you don’t bring anything into one of these communities without really understanding the community and making sure that we’re asking parents, kids and educators what they want. “

To address students’ needs, the TGR Foundation added programs and offerings to maximize its reach and impact. She helped youth become college and career ready and offered free after-school courses in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). We integrate holistic learning and support for our students and provide access to golf. Tiger’s commitment to serving and reaching more children in more markets is best summed up when he says, “Ultimately, the global impact we will have in 20 years will be more far-reaching than anything I have ever seen in the world.” I played golf.”

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Tiger Woods isn’t participating in the Hero World Challenge, but here’s why the TGR Foundation is the real winner