Golf superstar and new Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Tiger Woods started the TGR Foundation — his charitable organization — as a golf-based enterprise. But as happened often with his golf game, Woods is always looking to pivot when the circumstances require. Early on, Woods recognized that TGR could have more impact as an education-based org. “I wanted to shift it into education because it’s something… I believe that’s how I was raised — because education came first.” Especially STEM-based education: science, technology, engineering, and math. (The Stanford product Woods says he uses physics to help with his golf game. )
Woods is sometimes accused by critics of being insufficiently political, especially given his unique racial heritage and iconic status. The golf superstar obviously has a big platform, but he has usually tried — as his friend Michael Jordan did — to shine his particular light by traveling the path himself, and inspiring others to achieve by seeing his accomplishments. That said, Woods is conscious of the inequalities that exist systemically in America — and that’s something the TGR Foundation hopes to combat.
“We tried to ixnay that gap between the haves and the have-nots. And the best way to do that for me with the way the future was headed was to do it in STEM.” TGR’s mission includes to “expose more kids to STEM at an earlier age.”
Earlier this year, Earl Woods Scholar alumna Grace Lee sat down with our founder #TigerWoods to reflect on her journey from #STEM studies @UCBerkeley to pursuing her passion for film-making @USC. Hear the full interview now. #CollegeSigningDay #BetterMakeRoom #ReachHigher pic.twitter.com/YZ01fWhEQY
— TGR Foundation (@TGRFound) May 1, 2019
