TGR Foundation

Andrés Cuamani still remembers his first day at the TGR Learning Lab fondly. A 5thgrader at Dr. Peter Marshall Elementary School, Andrés spent a week at the Anaheim-based learning lab studying forensic science with his classmates. From surveying clues at a mock crime scene to studying fingerprinting techniques, Andrés experienced a different kind of learning. But what he really left with was the realization that there were countless opportunities awaiting him.

From 7th– 12thgrade, Andrés was a regular in the building, taking after-school classes from aerospace engineering to golf, and forging lasting, impactful relationships with the teachers. At the age of 16, Andrés became a volunteer at the learning lab and soon after, he became an official employee, landing his first job as a golf range attendant. When he realized his passion for teaching coupled with a desire to lend support to students like himself, Andrés took on an added role in Academic Support, a job he still has today.

TGR Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of internet entrepreneur and investor, Alexis Ohanian, to the Board of Governors. 

Ohanian serves as the co-founder and managing partner of San Francisco-based Initialized Capital, an early stage venture fund with over $500M under management and a portfolio with $36B in market value so far. Prior to his work at Initialized Capital, Ohanian co-founded Reddit, a social news and discussion website.

As a first-generation Mexican American, I felt intimidated and insecure about applying to college. My mom, knowing well that she could not guide us through the U.S. education system, connected my sister and I to programs that could give us the tools to achieve our academic goals. We joined the TGR Learning Lab, then known as the Tiger Woods Learning Center, in 2008.

I didn’t think much of the programs there – I was not necessarily passionate about STEM, but I was motivated to utilize the college preparation resources despite how confusing and overwhelming it all seemed at the time. It wasn’t until my last year at Savanna High School, in 2013, when I started volunteering at the Learning Lab, that I discovered the power of mentorship. Thanks to the unwavering encouragement of two long-time employees of the Learning Lab, Denisse Jover and Lea Segura, I was able to break out of my shell and gain confidence on my way to college.

Visitors entering the doors of the flagship TGR Learning Lab on Thursday, October 24 shifted from eager fifth graders heading toward the end of their week in the Day Program to dedicated educators excited to gain information, connections and resources to better prepare their students for success. The 5thannual College Access and Success Symposium united educators across Southern California and beyond.

With more than 15 sessions to choose from the symposium covered a variety of higher education-related topics from applications and admissions to understanding financial aid and empowering students to stand out. With more than 150 educators in attendance and limited capacities in the classrooms, many sessions were at full capacity.

The TGR Learning Lab expanded learning program fulfills the mission of TGR Foundation by empowering youth through exposure, preparation and skill development for the workforce of tomorrow. With more than 50 courses available for middle and high school students to engage in after school, our mission is brought to life as participants discover their passions […]

This summer I had the chance to examine the role of TGR Foundation from a global perspective. It started with a speaking role at Global MindED’s annual convening in Denver, CO where we discussed how organizations reach a diverse population with their work. The latter half of the summer took me to Israel where I examined the complexity of creating a STEM-integrated workforce by better preparing educators to meet the changing world facing their students. And most recently TGR EDU: Global trained more than 50 educators from around the world to transform their teaching through a focus on inquiry and problem-based pedagogy.

I’ve been a teacher of primarily science for a long time, more than 30 years, 19 as an international educator. Currently, I am working as a science teacher in the small Balkan country of Kosovo, but I’ve also lived and taught in eastern Venezuela and southeast China near Hong Kong.

Last spring, I received an e-mail from my current director at the Quality Schools International – International School of Kosovo suggesting I apply to TGR Foundation’s International STEM Studio, a week-long professional learning program bringing educators together from around the world. It looked like a good opportunity because I am very much interested in keeping current in my own education and professional growth. When I was selected to participate, I was very excited.

TGR Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Yong Kim, M.D., Ph.D., to the Board of Governors. Kim, the former 12thPresident of the World Bank Group, is currently the Vice-Chairman and Partner at Global Infrastructure Partners, a fund that invests in infrastructure projects across several sectors around the world.

“Go chopethat table—it’s open lah!” These are words I heard every day this past summer as I entered the Singaporean hawker centers in search of chicken and rice, like every other local during mealtime. Singaporeans flock to these large hawker cafeterias to fill up on delicious foods that cost about $4 a dish. These food […]

Since launching the flagship TGR Learning Lab in 2006, TGR Foundation has built a robust network of opportunities for students to learn and grow. Programs at the flagship facility in Anaheim, CA have expanded over the last two decades providing more students access to quality education and career connections.

Collaboration and partnerships are a key component of their success. With six satellite campuses across the United States, students in underrepresented communities from coast to coast benefit from high-quality education programs. Although each satellite’s programs are unique to the communities, resources and students served, the core model and curricula were tested and proven successful at the flagship learning lab.