TGR Foundation celebrates Women’s History Month, Chief Operating Officer
With a vision of a world where opportunity is universal and potential is limitless, TGR Foundation celebrates Women’s History Month. We are proud of the many women on our team who help us empower youth through education.
Jin Choi Thatcher has served the Foundation for more than 20 years and was recently named chief operating officer. With humble beginnings in Orange County and a Korean American heritage, Thatcher has a passion for helping under-resourced communities. As a first-generation high school and college graduate who worked hard and maximized resources to fund her education, she is a proud alumna of Western High School and the University of California, Irvine.
Upon joining the Foundation, Thatcher was tasked with using her project management experience to bring Tiger Woods’ vision for a “safe place for kids to learn, grow and chase after their dreams” to life. She was highly involved at every stage of the TGR Learning Lab project from planning to groundbreaking and the opening of the 35,000-square-foot facility in Anaheim on February 10, 2006.
Since then, the TGR Learning Lab has served thousands of upper elementary, middle and high school students in Anaheim and beyond. In 2022, under her leadership, the Learning Lab was relaunched with technology upgrades, modernized classrooms, collaborative workspaces and hands-on learning opportunities. The 14-acre campus will continue to help students learn, grow and thrive for years to come.
Throughout her career with TGR Foundation, Thatcher has been a true champion for youth, leading numerous initiatives to expand the Foundation’s impact including the development of the Earl Woods Scholar Program. Designed to help high school students navigate their journey through college and into their professional careers, the program provides support beyond financial aid including annual workshops, a dedicated mentor and more.
“Jin has been my champion through college and my career journey,” said Yeon Jin Lee, Earl Woods Scholar Alumna. “Jin along with the staff and students at TGR Foundation have been a second family to me, providing me with financial, emotional and mental support needed to really succeed academically and professionally.”
Lee was a member of an early cohort of Earl Woods Scholars who has achieved many milestones with support from Thatcher and TGR Foundation. Lee graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, secured her green card, excelled in an engineering position at NASA and ultimately followed her passion for filmmaking to the University of Southern California where she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production. Using filmmaking as a tool for advocacy, Yeon Jin shares untold stories of undocumented immigrants and marginalized communities. She has produced several award-winning films and podcasts.
In addition to program development, Thatcher has also built comprehensive nonprofit expertise including operations, finance, strategic planning, organizational culture, board governance and human resources.
Some of her most proud achievements include the initiatives she has led to advocate for TGR Foundation employees from benefits and organizational culture to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
“When I joined the organization 20 years ago, I could not have imagined that one day our Foundation would accomplish so much as a such a young organization,” said Thatcher. “I take on the role as Chief Operating Officer with significant pride and heartfelt passion to help remove barriers for the students and families we serve. Most particularly, I am grateful for the extraordinary talent of TGR Foundation and TGR Live, during this opportunity to reshape communities, as we expand into Philadelphia and Los Angeles.”
With her continued leadership, TGR Foundation will continue its mission to empower youth through education and expand its impact through new TGR Learning Lab facilities in Los Angeles, CA and Philadelphia, PA.
Outside of her role at TGR Foundation, Thatcher is a proud wife and mother to Peter (13) and Payton (16). She and her husband Peter are actively involved in their children’s academic and athletic endeavors including sports, music and more. They currently reside in Tustin, CA.
Click here to connect with Thatcher on LinkedIn.
