TGR Foundation releases 2019 Annual Report

With the release of our 2019 Annual Report, we look back on a year highlighted by a historic milestone as we reached a cumulative one million students impacted through TGR EDU: Explore, alone. In addition, we continued to fulfill our mission and expand impact among students, educators and families globally.

Volunteer Spotlight: How volunteerism allows me to pursue my passion beyond limits

I have been volunteering at the TGR Learning Lab since May 2016. Over the course of these four years, I have been able to meet wonderful people, as well as learn some new skills that I hope to use in my future career. I got involved in volunteering at the TGR Learning Lab through College 2 Career, a program at North Orange Continuing Education that helps students with disabilities get an education and find volunteering or employment opportunities. I have always known I wanted to work with youth. Thus, my job developer discovered the TGR Learning Lab and helped me apply. Once I began volunteering at the TGR Learning Lab, I kept returning because people there have accepted me for who I am, regardless of my disability. I have Cerebral Palsy, but that does not stop me from doing anything I want to achieve.

TGR Foundation celebrates Class of 2020

One of my favorite things about this time of year is Commencement.  I love the pageantry, the music, the colors, seeing proud families cheering on their graduate and yes, I do cry at Pomp and Circumstance – every time. Commencement signals a rite of passage, and comes with a lot of hard work, sacrifice, sleepless nights and hope.  For some this road of accomplishment represents a different kind of sacrifice, unique to those who will be the first in their family to graduate.

The Class of 2020 has achieved its success in the shadow of a world health crisis and the unsettling circumstances surrounding racial inequities. In the face of darkness, learning and education will always be a bright light.

TGR Foundation celebrates Juneteenth, commits to long-term equity in education

Education has the power to be one of the greatest equalizers in our society. But the heartbreaking events of the past several weeks and the countless tragedies throughout history remind us that systemic racism is deeply rooted in all of our institutions, notwithstanding our education system.
 
As we close our offices today in observance of Juneteenth, the leadership at TGR Foundation is recommitting itself to not only do better but to do more in support of our Black and Brown students, colleagues and communities.

TGR Foundation stands with Black community against racism, commits to driving change through education

Every day at TGR Foundation we work toward our vision of a world where opportunity is universal and potential is limitless.

Our impact over the last 25 years has reached into deeply underrepresented communities of color. As we move through an unprecedented global pandemic and unrest over the recent tragic deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many other members of the Black community that have come before them, our thoughts are with their families. Beyond our emotions, we offer our support and commitment to be a part of real change.

TGR Foundation launches e-learning series for educators, website redesign

TGR EDU: Explore has seen a face-lift as the free digital platform developed in partnership with TGR Foundation and Discovery Education relaunched on Thursday, May 28 and debuted the first of a new six-part e-learning series for educators. Adding to the 40+ resources on the site including interactive web experiences, lesson plans, training videos and […]

Student Spotlight: How COVID-19 motivates first-gen graduate on path to college

Many of us have heard “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” Going into my first day of high school, all I could think about was the destination – graduation night. However, being the oldest sibling also meant achieving this goal wasn’t just for me. I realized early on that I had to be the one to set the steppingstone for my younger siblings, show them just how important education is and what it means to have a high school diploma; graduating is the first step in doing so.

Losing the privilege of that special walk because of the COVID-19 outbreak took a good while for me to process.

Scholar Voices: My road to graduation amidst COVID-19

As I packed the rest of my belongings for spring break, I crafted a vision in my head of my final semester at Skidmore College: sun-bathing on the Case Green, fun nights spent downtown with friends, presenting my senior thesis at Academic Festival, weekend trips into town for brunch, late-night crams at Scribner Library and so many more treasured “lasts,” as I got ready to move on with the rest of my life.

I didn’t know it at the time, but my final moments on campus would be taken away and I would move out two months earlier than expected. During spring break, Skidmore College followed several other universities across the United States and the world in announcing it would be moving to remote instruction for the rest of the semester in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

TGR Foundation provides free digital learning amid school closures 

With the doors to schools and academic institutions closed to stop the spread of COVID-19,  TGR Foundation understands the challenges that students, parents and educators are facing as they navigate the  world of distance learning.  The resources offered through our  no-cost  digital platform,  TGR EDU: Explore,  will help parents-turned-educators and education professionals  alike  keep students engaged until schools are back in session and beyond.    

Lessons engage participants in relevant disciplines and related 21st-century careers, with content ranging from animal ancestry and life science to astronomy, engineering, video game design and more.  

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