May 15th will mark three years since I began my journey at Tiger Woods’ nonprofit organization, TGR Foundation. In those three years a lot has changed in my personal and professional life. Living in California and working for a professional sports team was once a dream, and although work life looks a little different than I imagined it would, I’m grateful for the experiences, lessons and relationships I've built since I joined Team TGR.

While it's pretty cool to work for one of the world's greatest athletes, the impact the Foundation makes in the lives of students and educators is what I love most. It's been a great honor to tell their stories and shine a light on the great programs and resources we offer, especially as we celebrate 25 years since Tiger launched the Foundation in 1996.

Today in advance of my anniversary date, I'd like to share some of the most significant memories and experiences I've had throughout my career at TGR Foundation, starting with meeting Tiger Woods.

If I’ve met him is one of the main questions I get when people learn that I work for his foundation. I met Tiger in Los Angeles during tournament week of The Genesis Invitational, formerly Genesis Open, seven months after joining the Foundation staff. After shooting content for a couple projects, I was introduced to him by one of our Vice Presidents, Michelle. He was very kind and conversational; we chatted about college, sports and other general topics. Although the time I’ve spent with him is limited, it’s always cool to be in his company. Pictured below I join my colleagues for a photo after meeting him in the first photo and during his 2020 Press Conference at The Genesis Invitational in the second photo.

I spend most of my time writing, planning, editing, creating content and managing digital and social media accounts, but when I’m not I’m often taking photos or assisting with video shoots. There’s been a lot less of the latter during the pandemic.

Events are my favorite element of my job, whether internal (like staff celebrations and professional development opportunities), community-centered (like conferences, fundraising events/golf tournaments and family nights at our TGR Learning Lab) or external (like chamber events or industry-based conferences). I love any opportunity to get away from the screen and be social.

I’ve had many published articles and bylines throughout my academic and professional career, but since joining the Foundation words I’ve put together have been published in unique ways and seen by a large number of eyes through a variety of audiences across our digital and social media platforms and even external media such as the PGA TOUR.

Although there is a lot of work that goes into producing them, annual reports are one of my biggest and favorite projects. From brainstorming themes and pulling stories and stats to seeing the finished report live online or printed in hand is always rewarding. The same is true for our Giving Tuesday and Year-End Giving campaigns. As we celebrate our successes at the end of each year and look toward the future, year-end donations are important to our work moving forward. It’s rewarding to be a part of the planning and execution of each campaign.  

In addition to annual reports and year-end campaigns, our Earl Woods Scholar Program, one of my favorites, recently launched a private app for the students and alumni. From ideation to publication, the project was another exciting one to be a part of. I developed the name, tagline, all the copy for the site, Apple and Android stores and the launch strategy. It’s a project that brings me joy when I think about its execution from start to finish.

For the first time words I joined together were featured on chocolate in 2019 when one of our legally blind scholars designed our annual holiday card that was later transferred to a candy bar for special supporters of the Foundation. Although simple, it was exciting.

There are many more experiences and career highlights I could reference, but working for TGR Foundation has brought me so much more than added work samples and experience. Outside of work I’ve been able to fulfill my passion for supporting youth through mock interviews, résumé and cover letter critiques and leading workshops for our scholars. Those experiences make me burst with joy.  I’m most grateful for my work family who have shaped my years in Southern California beyond what I can express with words.

For more career highlights and information on my daily responsibilities at TGR Foundation, check out my LinkedIn Profile.

What’s the most rewarding element of your career or your favorite work perk? Share in the comments below or connect with me on social media @JASMINECTATE.

Hugs & Handshakes,

Jasmine C. Tate