In his recent apology to the world for his various transgressions, Tiger Woods made sure to mention that he was still as committed as ever to his Tiger Woods Foundation. It’s great news to hear, considering that his long-time dedication to this stand-up philanthropic venture caused us here at Tonic to think twice before demonizing the golfer as his scandal brought him low.
The foundation dispenses $2 million a year to fund tutoring and other programs aimed at empowering young people, benefiting thousands of kids with character-building and academic-support programs and facilities like the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Southern California.
Now the people behind the foundation have spoken, and it seems that they are still as committed as their boss to the mission of helping kids reach their potential.
“I was certainly disappointed when I heard all of this,” the foundation’s president, Greg McLaughlin, diplomatically stated to ESPN. However, he added, “everyone believes in the work that we are doing. They’re very focused on that. And they have been supportive of our mission. So for us, nothing has really changed.”
“Nothing” includes no sponsor turning tail, including AT&T, which ended its relationship with Woods himself. The only loss has come from Woods’ reduced earnings due to his hiatus from golf. For example, when he decided not to host the Chevron World Challenge, a December tournament that benefits the foundation, officials refunded $25,000 in tickets and offered a discount for next year to previous attendees. “Clearly there is some impact when he is not playing,” said McLaughlin, though not, it seems enough to slow the organization’s good works down significantly.
As for Woods himself, he’s not talking, aside from the statement he included in his official apology that “this work remains unchanged and will continue to grow.” The foundation’s website, however, has recently undergone an overhaul that takes the focus off the golfer and places it more firmly on the work.
McLaughlin, who knows the man better than most, informs us that Woods is “unwavering” in his dedication to his philanthropic activities. “I can tell you that he’s very committed to the work we have done,” McLaughlin said.
Image by Stefano A via Flickr.