Tiger Woods’ education charity gets $50m in donations at his 50th birthday bash as Falcons owner gives $20m
Tiger Woods celebrated his 50th birthday by raising $50 million for his charity.
The golf icon used the event at the famed Breakers resort to promote his foundation, TGR, which promotes educational opportunities and STEM courses in underserved communities. At one point, TGR foundation staffers were overhead yelling: ‘Woo hoo, 50 million!’
A whopping $20 million of the donations came from Atlanta Falcons owner, Home Depot founder and philanthropist Arthur Blank.
‘I have immense respect and admiration for Tiger, not only for his legendary career, but for the way he continues to lead with purpose off the course,’ Blank said in a statement. ‘It’s truly an honor to partner with someone who believes so deeply in the power of education and community.
‘Seeing the impact of TGR Foundation, from the Learning Labs to the hundreds of thousands of students empowered through its programs, is incredibly inspiring and I look forward to seeing the impact the TGR Learning Lab Atlanta makes on our community.’
Wood launched his charity in 1996, later renaming it the TGR Foundation as he moved from doing golf clinics around the country to building learning centers for students.
Tiger Woods is pictured with Falcons owner Arthur Blank before announcing the donation
Woods turned 50 last month, but used Wednesday night’s party to promote his foundation
Golf icon Woods arrives with girlfriend Vanessa Trump at his red-themed mega bash in Florida
Blank’s donation will go towards building the foundation’s fifth learning center — this one, in Atlanta.
‘Tonight was a reminder that the legacy I’m most proud of isn’t on the golf course; it’s the work we’ve done to positively impact the lives of students through TGR Foundation,’ Woods said in release from the foundation, which claims to have helped 3 million children.
‘I am excited for what’s next as we expand alongside our great supporters to reach more young people from communities in need.’
Woods loved it up with girlfriend Vanessa Trump at his red-themed mega bash Wednesday night.
Exclusive Daily Mail photos reveal the recently-minted couple with rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who performed an acoustic set before the 300 VIP guests enjoyed a feast that paid homage to the sporting great’s five Masters victories.
Tiger and Donald Trump Jr’s former wife quietly slipped into the main ballroom for the stunning event at exclusive The Breakers Hotel in the billionaire enclave of Palm Beach, Florida.
The 15-times major winner chose a classic dark tuxedo look with a red tie and red pocket square while Vanessa stunned in a slinky black dress and red high heels while carrying a gold clutch bag.
Golf influencer Blair O’Neal is pictured at Wednesday’s birthday party at the Breakers
Falcons owner Blank donated $20 million to the TGR foundation to build a lab in Atlanta
She also shared this image standing next to her mother and Woods’ girlfriend, Vanessa Trump
Massive security surrounded the party, with local and state cops flooding hotel corridors. Meanwhile Secret Service agents were warily eyeing anyone passing the ballroom doors – behind which Vanessa’s golf protege daughter Kai also was among the revelers.
Normally guests in the main ballroom at The Breakers would look out directly on to a stunning ocean vista. But such is the security and privacy surrounding the bash that all the huge windows were blacked out to keep prying eyes away.
Tiger and his new love chatted with the throng of guests enjoying cocktails and canopies amid a background of pop music at around 6.30pm.
They then slipped out to a nearby small reception room to greet 63-year-old Bon Jovi – as revealed in the exclusive Daily Mail photos.
Tiger beamed as he had his picture taken with the rock legend, who has a $43million mansion in the exclusive beach town, also home to President Donald Trump. The couple then headed back to the action.
Just after 7pm, Bon Jovi nipped across the corridor that was guarded by another phalanx of Secret Service agents to head into the ballroom for his acoustic set. By 10pm, guests were seen heading for the exits.
‘We definitely could have made it bigger,’ TGR Foundation CEO Cyndi Court told Front Office Sports.
‘But we also wanted it to be intimate so that we could celebrate people that throughout the years have made tremendous commitments to Tiger’s vision of what could be possible in the future.’
