THE CROWD:

He prefers wearing stark white clothing onstage. His demeanor is reserved; some might even call him shy at the microphone. He is arguably the world’s most recognizable athletic star; an American phenomenon.

Tiger Woods invited the community to his fourth annual block party on behalf of the Tiger Woods Learning Center, and more than 1,000 people showed up at the Grove of Anaheim to assist Woods in his pursuit of giving disadvantaged kids a leg up on life. By the end of the evening $700,000 was raised.

The world champion golfer approached the microphone and the massive crowd became silent. Wearing his white blazer and white shirt the young man with the electric smile told his adoring crowd in somewhat hushed tones a story he has repeated on other important occasions over the past few years.

“The 9/11 attack on America made me ask myself that if my life was to end today as it did for so many in the horrific events in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., would I have done enough to help others?”

Tiger Woods went on to explain that the answer to his rhetorical question was simply that he himself had not done enough in his young yet very successful existence to do something for others less fortunate. This realization was the motivation coupled with the support from late father Earl Woods and his mother, Kultida Woods, to create a learning center to give youths a chance to focus on positive goals.

Launched in 2006, the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Orange County became a reality. The 14-acre campus serves fifth- through 12-graders.

Classes are offered in everything from video production to marine biology, forensic science, engineering, aerospace, computer science and robotics. It actually began several years earlier with Tiger using his love of golf as the catalyst to inspire kids to find a way, through the sport of golf, to focus their lives on positive paths.

The golf clinics eventually grew into the learning center with its much broader curriculum. Woods is expanding nationwide and affecting the character development of American youth on an impressive scale.

In addition to golf clinics and the exploration of career opportunities, kids participate in community service projects and learn the value of volunteerism as an important aspect of the full American experience.

All of these plans were set in motion prior to 9/11 by Earl Woods and his famous son who launched the Tiger Woods Foundation in 1996. To date an estimated 10 million youth have participated in various programs fulfilling the legacy of the late Earl Woods and Tiger’s mom Kultida, front and center at the Block Party.

In addition to year-round fundraising efforts the annual Block Party in Orange County has become an important revenue stream to support the Tiger Woods Foundation. To this end, the block party grows each year in stature and celebrity acclaim.

On a recent Saturday night the Orange County crowd led by super-dedicated Newport Beach benefit Chairs Lori and Brian Hirth converged upon the Grove to rub elbows with more athletic stars than one might find at a Super Bowl party, share dinner with friends prepared and served by internationally famous chef Mario Batali and then sit back and watch a private concert performed by the enigmatic vocalist Seal.

And, yes, Heidi Klum was there too, along with Isaiah Washington, John Salley and Tiger’s pal Fred Couples who, as in years past, has been a mainstay support raising the financial bar at the live auction bringing in unbelievable sums of money in support of the Learning Center.

The evening also honored another local champion Paul Folino, chairman of Emulux Corporation for his generous support of the Tiger Woods cause. Folino, escorting his wife, Daranne, shared with the crowd his personal life story and the lessons learned from his close-knit family growing up without funds in public housing in Seattle. Today Folino is one of the most visible philanthropists in Southern California, donating millions of dollars to community efforts in every corner of the region.

Eric Leos, 16, of Anaheim told the audience of well-to-do donors that he realized he faced a fork in the road, and that he could either take the route of gang affiliation or take a path that would lead him to find a greater purpose. “I liked Tiger’s ‘Action Plan’ because I learned how important it was to give back. Learning golf was great, but it was just not learning to play the game, but learning how to conduct ourselves with others that helped me.”

Leos went on to explain that the Learning Center inspired him to take his failing grades in school to the A and B level.

The crowd applauded widely as Eric said, “I used to be invisible, I never retained anything I learned in school, I was flunking out. I really didn’t feel that I was bright at all, and I never saw myself going anywhere. I was a loser, I felt terrible. This all changed so quickly as soon as I got involved with the Learning Center. I signed up for the golf academy and Tiger’s Action Plan. The first thing I noticed was that people were nice to me.”

Leos concluded sharing, “Today, no matter what I decide to do in life, I know that I can do it, and it is because the Tiger Woods Learning Center helped me to be the best that I can be.”

Major support for organizing the evening came from two dedicated local women, Andrea Shelly and Linda Young. Major sponsors include HSBC, Target Stores, Accenture, American Express, Buick Motor Division, General Motors, County of Orange, McDonald’s Corporation, AT&T; to name only a few.

Also generously supporting Tiger Woods were Mike and Cindy McKee and the Irvine Co., Marta and Raj Bhatahl, Don and Dee Dee Sodaro of Lido Isle representing Hanford Hotels, Donald Kennedy and the First American Corporation, Sandra Barry, Cynthia and Thomas Coad, Michael Goldberg, Jerry and Whitney Mandel, Bob and Carolyn Waltos of Newport Beach, Todd Theodora, Judy Levy and Ellen and Harold Pazanti.

For more information on the work of the Tiger Woods Foundation and the Tiger Woods Learning Center call (949) 725-3003.

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