TIS FOUNDATION

TIS Foundation seeks to reduce barriers to opportunity for disadvantaged populations in the poorest communities in Washington, DC. and sub-Saharan Africa through community outreach, educational support and workforce development programs. In the United State, our outreach programs focus on children and families by providing meals, toys and school supplies to children in need to fill the gap. We support educational enrichment , scholarships and youth development activities that will prepare young people for college and careers. TIS also supports training for individuals to obtain skills needed to obtain in-demand jobs or start a business in an effort to put them on a path to gainful employment and economic opportunity.

Community Outreach - TIS annually sponsors community events, including a Turkey Drive and hot meal for local residents in Ward 8 of Washington, DC and it supports a local toy drive to ensure children from low-income communities have an opportunity to share in the holiday experience. In 2019, we will support our first back-to-school drive to provide essential educational supplies for children who's families do not have the resources to cover these expenses. In addition, TIS supports a local basketball team to provide resources for students to participate in local tournaments.

Education - TIS Foundation has made a five-year commitment to annually provide scholarships of up to $4,000 each to 5 students at each of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We are also committed to supporting local grassroots organizations in Washington, DC that deliver effective tutoring and academic enrichment programs aimed at closing the educational gap in local underserved communities.

Workforce Development - TIS Foundation is partnering as a service provider under the Marion S. Barry D.C. Summer Youth Employment Program and will provide job and soft skills training to local youth from low-income families.

Since 1994, TIS Foundation has provided critical support services and economic empowerment programs to families in crisis in the United States and various African nations. Through our partnership with African Community Bridge Foundation (ACBF) in Africa, TIS has brought purpose and hope to some of the most impoverished and underserved individuals in rural African communities – most especially women, children and youth. In Africa, we are developing a new generation of women entrepreneurs, providing skills training for jobs in emerging industries, and educating deserving children.

Today, TIS is tackling many of the same issues in high-poverty communities in the United States. Our family and youth-centered initiatives are focused on filling gaps in critical community services necessary to move families from crisis to stability and growth, including community outreach, positive youth development initiatives and workforce development programs. TIS Foundation's Founder, Ogay Irono is leveraging her many years of international expertise and best practices established in Africa to deliver effective programs to families in the U.S. experiencing similar challenges. The U.S. team is comprised of staff and volunteers skilled in developing and delivering education, community services and workforce development programs to hard-to-serve populations.

Since inception, TIS has raised over $3.1M in cash and material donations to provide critical support services to over 10,000 children and youth every year in Africa. Today, it supports training for hundreds of individuals overseas each year. Locally, in the United States TIS fed over 1000 individuals and families in Ward 8 of Washington, DC, supported the delivery of over 850 toys to children from low-income families. We will launch the TIS Foundation HBCU Scholars Program in 2019 and fund several local grassroots organizations providing critical education, mental health, and youth development programs.