TGR Foundation welcomes two distinguished leaders as new board members

William “Bill” Smilow and Joe Wilkins join the TGR Foundation Board of Governors

IRVINE, Calif. (January 4, 2024) – TGR Foundation, a leading education nonprofit, has announced the appointment of William “Bill” Smilow and Joe Wilkins to its national board of governors. Both distinguished leaders bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to impacting the lives of youth and their communities.

Bill Smilow is president and CEO of the Smilow Foundation and a renowned philanthropist. The Smilow family has supported education and biomedical research through numerous gifts to leading institutions such as Yale’s Smilow Cancer Hospital, the Johns Hopkins University William S. Smilow Center for Marfan Syndrome Research and University of Pennsylvania Smilow Center for Translational Research among others. Smilow recently served as the president of Great Oak Holdings, Inc. and is currently a member of the Penn Medicine Board, the Penn Cardiovascular Institute Leadership Council, Penn Orthopedics Leadership Council and Penn Medicine Development Leadership Cabinet.

Joe Wilkins brings more than 35 years of healthcare leadership, private equity and venture fund experience to the TGR Foundation board along with a passion for expanding healthcare access, affordability and innovation to improve outcomes across all communities. Wilkins balances his business endeavors with community service include past roles as Board Chair for Providence St. Joseph Hoag Health and the California Hospital Association. He spent 26 years at Danaher Beckman Coulter, a leader of healthcare diagnostics and life sciences along with executive roles at Quest Diagnostics and Atlantic Health System.

“I am excited to welcome Bill and Joe to our board of governors,” Cyndi Court, TGR Foundation CEO, said. “Their expertise and dedication to improving the lives of young people and under-resourced communities aligns seamlessly with our mission to empower youth to pursue their passions through education. As we continue to expand our programs through new TGR Learning Labs in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and beyond, their insights and leadership will play a pivotal role in guiding our organization to impact more youth and their communities.”

The addition of Bill Smilow and Joe Wilkins to the board reflects TGR Foundation’s ongoing commitment to drive change and create meaningful impact in local communities. The collective expertise of the board and combined passion of the TGR Foundation team will continue to advance the organization’s mission through the development and implementation of impactful educational programs in Southern California, Philadelphia and nationwide.

“I am excited to be a part of TGR Foundation’s efforts to create meaningful impact in the lives of youth and local communities. Together, we can make a difference and provide opportunities to help students prepare for their futures,” said Smilow.

Wilkins shared similar sentiments, stating, “I am honored to join TGR Foundation’s board and contribute to its vital mission of empowering students to pursue their passions through education. I look forward to working collaboratively with the organization’s board and leadership to impact the health and lives of all youth positively.”