2026 Projects

Rainbow Connections

Tigris Foundation is thrilled to support Rainbow Connections, a virtual monthly program of the Abington Township Public Library for LGBTQ+ children in grades K–5, their families, and allies. The program features age-appropriate book readings, literacy activities, and chances to socialize in a safe, supportive online space. The program focuses on inclusion, self-expression, and friendship, offering a typical library experience — stories, crafts, singing, and silliness — in an environment where kids who may feel isolated or face bullying can feel welcomed and affirmed

Zoo Visits

We're thrilled to continue supporting the Ambler Boys & Girls Club to visit Elmwood Park Zoo and host their Zoo on Wheels for an animal encounter experience. A trip to the zoo is a fun and meaningful way for kids to learn about the world around them. Seeing animals up close helps them understand how different creatures live, what they eat, and the special ways they survive in nature. It also sparks curiosity and creativity as children ask questions and make new discoveries. Zoos teach kids why it’s important to care for animals and protect the environment, helping them grow into kind and responsible people who love the planet.

Building Home Libraries

Many of the students Joyful Readers serves have limited access to books at home. Students in kindergarten through third grade are in the midst of an important transition—needing both books they can read independently to build fluency and confidence, as well as more complex texts that can be read aloud to them by family members to support vocabulary, comprehension, and background knowledge. While tutoring builds essential skills during the school day, research suggests that reading growth is reinforced when children also have opportunities to choose books they are excited about. With support from BookSmiles and Tigris Foundation, Joyful Readers is helping students build home libraries and extending their literacy experienced, creating a vital home-school connection.

Community Grocer Mural

The Tigris Foundation has partnered with The Community Grocer, William C. Bryant Academy, and the Power of Paint Academy to help bring a new, community-focused building to life.

Located in West Philadelphia, The Community Grocer is a reimagined grocery store that will offer affordable, healthy, and locally sourced food. It also features an on-site resource center designed for community programs and empowerment initiatives—making it a one-of-a-kind space supporting both nutrition and well-being.

As part of the project, 4th grade students from W.C. Bryant Academy will work with Power of Paint to design a mural for the entrance of the attached Community Center. Through this creative collaboration, students will explore themes of food, community, and art in a hands-on, iterative design process.

Discovery Space GLOW

With support from the Tigris Foundation, Discovery Space’s GLOW afterschool program brings hands-on STEM career exploration to middle school girls and nonbinary students in rural Central PA.

Held over 2–3 weekly sessions, each program serves 8–12 students in grades 5–8 and focuses on underrepresented skills like woodworking, metalworking, soldering, and digital design. To ensure access, students are bussed to and from The Rivet and provided dinner.

GLOW fosters a safe, welcoming space while connecting participants with diverse STEM role models from similar backgrounds—making career paths feel both relatable and achievable.

Food Connect + Locke

This student-led project builds a seed-to-table food ecosystem that combines weekly produce distributions with hands-on learning in gardening, hydroponics, and cooking. Students design recipe cards, lead cooking demos, create art and media around food equity, and connect with local chefs, farms, and justice organizations—culminating in community showcases that share their work and amplify food justice.

Trans Meet Ups

The Tigris Foundation is proud to support a partnership with the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project to host regular meetups for young transgender and gender-creative children and their caregivers. These gatherings will focus on offering support, sharing information with parents and family members, and building a welcoming community where participants can exchange knowledge, experiences, and encouragement with both new and returning families.

Creative Writing

We're so excited to continue supporting Cosmic Writers program with rural and small libraries to fostering a love for creative writing. At the core is the Rural Library Partner Toolkit that includes interactive activity books, customized lesson plans, promotional materials, and other resources to help librarians run engaging writing workshops. To support implementation, Cosmic Writers provided training sessions and professional development, peer connection, and expert guidance. This collaborative effort aimed to build a strong network of librarians committed to empowering young writers.

Drag Queen Story Time

Drag Queen Story Time is a literacy program that makes reading fun for children of all ages through stories that celebrate self-love, diversity, and acceptance. With support from the Tigris Foundation, the program will offer readings for children ages 3 and up.

By deepening partnerships with local libraries, expanding into 2SLGBTQQIA+ safe spaces, and offering developmental resources for participants, the program aims to build pride and strengthen community among queer youth in the Philadelphia area.

Rebel Ventures

Rebel Ventures (RV) is a youth-led nonprofit in Philadelphia working to improve the school food system through healthy, student-created food options. In partnership with Penn’s Netter Center, RV combines leadership, business, and culinary training while empowering high school students as paid “crew members” to lead the initiative. With support from the Tigris Foundation, RV plans to grow its student team for the 2025–2026 school year.

Mitzvah Circle

The Tigris Foundation is proud to support Mitzvah Circle by donating resources, volunteering time, and facilitating vital community connections. This partnership helps Mitzvah Circle provide essential items and personalized care to families in crisis, ensuring they receive critical support without barriers. Through this collaboration, Tigris aids in amplifying Mitzvah Circle’s impact in meeting urgent needs across the community.

PennPAC

Tigris supports PennPAC through both financial contributions and active leadership. In addition to donating funds that enable PennPAC to continue its mission, Stef serves on PennPAC’s board, playing a key role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and growth.

PennPAC (Penn Pro Bono Alumni Consulting) is a nonprofit that mobilizes University of Pennsylvania alumni to provide skilled, pro bono consulting services to nonprofits. Through short-term, structured consulting projects, PennPAC helps nonprofits tackle strategic challenges in areas such as fundraising, marketing, operations, and organizational strategy. Their efforts have contributed over 20,000 volunteer hours, served more than 85 nonprofits, and delivered an estimated $4.5 million in consulting value.