Founded in 2006, the TDL Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to extending Tim Letter’s legacy through donations and works that improve life for individuals and communities in need. Tim Letter exemplified the power that an individual can have to positively influence and shape the lives of those close to him, and the TDL Foundation attempts to further his life’s model by reaching out to whole communities.
Each year, members of the Foundation gather for a day of service that celebrates and renews the commitment to extend Tim’s legacy. In its early years, the Foundation donated exclusively to heart and lung research institutions doing some of the finest work in the world: the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine/ARDS Research division at Johns Hopkins University, the Heart Rhythm Institute at the University of Oklahoma, and the Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division at the University of Pennsylvania.
In keeping with our mission, we have expanded the work of the Foundation by helping to improve the lives of individuals and communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Tim Letter loved New Orleans, its great people, and its unique culture. The tournament celebrates these things, but equally important, the Foundation seeks to positively impact the individuals, communities, and culture of the city that we all share. To that end, we are now supporting community involvement programs in New Orleans.
Proceeds from annual TDL events go to Rebuilding Together, a division of the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, which revitalizes houses and communities, especially for low-income elderly and disabled citizens; Roots of Music, an organization that “empowers the youth of New Orleans through music education, academic support, and mentorship while preserving and promoting the unique musical and cultural heritage of our city;” and Café Reconcile, an organization that seeks to transform the lives of at-risk youth in New Orleans by providing life skills and professional training in the foodservice industry. To date, the Foundation has contributed over $100,000 to these organizations.
In 2015, the TDL Foundation established a “Golden Stepper” award, which honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Foundation. Previous “Golden Stepper award winners include:
2015 Mr. Christopher Bravender
2016 Mr. Andrew Kelly
2017 Mr. Michael Clark
2018 Mr. Terrence Power
2019 Mr. Michael Ruiz
Our IRS Identification No. is 41-2232970.
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