ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 19, 2008) - Before the numerous trophies and the countless fans, a young Tiger Woods beat his father on the course for the first time. Although not recorded in any record books, this important event will always stand out as Tiger's first Fist Pump Moment.
It was moments like these that led Tiger Woods to announce the launch of his Fist Pump Challenge, an online contest designed to help young people identify and share their greatest achievements, along with Tiger's Action Plan, a program to help children identify and achieve their goals. As part of the Challenge, Tiger has asked young people everywhere to share their very own Fist Pump Moment with the world.
"It is important for young people to celebrate their accomplishments. The Fist Pump Challenge allows kids to highlight the moments in their lives that brought them closer to reaching their goals," Tiger said. "I believe that small steps can lead to big changes."
According to Tiger, a Fist Pump Moment can be any significant accomplishment in a person's life that has been crucial to achieving an ultimate goal, from improving your grades to getting the lead in the school play. To share their Fist Pump Moment, children are asked, with their parents' permission, to visit The Tiger Woods Foundation and submit a video including their name, age, Fist Pump Moment, significance of that experience, and end with a fist pump. Those without video access can e-mail their Fist Pump Moment for posting.
Video and written entries will be voted on by website visitors, using a 5-star rating system, with prizes going to the top 10 submissions every month. Prizes include iPods, Tiger Woods '08 EA Video Games, and Target gift cards. Details on video content and challenge rules are available at The Tiger Woods Foundation.
The 10 top-rated entries for the month of April were awarded prizes, with first prize going to Hayden Lee from Huntington Beach, Calif. Hayden won an 8 GB Apple iPod Touch for first place.
Each month, the second place finisher receives one EA Tiger Woods '08 Video Game for Playstation 2 and one $25 Target Gift Card. Places 3-6 each receive one EA Tiger Woods '08 Video Game for Playstation 2. Places 7-10 receive one $25 Target Gift Card. All top 10 winners receive a copy of the Start Something book written by Earl Woods.
After a child has shared a Fist Pump Moment, they, a parent or a teacher can download Tiger's Action Plan, a step-by-step program which will aid in setting and achieving long-term goals and using those goals to help others. The Fist Pump Challenge and Tiger's Action Plan, which speak directly to children, are based on the guiding principals in Earl Woods book titled Start Something, and on the principals he instilled in Tiger at a young age.
"Building on my father's legacy, I am challenging children to make a difference in the world and to reach higher and farther than they ever imagined," Woods said.
As part of the Tiger's Action Plan six-unit program, developed in conjunction with Target, participants work to complete a series of activities individually or in a group setting. The curriculum includes identifying goals, planning and completing an Action Project, exploring career opportunities, and participating in community service and volunteer efforts. Teachers and youth group leaders can obtain a ready-to-go curriculum by visiting The Tiger Woods Foundation.
The curriculum begins by helping kids identify their dreams and goals. By the fourth unit, they are asked to plan an Action Project that will benefit their community and throughout the remainder of the program will explore careers and reflect on their efforts. For the grand finale, participants complete their Action Project; give a formal presentation to their friends, family and community; and receive a certificate announcing completion.
About the Tiger Woods Foundation: Since its inception in 1996 by Tiger Woods and his father Earl, the Tiger Woods Foundation has reached an estimated 10 million young people through character development, career exploration, scholarships and grant making programs. Programs developed and supported by the Tiger Woods Foundation all share a similar mission of empowering young people to dream big and to set specific goals to achieve their dreams.
Specific programs of the Foundation include the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a youth-education facility and curriculum based in Anaheim, California that will soon expand to Washington, D.C., and Tiger's Action Plan, a nationwide character development program based on Earl D. Woods' book entitled Start Something. The Tiger Woods Foundation recently launched the Fist Pump Challenge, an online program allowing young people to post videos celebrating a personal goal or achievement. More information on the Tiger Woods Foundation and its programs can be found at The Tiger Woods Foundation.