Just over a year ago, the Cobbs Creek Foundation and TGR Foundation gathered with more than 250 supporters to break ground on the TGR Learning Lab. This fall, we are celebrating how far we have come and are shining a spotlight on game changers who have been instrumental in the Cobbs Creek Campaign and its $150 million restoration project: Bill Smilow and Stan and Jim Woodland.
The TGR Learning Lab is rising on the grounds of the Cobbs Creek Campus, preparing to launch in spring 2025 with innovative education programs focused on STEAM educational enrichment, health and well-being and career and college readiness. With pre-launch programming already serving local youth and our community of supporters growing, the buzz is building.
Bill Smilow, President and CEO of Smilow Foundation, has been at the forefront of the Cobbs Creek project. As a board member of Cobbs Creek Foundation and TGR Foundation, he understands the unique and transformative opportunity this investment brings to the community as well as the City of Philadelphia. Aligned with the Smilow Foundation’s interest in youth and education, the organization has awarded the Cobbs Creek Foundation a leadership gift in support of the $150 million comprehensive campaign, Change the Game.
“What the Cobbs Creek Foundation and TGR Foundation are building will have an incredible impact on the lives of youth and local communities,” Bill said. “I am excited to be part of these efforts and for the future of Cobbs Creek.”
Bill and the Smilow family are well known for their philanthropic impact. They have a history of leadership gifts to numerous Boys & Girls Clubs and charter schools across the country, along with a strong focus on medical research and excellence in patient care. Most notable are partnerships with Yale’s Cancer Hospital, NYU’s School of Medicine and Penn’s Center for Translational Research. Bill continues his support as a member of the Penn Medicine Board, Cardiovascular Institute and Penn Medicine Development Leadership Cabinet.
Stan and Jim Woodland also play a pivotal role in the Change the Game campaign. The Woodland family provided the Cobbs Creek Foundation with a leadership gift to support future generations through golf and education. Stan Woodland and his son Jim share a vision for the Cobbs Creek Campus that is inspiring and ambitious.
“I picture ourselves in a standing-room-only town hall meeting with the entire community, and resident after resident stands up and explains to the group how we’ve kept our promises to them,” Stan Woodland said. “How we were able to build an education center, deliver the programming that we said we would deliver, measure the success of those programs with their kids, and have them participate and make golf accessible.”
Jim Woodland added, “That success will be made possible when Cobbs Creek as a golf course becomes a premier destination for golfers around the world, resulting in a robust golf business thatwill fund these tremendous educational opportunities for Philadelphia’s youth.”
Stan Woodland, a North Philadelphia native and Roman Catholic High School graduate, is a successful entrepreneur dedicated to giving back to his community. Through mentorship in local schools, he continues to inspire the next generation. As Executive Chairman of CMI Media Group and Compas, Inc., his 40-year career is marked by driving change in the healthcare marketing industry and fostering a culture of innovation and growth.
Jim Woodland, Chief Executive Officer of Compas, Inc., plays a crucial role on the Education Committee, working between both Cobbs Creek Foundation and TGR Foundation to ensure the curriculum meets the needs of local youth. Both father and son share a strong passion for golf and the determination and resilience it teaches, making them a driving force behind the transformative initiatives at Cobbs Creek Campus.
The Smilow Foundation and the Woodland family have shared naming rights to the TGR Learning Lab. Their vision, generosity, and leadership are driving forces behind the success of the Change the Game campaign and the future of the Cobbs Creek Campus.
We celebrate Bill Smilow and the Woodland family not just for their financial contributions, but for their unwavering commitment to transforming lives and communities through education and golf. We are grateful for their partnership and leadership as we work to make a lasting impact. Their support is helping to create a brighter future for the diverse youth of Philadelphia, and together, we are changing the game.