Education creates opportunity
Career plans provide structure
Coaching delivers inspiration
Incentives drive performance
Our Story
In 1999, Founder Dave Thillen volunteered to build his first Habitat for Humanity home in Greene County, Georgia and launched his legacy with one small step: refurbishing and installing community donated computers into every new Habitat home. Dave recalls the journey that soon took him to installing more than 30 computers and a network to connect them to the internet at the Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club of Greensboro. In short order, Dave began to provide individualized life coaching for every child living in the Habitat homes and rewarding their milestone achievements with scholarship dollars. “The momentum quickly built, and I never looked back”.
Witnessing the raw power of encouragement, goal setting, and tangible rewards, Dave realized how every student’s potential and self-worth would be amplified in the right setting. The community took notice of his successes, and in 2019, Greene County High School asked Dave to implement the “Thillen Plan” for every enrolled student. In 2020, Dave and Elaine Thillen founded the Thillen Education Foundation as a Georgia registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and partnered with Greene College and Career Academy to put in motion an innovative, coaching, scholarship, and financial assistance initiative that will enrich the lives of thousands of Greene County students for years to come.
100%
The graduation rate for the first 3 full graduating classes of students in the career coaching program increased from 86% to 100%
Join Our Impact
Experience the rewards of preparing a hard-working teen for college, the workforce, or military service, and ensuring a guided, financially-assisted path to their future.
Become a Partner
Activate your business mission by partnering with us to advance student opportunity through earned financial assistance and respectful diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Sign Up For Events
Nothing is more exciting than seeing our kids engaging with our volunteer life coaches. Join us for our next in-person event!
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A PROVEN PROGRAM FOR ENDING GENERATIONAL POVERTY
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Our statistics show that pairing a student with a career coach results in improved academic performance and school attendance, a decrease in disciplinary issues, and a tendency to display an overall more positive attitude about school, life and future choices.
Pathway to a Million Campaign
Invest in Courage
If you could give to one organization to
Support local students living in poverty
Change the trajectory of young lives
Promote equal rights
Encourage hope, and
Strengthen our community...
How much would you be willing to invest?