Our Heart & Soul
We believe in the infinite possibility for personal and professional growth in each student who participates in Thillen Education Foundation program. As volunteers for students, our passion is limitless. It’s a fact. Every time a student achieves a new life or career goal, we share in his or her joy. We thrive on their wins, celebrate their financial assistance earnings, and rally them on to even greater life successes. The individual volunteer-student partnerships are the lifeblood of our institution. Our business partners, community organizations, and donors provide the high-powered fuel for the financial assistance engine we have created to help students achieve their lifelong career dreams for college, the military, or skilled trade careers.
Commitment
Thillen Education Foundation is committed to developing tested and proven intellectual property, including web-based program materials and guidebooks to enable communities around the country to establish similar structured programs that empower young people to engage with coaches in their future planning, earn financial assistance for scholarships or professional supplies, and reap the long-term rewards of post-secondary education and related professional opportunities
In the near term, our foundation vision is to maximize GCCA student participation in the personal coaching program designed by Thillen Education Foundation. We raise funds to enable college-bound students to gain peace of mind that the burden of expenses for post-secondary education will be minimized and to empower trade-skilled graduates to begin a professional career with the appropriate tools and supplies. In the future, our vision is for the Thillen Education Foundation educational and financial assistance model to be replicated by our nation’s public schools, impoverished or wealthy, urban or rural.
Vision
Mission
The Thillen Education Foundation is a distinguished community-based earned financial assistance program based on personal coaching and committed to honoring the achievements of 600 students who have participated in the Greene College & Career Academy Career Coaching Program at Greene County High School, a Title I school. Through business sponsorships and funding support from donors who share our commitment to ending generational poverty in Greene County, Georgia, we are financially enabling post-secondary education and skills training for hardworking graduates.
How it Works
Service Title
This is your Service description. Use this space to describe what the service entails, benefits for users and any other important information.
Service Title
This is your Service description. Use this space to describe what the service entails, benefits for users and any other important information.
Service Title
This is your Service description. Use this space to describe what the service entails, benefits for users and any other important information.
Our Impact
The Thillen Education Foundation is dedicated to ending generational poverty in Greene County, Georgia. Its career coaching and financial assistance program working with the students attending Greene County High School recently celebrated its third graduating class of students who participated in the full four year program.
The Program is Working!
The accompanying chart shows that over this period, participating students have demonstrated continuous improvement across many critical categories. Highlights include:
-
The year before the program began at Greene College & Career Academy inside Greene County High School the graduation rate was 77%. By 2024, with 85% of the students opting into the program, the graduation rate reached 100%.
-
The number of students on-track to graduate before senior year increased 89%.
-
The number going to college increased 94%.
-
Those participating in work based learning to pursue better opportunities in the trades after graduation increased 168%.
-
Students are also learning to become better citizens as seen in the 616%. increase in the number of Community Service Recognition awards.
Over the past three years the Thillen Education Foundation has provided graduating seniors with $450,000 to cover college expenses,
costs to pursue trade employment or for the military.
Personal coaching encourages kids to believe in their dreams.
Poverty should never limit a child's future possibilities.
Elaine Thillen
Board of Advisors, Thillen Education Foundation
Meet the Team
Our volunteer Board of Directors drives day-to-day foundation operations and partnerships, establishes long-term financial strategy for donor fund investment and disburses earned financial assistance to students, and guides communications and fundraising to continue our efforts for years to come.
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 in this extraordinary education and employment initiative that is producing current and future quality employees.
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!