TigerMountain Foundation (TAPAZ)

TigerMountain Foundation (TMF) empowers communities to better themselves from within through our initiatives including: Teen and Agri/Landscaping On the Job Development & Community Gardens, audio, visual & performance arts, community service & our spirit of volunteering. We plant fruits & veggies as we cultivate better communities. Our multi-cultural, inter-generational Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) means we don't give a handout, we give the community a hand up.

TMF, through its model of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), will empower communities to better themselves from within. In the communities we affect, there is high recidivism, bad health choices and a low ranking education system with closed schools. The TMF instructional and developmental concept is inter-generational, multi-ethnic mentoring. TMF brings a mosaic of educational opportunities.

The educational tenets of TMF are:
-Learning how to grow vegetables free of chemicals
-Learning the importance of good nutrition
-Workforce Development
-Learning how to work as a team with people of very different backgrounds
-Community Outreach

These tenets address prevalent issues within the core of the affected community.

Values of TigerMountain Foundation:
"TIGER"
-Tenacity: (Aggressively change your own condition)
-Integrity: (strive for authenticity and honesty in living one's life)
-Greatness: (Dare to be epic and proud)
-Empowerment: (Take responsibility for life choices and their outcomes)
-Resiliency: (Never give up)

Community gardening

From the beginning of TigerMountain, gardening has been at the center. It brings people of all races, religions and socio-economic backgrounds together. But gardening at TigerMountain is more than just a pastime, it's a classroom where we're teaching life skills.

We have 2 community gardens in South Phoenix.

Some of the things going on at our gardens include:

-Residents plant, grow and harvest produce they can use in their home.
-Local youth, troubled teens and adults get paying jobs taking care of our gardens where they learn what it means to be a valued and dependable worker.
-We sell our produce at local farmer's markets valley-wide. Money is invested back into TigerMountain.
-Regular events are held at our gardens where we encourage nearby residents to take an interest in vegetable gardening andthe arts. The events feature live music, painting (and everything in between).
-Landscaping workforce development

Our participants provide landscaping services to local residents and businesses. Through this program, they learn real on-the-job skills. And the services provide operating income for them and TigerMountain. 100% of the funds TigerMountain makes from landscaping and gardening are invested back into the community.

Landscaping services can include:

-Property cleanups
-Irrigations system installs and repairs
-Landscape design and installation
-Monthly landscape maintenance

We hope that over the weeks and months ahead, you will become involved in TigerMountain's activities in a way that is most meaningful to you. We have many volunteer opportunities in our gardens and farmers markets, and we can always use your financial support.

Please remember that TigerMountain Foundation is a Qualifying Charitable Organization for the Arizona Tax Credit. You may receive full credit for your donation up to $400 (single or head of household) or $800 (married filing jointly).

Testimonials

Love your organization, you guys rock!! -Colby Jeffers

I love tiger mountain foundation they are awesome -Tanisha N Demiseo

I absolutely admire what this program does for the community. The information that is tough hear about natural ways of growing food and knowledge. Thank you. -Orisha Easley
These guys do great things in the community. Love the energy the people and the kids. -Nika Forte Sesay

Amazing community garden. My volunteer experience has been phenomenal, meeting Darren and Michael help at risks youth and the community is very inspiring. A great place to get to know friendly people, while helping society. -Nesha

My son chose Tiger Mountain Foundation for a volunteer project for school. He completed his hours and continues to ask to volunteer. Darren Chapman, founder of Tiger Mountain Foundation approaches this garden with a contagious enthusiasm, and an optimistic outlook for South Phoenix that anyone who shows up can see, he is not planting a garden but building a community! -Glen Appell

Tiger Mountain folks - a crew of five - did the maintenance on our Phoenix Quaker Meeting "xeriscape" 1 1/2 acres. They worked consistently and with knowledge of what they had to do. Got the job done. Quality work. I highly recommend the Tiger Mountain Yard Maintenance team!! -Nancy Marshall