Gifts & Grants

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” NSF is vital because we support basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future. NSF is tasked with keeping the United States at the leading edge of discovery in a wide range of scientific areas. So, in addition to funding research in the traditional academic areas, the agency also supports “high risk, high pay off” ideas, novel collaborations and numerous projects that may seem like science fiction today, but which the public will take for granted tomorrow.

The Yu Panglin Charitable Trust was established in 2003 by the late billionaire real estate magnate Mr. Yu Panglin as a private foundation to support education, health, and social welfare in China. Since its founding, the Charitable trust has helped to restore sight to more than 440.000 cataract patients, provided disaster relief, and funded education opportunities for thousands of students. Its gift to Teachers College, which will support the Education for Persistence in Innovation Center’s research, public outreach, and the Yu Panglin Distinguished Lecture Series, represents the foundation’s first philanthropic commitment outside of China.

The Foundation believes that shaping children through education is the key to a bright future. Although never attending college himself, Mr. Alvin Brown was a self-taught man who drew great strength from failure. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting EPIC in its mission to learn from mistakes with compassion and using failure as a valuable resource for personal growth and better decision-making. Along with its generous contribution to Teachers College, the Foundation has funded many other educational endeavors.

Wiss is the go-to accounting and growth partner for more than five thousand private companies. Their right-sized solutions range from tax, audit, and law firm services to comprehensive business advisory including staffing, mergers, acquisitions, and personal finance consulting. Paul Peterson is a Managing Partner of Wiss & Company who leads the Firm’s long term strategy. The Company’s gift to Teachers College will support the research activities and scholarship of EPIC, which focuses on understanding, evaluating, and predicting success and failure of employees in business.