About TTSL

Established in 1999, TTSL is a private grant-making foundation that began with funding nonprofit initiatives in conservation, arts and culture, education, and emerging ideas and technology. Today, TTSL also develops its own unique initiative.

In a relatively short period of time, TTSL has supported a wide range of programs, including the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, the Bhutan Foundation, and the World Wildlife Fund. In 2009, TTSL made a founding contribution to the New York University Game Center.

In light of the diversity of TTSL’s interests, and with the goal of result-oriented grantmaking, Managing Trustee Sharon Chang has begun to refine the mission and the approach. By avoiding traditional, single source contribution to distinct causes, TTSL aims to operate at a system level, pursuing projects that connect like-minded individuals to make greater social impact through combined resources. Sharon’s vision is to create a platform that enables many people to contribute to a shared purpose.

To that end, TTSL’s current focus has shifted to program development. Its first significant initiative is Yoxi, a media organization that discovers and elevates social entrepreneurs by leveraging their expertise for shared value business opportunities. Yoxi supports and creates “Social Innovation Rockstars” (SIRs) by developing compelling content that connects key stakeholders to drive social change, while generating broad appeal and deep engagement to define the pop culture of social innovation.

Since 2006, TTSL has retained Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors to provide and counsel on strategic planning, grant making and operations. Today, the foundation continues to look at funding opportunities that connect the community at large with vanguard initiatives in the nonprofit world.

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Grantees

Leadership

Sharon Chang

Managing Trustee

A branding expert and digital strategist, an innovator in entertainment, and a young philanthropist with a keen interest in social entrepreneurship, Sharon Chang is a determined dreamer who has long brought inventive ideas into exciting reality.

Since assuming the role of Managing Trustee of TTSL Charitable Foundation, Sharon has introduced many fresh ideas to facilitate meaningful collaborations between the commercial and nonprofit worlds. She refined and narrowed the focus of TTSL’s grant giving to organizations that address environmental and social issues through creative solutions. Most recently, TTSL contributed to the founding of the NYU Game Center, a reflection of Sharon’s intention to infuse a sense of playfulness into the world of social innovation.

In 2009, Sharon began incubating new concepts that eventually led to the development of Yoxi (pronounced YO-see), a media organization to discover and develop Social Innovation Rockstars (SIRs).

Formerly the Chief Creative Officer of 19 Entertainment – best known as the company that created American Idol – Sharon headed a creative think tank and strategic operations from 19’s New York offices. Her time working with high profile properties and incubating inventive projects, such as If I Can Dream – a TV-Internet hybrid dubbed “the world’s first post-reality show” – positioned her at the forefront of entertainment and technology, and today informs the bold, forward-thinking approach of Yoxi.

With more than 16 years of experience leading branding and design initiatives, Sharon is no stranger to advertising and selling ideas in the digital age. Her clients have included Sony, Motorola, Cadillac, Estée Lauder, P&G, TED, Starwood Hotels, Universal Music, CNN and Hulu. Her deep understanding of both traditional and emerging media allows her to blend new ideas in ways never attempted before. And her high success rate proves she is a true innovator across multiple disciplines.

Sharon's design work is recognized internationally, and she has been published in a number of design books and journals. She is also the recipient of numerous prestigious industry awards, including Cannes Cyber Lion, D&AD, and the One Show Interactive.

Sharon holds a BA in Studio Art and Graphic Communications from NYU and a Master's in Interactive Telecommunications from Tisch School of the Arts. Her alma maters also include The Royal College of Art in London and Columbia University’s School of Architecture.

Kathleen Gareiss

Trustee

A digital native with more than 15 years of experience working in the interactive industry, Kathleen has built a career with a focus on the production of new, complex, and global implementations in interactive media, working to standardize and operationalize the processes needed to deliver digital experiences.

Kathleen currently holds the position of Managing Director, Digital Delivery for Ogilvy & Mather North America, and she is responsible for executing against the company's digital agenda, working across the network's 16 offices. In addition, she is the leader of Ogilvy's NA Digital Innovation Lab, a practice focused on thought leadership in the area of marketing, creativity, and emerging media. Under her direction, the Lab has grown from a showcase and commentary on innovation to an incubator practice where Ogilvy's top talent develops prototypes and proof of concept pieces demonstrating the power of potential emerging media in marketing to clients and employees.

Kathleen joined Ogilvy in 2004 as the Executive Director of Project Management, facilitating the expansion and growth of Ogilvy's digital offering, interactive operations, and digital training. She later moved into a 360 role as Executive Program Director on the Kraft Foods and Post Cereals accounts.

Prior to joining Ogilvy, Kathleen was User Experience Group Director at IconNicholson and Executive Producer at Blue Marble. She is a recurring speaker for the ANA and the 4As on “Economics of Buying Digital Services,” and is a certified project management trainer.

Outside of her interactive career, Kathleen is a certified Health Coach, having graduated from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She practices a holistic approach to health and wellness, looking at how all areas of a person's life are connected, from work stress to relationships to sleep and exercise. She helps her clients to develop a deeper understanding of the foods and lifestyle choices that work best for them and to implement lasting changes that will improve their energy, balance, and health.

Kathleen graduated with honors from Georgetown University with a major in English Literature and a minor in Women's Studies. She continues to work on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, recently presenting the 4A's Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP), and participating in a study on Diversity and Inclusion in Advertising to be published in 2011.