A Prolific Approach to Giving
While best known for its work in education, the Foundation’s work extends far beyond the classroom. For nearly forty years, it has given thousands of gifts to advance its mission. Its focus is on ideas, programs, and projects that can be brought to scale and have broad, sustainable impacts. Just some of these are outlined below.
Education
Given the Taylor’s strong belief in providing educational opportunities for all, regardless of means, it only stands to follow that one of the Foundation’s primary areas of giving is in education.
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS): A scholarship program initially devised by the Mr. Taylor for Louisiana students that, through work with not only the Louisiana Legislature and officials, but those across the country, has been enacted in some way in more than 20 states to offer students a state-funded, merit-based opportunity to attend college.
Taylor Scholars Awards Program: Endowments that allow students who achieve a 2.5 grade point average or higher to experience the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, the Audubon Zoo, and the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Individual Scholarships: Support for deserving Louisiana high school and college students attending two-year and four-year Louisiana undergraduate institutions, based on financial need and academic performance.
School Scholarships: In addition to its public-school grants, the Foundation has established scholarships various non-public K-12 schools. Notably, the Foundation sponsors the Trinity Episcopal and St. Stanislaus Scholarship fund, and the St. Michael’s endowment.
Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking at Tulane University: A center that provides students, faculty, and community members with expansive resources to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration that can develop innovative solutions to some of society’s most challenging issues.
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO): An internationally respected hub for scientific collaboration and discovery for over 20 years. The Foundation funded a pilot program through LSU to expose high school STEM students to the science, technology, and opportunities at LIGO.
Phyllis M. Taylor Maker Spaces: Modeled after programs at MIT, the Maker Spaces provide access for middle and high-school students in both public and private schools to the latest tools and technology – like CNC laser cutters and 3D printers – used to build the products of the future.
The Patrick F. Taylor Primary Care Scholar Program at LSUHSC: Scholarships awarded to exemplary medical students planning to stay in Louisiana as a means to increase the number of physicians practicing primary care in the state.
Good Shepherd Summer School: An enriching and educational summer program for low-income youth in Louisiana, including field trips, performances, and cultural pursuits.
STEM Library Lab’s STEM Ecosystem Hub: A STEM resource center for educators in the New Orleans region.
Greater New Orleans Science & Engineering Fair: A yearly competition in which students from Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes are given the opportunity to display their research in Science and Engineering fields. Since 2007, the Foundation has provided scholarships and materials to schools with 10 or more participants.
Military and Law Enforcement
During his sophomore year at LSU, Mr. Taylor joined the Marine Corps PLC Officer Training Program. Unfortunately, a heart condition prevented him from completing his senior course and he was honorably discharged. His experiences though, remained with him throughout his life. He believed in and appreciated the hard work that members of our military and law enforcement do for our country and our communities. That strong respect for our military and law enforcement is reflected in the Foundation’s giving.
WWI Doughboy Project: The first-ever WWI Memorial located in Washington D.C., which serves to honor and remember The United States’ contributions in WWI.
WWII Teachers Education Project: A free, all-inclusive summer seminar that provides middle and high school teachers with the information and resources to create an accurate display of WWII to students.
National Museum of the Marine Corps.: Support for the Patrick F. Taylor Observation Point at the National Museum of the Marine Corps as well as many monuments along the park walk.
Environment & Sustainability
The Foundation believes in ensuring proper stewardship through a better understanding of our environment and nurturing scalable solutions to protect and preserve it.
Sacred Heart Academy’s Sustainable Hearts Program: A comprehensive curriculum that integrates eco-sustainability practices into students’ daily routines.
LSU AgCenter Nitrogen Reduction Project: A result of the Nitrogen Reduction Challenge funded by Mrs. Taylor in 2014, this demonstration project is identifying and implementing best practices to reduce runoff from Louisiana farms that could negatively impact wildlife and water quality.
The Taylor Endowment for Applied Big Game Research and Instruction at Mississippi State: Big Game is often the “canary in the coal mine” for environmentally critical natural habitats. This funding supports important research on managing land as well as educational resources for promising students in wildlife biology.
Arts and Culture
Arts and culture have an immense impact on society, improving the quality of life for communities and individuals alike. As such, the Foundation is a patron of arts and cultural programs and institutions.
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden: Funding to support a masterful collection of over 90 sculptural works within New Orleans’s City Park.
18 in ’18: In honor New Orleans’ Tricentennial in 2018, the Foundation held a multi-media art competition showcasing the creative talents of high school juniors and their special connection to the culture of New Orleans.
Patrick F. Taylor Object Project: A permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History described as “an examination of how the interplay of people, innovative things, and social change have shaped life as we know it.”
Other notable donations to local organizations:
- New Orleans Museum of Art
- Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
- New Orleans Ballet Association
- New Orleans Opera Association
Community
The Foundation is committed to bringing about more vibrant, healthy, resilient communities. It does this by supporting a variety of organizations that are having a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
Patrick F. Taylor Campus at Kingsley House: A 24,000 square-foot modernized facility, providing support and programs to children and seniors across New Orleans.
The Patrick F. and Phyllis M. Taylor Auditorium at Ochsner Baptist: A space for education, conferences, and a multitude of community programs.
Second Harvest: Funding to support building improvements and warehouse renovations to increase the food bank’s capacity and ability to serve families in New Orleans.
Louisiana Children’s Museum’s Early Learning Village: Support for a social, cultural, and learning resource for young children from birth to age eight and their families.
American Cancer Society Patrick F. Taylor Hope Lodge: Support for a free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers. More than just a roof over their heads, it’s a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need.
The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation is proud to carry on the legacy of Mr. Taylor and the vision of Mrs. Taylor through a wide-ranging portfolio of grants, scholarships, and endowments in all facets of our communities. This philosophy is built on the Taylor’s long-held belief that no one individual is singularly responsible for their own success—rather, success and achievement are the combined efforts of individuals, their communities, and environment.