Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (www.gatesfoundation.org) works to promote greater equity in four areas: global health, education, public libraries, and support for at-risk families in Washington state and Oregon. The Seattle-based foundation joins local, national, and international partners to ensure that advances in these areas reach those who need them most. The foundation is led by Bill Gates' father, William H. Gates, Sr., and Patty Stonesifer. The foundation has invested $35 million to help launch the THSP in 2003, and has committed $20 million for the new TSTEM Initiative.

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (www.msdf.org) was established in 1999 by the Dell family to improve outcomes for under-served children in a measurable way. Based in Austin, Texas, the Foundation funds programs that foster and improve education, health and safety for children around the world. With an endowment of more than $1 billion, the Foundation has committed more than $220 million to global children's issues and Central Texas community initiatives to date. MSDF has contributed $34 million to THSP-related projects since 2003 and committed an additional $20 million to the TSTEM Initiative.

The Texas Education Agency (www.tea.state.tx.us) oversees primary and secondary public education in the state. The TEA is comprised of the Commissioner of Education and her staff and the 15-member State Board of Education with representatives from different regions of Texas.

Under the leadership of the Commissioner of Education, the TEA manages the adoption of school textbooks, oversees development of a statewide curriculum, rates school districts under a statewide accountability system and serves as the fiscal agent for distribution of state and federal funds.

The mission of the Texas Education Agency is to provide leadership, guidance and resources to help schools meet the educational needs of all students. In that capacity, the TEA has committed millions of dollars in state and federal funds to the Texas High School Project.

Communities Foundation of Texas (www.cftexas.org) was founded in 1953. More than a half billion dollars in grants have been issued by the Communities Foundation of Texas, making it the largest communities foundation in the South and one of the largest in the nation. The Dallas-based foundation issues grants on behalf of its donor members for a wide variety of programs and projects that are designed to make a positive difference in the quality of life for this community, state and region.

The Wallace Foundation (www.wallacefoundation.org) seeks to support and share effective ideas and practices that expand learning and enrichment opportunities for all people.

Its three current objectives are:

• Strengthen education leadership to improve student achievement.
• Improve out-of-school learning opportunities.
• Expand participation in the arts and culture.