THE SHANNON SMITH
CHARITABLE
FOUNDATION
The Shannon Smith Charitable Foundation was created to help empower and uplift women and children in under-served communities by providing resources, education, and support, fostering self-sufficiency, and creating pathways to a brighter future. The foundation accomplishes this through a series of targeted grants, scholarships, and workshops.
FOUNDATION GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
WOMEN OF IMPACT GRANT
This scholarship is dedicated to empowering women from underserved backgrounds who are committed to making a positive impact in their communities. This scholarship aims to support individuals who demonstrate a passion for initiating and leading projects that foster self-sufficiency, education, and overall community betterment.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING GRANT
This grant supports women and children who wish to gain new skills through vocational training programs. It can be used to cover the cost of courses, certification programs, and other hands-on training that lead to sustainable employment and self-sufficiency.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANT
This grant is designed to encourage and support entrepreneurial endeavors among women and young people. Funds can be used to start or expand small businesses, providing recipients with the necessary resources to turn their business ideas into reality.
CULINARY EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship assists students who are pursuing education and training in the culinary arts and is intended to help offset living expenses, equipment and materials, and/or tuition costs. This scholarship is awarded based on demonstrated passion and/or talent within the field for students experiencing financial hardship or living in under-served communities.
HISTORY
Shannon Smith's philanthropic journey began with transformative experiences in Dominican Republic, Rwanda, Honduras, and India, where she collaborated with microfinance organizations and other charitable organizations to support women entrepreneurs.
In the Dominican Republic, Shannon partnered with Esperanza, a local microfinance organization, to teach sewing and cooking classes to women who supported their businesses with micro-loans. Through these classes, she aimed to equip them with practical skills to enhance their small businesses and achieve self-sufficiency.
Similarly, in Rwanda, Shannon worked at Hope Haven, a school for underserved children in Murindi, training cooks to creatively prepare meals using the produce from their gardens. This effort improved the quality of food for students and impressed visiting investors who supported the school's mission.
In Delhi, India, Shannon collaborated with the Community Foundation to help empower homeless women by teaching them sewing and jewelry-making skills. This initiative aimed to equip them with the necessary abilities to create and sell handcrafted items, fostering self-sufficiency and providing a sustainable source of income.
Additionally, Shannon has donated her "Around the World" dinners to charity auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and across the United States, raising over $600,000 to date for organizations that share her cause.
These experiences deepened Shannon's understanding of the challenges faced by women in impoverished regions and reinforced her commitment to making a tangible difference, both in the United States and abroad. She established the Shannon Smith Charitable Foundation with a mission to empower and uplift women and children in underserved communities by providing resources, education, and support, fostering self-sufficiency, and creating pathways to a brighter future.
Through the foundation, Shannon aims to continue to expand the work that began in kitchens and workshops around the world, believing that with the right support, individuals can transform their lives and communities.
