The Sarah Smith Legacy Fund for Tomorrow’s Educators

The Rainier Scholars Board established the Sarah Smith Legacy Fund for Tomorrow’s Educators to honor Sarah’s dedicated 20 years of leadership and service to Rainier Scholars.

Her endless hours of work were dedicated to providing educational and life opportunities to young people of color in our community who face the greatest barriers to earning a college degree. Our region and our nation will long reap the benefits of our scholars’ skills, talents and leadership—all fostered during their years at Rainier Scholars.

As a former teacher and educational nonprofit leader, Sarah’s commitment to and admiration for careers in education is the foundation for the fund in her name. The Sarah Smith Legacy Fund for Tomorrow’s Educators will provide stipends to selected Rainier Scholars who choose to follow the academic or career paths to becoming educators. A small committee, including Sarah Smith, will select recipients each year.

Her impact on the program is deep and everlasting; yet her positive impact on students and their families is perhaps Sarah’s greatest legacy.

Founding Members

Alex & Susie Algard

Kristina & Joe Belfiore

Reggie Brown

Julia & David Clarke

Kristen & Jim Dimlow

Zander & Hilary Doroski

Chrissie & Chris Drape

Ellison Foundation

Roy & Annie Fisher

Milena Flores & Sonia Raman

Harley & Lela Franco

Bethany & Hugh Furubayashi

Matt & Shanti Garman

Saedah Ham | Alumni

Greg & Pam Harrington

Peter He | Alumni

Sumiko Huff & Steve Linden

Rick & Marcy Jackson

Sara K. Jackson & Danielken Molina

Andy & Elana Jassy

Rod & Tara Jones

Mary & Peter Kerr

Alison Krupnick & Jeffrey Greenberg

Sallie Lau | Alumni

Olivia Littles

May-Lannie Lozano | Alumni

Woinshet Meshesha & Sisay Srato

Michael Montgomery

Kathryn Pienta

Gail & Larry Ransom

Colin Roberts

Jessica Schreiber & Rory Henneck

Ashley Sirls

John & Mary Snyder

Robert & Katie Strong

Amanda Szeto | Alumni

Kelabe Tewolde | Alumni

Nancy Tran | Alumni

Bradaigh & Thor Wagner

Miles Welsh | Alumni

Dawit Workie | Alumni

During this time of change and challenge, Rainier Scholars has not just survived, we have thrived. The strength of our financial position provided the confidence to move forward with the launch of Rainier Scholars–Tacoma and fuels the vision to explore growth beyond Tacoma. We are now poised to connect the present challenges with future opportunities: • Serving more scholars in both Seattle and Tacoma, with a focus on multi-generational Black families our influence and reach through new partnerships

• Actively engaging with our 275+ post-collegiate scholars as leaders and changemakers • Carrying our vision forward by engaging stakeholders in creating our next Strategic Plan (2022-2027) With generous support comes high expectations. Our donors have given us the confidence and determination to move forward with collective purpose. Together, we will extend pathways of access and opportunity to an even greater number of underrepresented youth who aspire to become college graduates, career professionals and community leaders.