Honoring the legacy of THE SMITH FOUNDATION, INC. with Harry Smith Jr. and Mya Smith-Edmonds

Honoring the legacy of THE SMITH FOUNDATION, INC.

THE SMITH FOUNDATION, INC. People Helping People.

Harry L. Smith is a restaurant owner/operator of restaurants in the Central Division/Indianapolis region.  Harry is an OPNAD national marketing representative on behalf of the National NBMOA, OPNAD by-law/process team member, past national value council representative, past Central Division place team lead, past DLC member, past NLC place team (member of LTRS sub-team), chaired a team that developed a white paper that led to better opportunities for operators, past NIO co-op president, past NIO co-op ad committee chair, past Indianapolis region RLC chair, past Indianapolis region profit team lead, past 2-term OPNAD representative for the Indianapolis region, past Houston co-op president and past BMOA president Houston Chapter, and he has held several other positions during his restaurant career.

Harry has been recognized with many awards throughout his restaurant career, including:

• Rookie Owner/Operator of the Year

• Houston Business Journal’s Entrepreneur of the Year

• Indianapolis Street Fighter Award (2004, 2005, 2007-2009)

• Sales Milestone Award (2004, 2006, 2008-2013)

• Outstanding Operation Award (2005, 2009-2013)

• NBMOA Warrior Award

• Indianapolis Region 2009 & 2012 People Award

• Ronald Award Winner (2013)

• Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

• State Representative Ron Reynolds’ Community Service Award

• Houston Humanitarian Award

• CORE Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Blacks Today

These awards are just to name a few.  In addition, he is also a lifetime member of the NAACP.

THE SMITH FOUNDATION, INC. People Helping People.

Harry is the founder of the Smith Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 2016 to reach, uplift, support, enhance the lives, and empower all people to reach their full potential. This foundation has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to 27 deserving students, provided school supplies, and equipment for music programs in underprivileged communities.  In addition, the organization also provides Christmas toys for children in underprivileged communities, food for those in need, funding for little league teams, also having financed a multi-service center serving families in low-income areas. 

If you ask Harry what he is most proud of, he will answer with the birth of his 8 children:

Dr. Mya Smith -Edmonds.

Mya Smith-Edmonds, a native of Houston, Texas, is the first female African-American next generation McDonald’s owner/operator. She serves as a board member for the Greater Indiana Operators, president and secretary of the Central Indiana Black McDonald’s Operators Association and has earned the Trailblazer Award for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO Indianapolis), was a recipient of the Galore Distinction Award, a recipient of the Opulence Award, Faith Award, featured in the d-mars.com publication for being awarded as one of their Top 30 Influential Women of Houston, featured in and on the cover of PURPOSE Magazine, featured in SHEEN Magazine, Multiple Streams Magazine, Indy Metro Magazine, Style Magazine, and others.  Smith-Edmonds was awarded Woman of the Year by PBMA, in which she received recognition from United States Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Sylvia Garcia, Mayor of the City of Houston, Sylvester Turner, and Councilwoman Amanda K. Edwards. 

Smith-Edmonds was awarded a proclamation declaring an official day to be named after her; the “Myasha “Mya” Smith-Edmonds Day” by the Mayor of the City of Houston, Sylvester Turner.

At 13, Smith-Edmonds began working at her father’s McDonald’s, where she developed her strong work ethic, accountability, discipline, and focus. Smith-Edmonds graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and minor in African-American Studies. She went on to become a certified public accountant at Deloitte & Touche, one of the largest accounting firms in the world.

During her career development years, Smith-Edmonds earned various awards as a program director with KCOH radio station and numerous more as an independent business owner with Ameriplan USA. Committed to helping others build their businesses utilizing biblical principles, Smith-Edmonds was awarded the honor of becoming the youngest national sales director and earned the privilege of speaking on several panels during the annual Ameriplan national conventions.

In 2008, Smith-Edmonds embarked on her ultimate dream; following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a successful McDonald’s owner.

During her required 2-5-year program, which she completed with highest honors on every level, she became a general manager and was awarded the Ray Kroc Award, an achievement earned by the top 1% performers in the McDonald’s system.

Smith-Edmonds is the co-founder of the nonprofit organization, the Smith Foundation, Inc.  This organization’s mission is to send children to college, provide food for those in need, provide Christmas toys, and supply school supplies for underprivileged students and communities.

Smith-Edmonds is also a real estate investor and author. 

She is co-author of the books:

• “When Married Women Speak!”

• “Prayers For The Boss Babes – Volume 2”

• “Lessons from COVID-19 2020 26 Stories One Pandemic” (An Amazon’s #1 Best Seller) 

Smith-Edmonds is grateful and inspired to continue to be a blessing to others and the Kingdom of God. She is a public speaker and has a genuine heart and special love for children. She enjoys coordinating community give-a-ways with local businesses and avidly supporting empowerment youth programs like Ladies of Great Purpose and the Positive Black Male Association’s Reaching Youth Everywhere RYE Program.

What she loves most is serving God and being a wife to her amazing husband, Emmanuelle Edmonds.

THE SMITH FOUNDATION, INC. People Helping People.

Thank you for your interest in partnering with the Smith Foundation, Inc. by sponsoring to support the various causes that impact our community. The Smith Foundation, Inc. strives to produce top-rated events that can be a benefit to those that are in need. In order to accomplish this goal, we welcome sponsorships. 100% OF THE PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE CAUSE. The Smith Foundation, Inc. has events that take place throughout the year, to benefit multiple causes and areas of need.

Our Causes.The Smith Foundation, Inc. strives to produce top-rated events, that can be a benefit, to those that are in need. In order to accomplish this goal, we welcome sponsorships.100% OF THE PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE CAUSE. The Smith Foundation, Inc. has events that take place throughout the year, to benefit multiple causes and areas of need.

THE SMITH FOUNDATION, INC. People Helping People.

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