by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Most Jacksonville residents are probably more familiar with real estate development mogul Hawley Smith than his wife Emily, but she is helping build Jacksonville as well.
On the surface, she may appear to be primarily a homemaker, but a closer look reveals Smith is, in fact, a community leader.
She holds one of the area’s most prestigious positions — she’s on the board of Florida Community College at Jacksonville.
As part of her board assignments, she represents the trustees on FCCJ’s Foundation board. That means Smith has been lobbying the legislature for a more equitable distribution of dollars into the educational system. Championing for the underdog is right in line with her motto, “With privilege comes responsibility.”
“I want to emphasize how many homemakers add value to the community,” said Smith. “We get back from the people we touch.”
Her involvements read like a laundry list of communities organizations all across Jacksonville.
She was part of Learn to Read, the May Day Peace Parade celebrating the fall of communism in Russia and soliciting items for a WJCT auction. Young people are her passion, though.
While a member of Junior League, she taught leadership skills to teenagers as part of an abstinence program. She also taught Sunday School classes, was integral in the renovation of both the track and the gymnasium for The Bolles School and chaired the 2001 FCCJ Golf Challenge to raise funds for student athletes.
Funding for the athletic program is in jeopardy, though, due to mid-year budget cuts. Smith hopes to accumulate $50,000 for the cause.
The objective is to supplement FCCJ’s contributions to with private sector donations.
With a background in finance, fundraising comes naturally to her.
Through the efforts of her husband, a private foundation was funded in her name to give a little more to those who have a little less.
Some of the many groups she supports include Dreams Come True, Alzheimer’s Association, Habitat for Humanity, I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and Temple University.
“My greatest joy comes from lifting someone else’s burden,” she said.
“We [her family] have everything we need so there is no reason why we can’t help others reach their goals.”
An Emory University graduate, Smith spent the early years of her life utilizing her business administration degree in the marketing and public relations department at C&S of Georgia. Smith was also employed by Atlantic Bancorporation and subsequently kept her husband’s books for his development business.
The couple then started a family and she focused her attention on them. Feeling compelled to give back to the community, Smith took up the torch of volunteerism, a crusade that has lasted a lifetime.
Currently, she is an elder at Lakewood Presbyterian Church and has a trio of major endeavors she is tackling.
Take Stock in Children, a mentor program pairing children at high-risk with caring adults, has enlisted politicos such as Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher, U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw and Gov. Jeb Bush.
“Along with these famous people are regular folks who care,” she said.
“They’re there to listen and be a friend.”
As far as mentoring a child personally, it is a goal Smith is striving to make the time for.
The Otis F. Smith Foundation, her pet project, fosters young children at high-risk [for early pregnancy, criminal activity, etc.] in the arena of sports and education.
“Our hope is to collaborate with Take Stock so our Otis Smith program can move into the Take Stock Program so that we don’t just leave them at age 12. They really complement each other.”
Once participants complete the program, they are guaranteed college scholarships.
“Young people treated like they’re to be seen and not heard are so frustrated,” she said. “They really just want a chance. They’re just like anybody else — they want to be happy, they want to be good at something, they want to be successful in life.”
Although Smith is licensed to sell real estate, the time-consuming field is not something she actively pursues.
“Maybe I’ll get back into it a little more,” said Smith, now an empty-nester as the last child, Hawley Jr. is now at Temple University where he’s on the basketball team.
“With Palencia [a new development north of St. Augustine co-owned by her husband,] I’ve had the opportunity to steer customers [to property in the development].”
As far as being the wife of a successful developer, Smith dismisses the notion that her spouse is any different than the guy next door.
“He’s just an ordinary guy,” she said. “He loves his home; he loves his family. He is the son of a banker but grew up on a farm. He’s always loved dirt.”