About Us
If everyone can’t eat, then no one should.
Arnold Smith
The Penny That Built a Legacy
Arnold Smith never knew his father. Raised in foster homes, he found his only anchor in a grandmother who cleaned toilets to survive. On his 12th birthday, she mailed him a single penny. It wasn’t much—but to Arnold, it said, “You matter.”
That penny stayed with him for life. It reminded him that even the smallest act of love can light up a life.
After earning a degree in electrical engineering from MIT, Arnold worked and lived with quiet generosity. Now retired, his heart remains full of the same compassion that shaped his youth.
We met here in the United States. I was an ambitious young immigrant trying to change my story. Arnold didn’t just see my struggle—he saw my potential. One day, without asking for anything in return, he paid off my graduate tuition. His only request? “Carry this kindness forward.”
This foundation is that promise in motion. We’re just beginning. But already, we know the power of one act of love. Just like Arnold’s penny, what we give may start small—but it can change everything.
Mission
We are at the beginning of our journey, but our mission is bold: to walk beside vulnerable children and give them what every child deserves—education, emotional support, and belonging. We lead with compassion. We build with love.
Vision
We envision a world where children—no matter their beginnings—grow up with hope, dignity, and the power of education. A world where love isn’t a luxury, but a right. We begin in Rwanda, but our dream has no borders.
Core Values
The Foundation of Everything We Do
Education First
Education isn’t a privilege—it’s a right. It opens futures, restores dignity, and breaks generational cycles.
Compassion & Care
Love isn’t just something we feel—it’s something we do. Our support goes beyond money. We offer presence, encouragement, and hope.
Being Seen
Every child deserves to be recognized—not just for their needs, but for their dreams, their laughter, and their light.
Legacy Through Action
We believe in small steps taken with consistency. A pencil, a hug, a word of belief—it all adds up to transformation.
Integrity & Simplicity
We do this work with clear hearts and clean hands. No red tape. No ego. Just love in action.
Community
True change emerges from local wisdom. In Rwanda and beyond, we partner with parents, teachers, and elders to design solutions that respect culture and ignite sustainable progress.
Message from the founder
Arnold didn’t know me. But he believed in me. I was far from home, a young woman from rural Uganda, carrying hope on my back. He didn’t offer me charity—he offered me trust.
Education gave me a path. Arnold gave me wings.
Now, as a student at Boston University, I carry that kindness forward—not because I have to, but because love asks us to show up for others. This foundation is just the beginning of that legacy.
We’re not building an empire. We’re building belonging—one child, one story, one legacy at a time.
Message from the founder
Arnold didn’t know me. But he believed in me. I was far from home, a young woman from rural Uganda, carrying hope on my back. He didn’t offer me charity—he offered me trust.
Education gave me a path. Arnold gave me wings.
But what Arnold lacked most growing up was not just opportunity—it was belonging, love, and the feeling of being valued. This foundation is built to give children exactly what he never had. We’re not here to simply provide resources; we’re here to rewrite emotional stories. We want each child to feel wrapped in community, to be seen in their struggles, and to thrive in their full humanity.
We are not just funding futures—we are restoring what life may have taken: the right to feel safe, loved, and part of something bigger. We’re building emotional homes for the children the world has forgotten.
Now, as a student at Boston University, I carry that kindness forward—not because I have to, but because love asks us to show up for others. This foundation is not a monument—it’s a movement. It’s a promise that no child should feel alone.
We’re not building an empire. We’re building belonging—one child, one story, one legacy at a time.
Our Key Priorities
Education Access
Full scholarships, school supplies, and tutoring to break poverty cycles
Emotional Support
Trauma-informed care and mentorship so children heal while they learn
Community Roots
Partnering with local leaders to create sustainable, culturally-grounded change
Legacy Building
Documenting stories to inspire future generations and multiply impact
Our Volunteers
At the Arnold Smith Foundation, our volunteers are the quiet champions who bring our vision to life—one act of kindness, one hour of mentorship, and one child’s transformed future at a time.
