“Profiles in Service” highlights the people in our community who devote considerable time to helping make life better for the rest of us.
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If there were a gold star for volunteerism, Elizabeth Smith would surely qualify. She’s active in Kiwanis, the LF Parade Committee, the American Cancer Society, Isaiah House, St. Edwards Church, The Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain, and the Friends of the Foothill Ranch Library among other things. Most of her activities center around raising money or mentoring, and sometimes both. She’s retired, a widow, with a son on the East Coast and a daughter in Hawaii. “I have to do something” and thankfully for us that something has been helping. We had a cup of coffee at Mimi’s Café one Friday morning just after her weekly Kiwanis meeting broke up.
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JG: What brought you to Lake Forest?
ES: I’ve lived in Foothill Ranch for 20 years, this month. We moved here because there was lots of space, it wasn’t crowded, and close to the wilderness. We thought it would stay small. That all changed, and not necessarily for the better. Not just here in Lake Forest, but all around us. We’ve lost the sense of freedom.
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JG: Did you gain anything?
ES: Of course. We’re close to a cultural center, and I don’t have to go to L.A. There are all sorts of venues for the Arts. And there are so many opportunities to volunteer and to get involved.
JG: What do you think are the major challenges ahead for the City?
ES: Where are the roads? There are no more. They’ll be no mass transit. So where are we going to put all these new people who are coming here? I also think attracting and developing the businesses in the City is going to be very important not putting homes in planned commercial space.
JG: You’re one of the few Foothill Ranch people who are involved in city-wide activities. Most of the FR people I know stick to FR.
ES: Yes. That’s true. You know, I fought the annexation by Lake Forest. People up here don’t think the City has done anything for us. They promised us a Sports Center and a Cultural Center and only now are we getting the Sports Park, but no Cultural Center. I think that’s why so many don’t get involved with the rest of the City. I got involved through the “Relay for Life” and that just led to other involvement.
JG: What inspired you to give your time to helping others?
ES: Both my parents were small business owners and active in our small town community. I admired that. Once I had my own children, I got involved in all sorts of things – Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sports, School – and one thing led to another. I could see that these groups had an impact on my life and my family’s life, so I stayed involved.
JG: Is there any one activity you like best?
ES: I think Kiwanis is a key because it led me to the Parade Committee and Key Club, but all the activities I do are important to me and close to my heart. At Isaiah House we feed the homeless while at St. Edward’s Church we conduct bible studies and hold mini-retreats to re-charge spiritual lives. I like them all.
JG: You do a lot for Kiwanis, don’t you?
ES: Kiwanis does a lot for the community. Our motto is “changing the world one child at a time.” We raise funds to support youth with scholarships, programs like BUG (Bringing Up Grades), and mentoring and leadership programs at ETHS and THHS. Right now we are trying to start a Boys and Girls Club in Lake Forest. But we’re not only focused on children, we just finished a food drive for South County Outreach and we collected 4,500 pounds of food.
JG: Your work is a true inspiration for others. Any parting words?
ES: Don’t’ do anything you don’t like to do. Look for joy and satisfaction. I’m lucky. I am enthusiastic about everything I do.
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Here are links to some of the organizations mentioned in this article.
Kiwanis of Lake Forest
http://www.kiwanislakeforest.org/
Isaiah House
http://www.isaiah-house.org/Isaiah-House/Welcome.html
Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain
Lake Forest 4th of July Parade
http://www.lakeforestca.gov/4thjuly/
St. Edward’s Church
Relay for Life
http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=48947&pg=entry
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If you’d like to nominate someone in your community who helps make life better for the rest of us in Lake Forest, please send an e-mail to DrJGardner@gmail.com. Generally speaking we are looking for people who have had an impact in several areas and whose contribution has been over many years.
