I’m not just raising money—I’m raising hope.

My name is Rodney Eugene Smith Jr., and I’m a son of South Phoenix. My life hasn’t always been easy. I’ve walked roads that led to incarceration, addiction in the family, and being counted out more than once. But I believe God doesn’t waste pain—He repurposes it.

When I found TigerMountain Foundation, I didn’t just find a garden—I found myself. I learned how to grow food, yes, but more than that, I learned how to grow purpose. I started volunteering. I listened. I showed up. Eventually, I stepped into a leadership role and became Community Outreach Manager—a title that means more to me than any paycheck.

Through TMF, I now lead community gardening projects, cooking demonstrations, and youth mentoring programs that meet people where they are and help them grow from the inside out. I’ve seen young people go from lost to leading. I’ve seen elders cry tears of joy harvesting food they helped plant. I’ve had people tell me, “This saved my life.” And I know exactly what they mean—because it saved mine, too.

I also run my own wellness-centered food business, Grow Space, where I use plant-based cooking and urban agriculture to help others reconnect to their roots. Everything I do now is about healing, feeding, and lifting up my people.

This fundraiser isn’t just a campaign—it’s a continuation of a calling. I hope you’ll join me.