Dorothy Mae

My name is Eric Smith, and I am the founder and CEO of the Dorothy Mae Foundation.  I was inspired to start this foundation in the name of my beloved grandmother Dorothy Mae because of the example that she set of showing simple kindness and humility to everyone she met.

As a youth growing up, in South Central Los Angeles, I found myself caught up in the grips of the street life.  My grandmother never wavered in her belief in me, and she continually planted words of love, wisdom and encouragement in my ear, which continues to manifest in me to this today.

  My story started out in 1965 when I was born to a single mother and a drug addicted father. I guess you could say that the deck was stacked against me from the very start. We moved around a lot when I was a child and I struggled in school. I spent the next 25 years drinking, drugging and gang banging which ultimately led me on multiple extended "vacations" at many of the state of California "resorts", starting at Central Juvenile Hall and then to many stops at the Dept. of Corrections via the 

" Grey Goose". 

These extended "vacations" afforded me the opportunity to reflect on the lessons taught and lessons learned. I eventually received my GED and vocational plumbing certification. I read many books on social injustices in this country and I vowed to make a difference and help as many of the less fortunate as I could with a simple format, of Love, Kindness, & Respect. 

This is my reason for establishing the Dorothy Mae Foundation, so that I can continue this legacy of helping as many people as I can.