3811 Mount Vernon Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93306 (661)872-7777

Cherie Smith

cherie&mom (33K)
Cherie Smith, with her Mother, Mrs. Velma Gauthier

Mrs. Cherie Smith has received the 2004 Jefferson Award because of her 30 years of community volunteer work. She founded a 501c3 Non Profit Corporation twenty years ago that played a critical part in winning the All America City Award from the National Civic League for Bakersfield, California (A city of 400,000 people in Kern County, the largest oil producing county in the U.S). She was chosen as the California Senate Woman of the Year in 1990. She was chosen by the Secretary of the Air Force to be one of 100 VIP guests to attend the National Security Forum at the Air War College at Maxwell AFB in 1992. In 1988 she was chosen as the Individual Citizen of the Year by the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce. In 1991 she was honored as the Businesswoman of the Year by the Women's Division of the Chamber of Commerce.

When she founded Aunt Cherie's Home in 1984, there were no shelters for pregnant women in the central valley that would keep women/children during pregnancy. Currently there are over 500 beds every night (in 20 different programs) for women and children. Mrs. Smith has kept the need before the public through her many media presentations, speaking engage-ments and weekly radio show for three years on a 50,000 watt station heard from Sacramento to Los Angeles.

Her beginning babies have turned 18 and started college this past Fall. In just the first five years, she was able to provide 380 classes, group sessions and community supported outings for single mothers, pregnant teens and families in crisis with toddlers. Her pregnant clients ranged in age from 11 to 38. This has been done for twenty years without government money. At one time she made over 30 United Way presentations in a 30 day time period. Aunt Cherie's Home has had donors and clients from 47 states. She was a founding Board member for the Kern County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). She was a charter member American Business Women's Association, Rainbow Rays Chapter. She served as the Chairman of the Board of Governors for the San Joaquin Valley College, a five campus private junior college in the central Valley of California.

She currently serves as the Vice President for the Kern Veterans Memorial Foundation, a collaboration of over 70 Veterans groups in Kern County She was honored for her volunteer work with the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. Her work with families has brought her strong ties with the medical, educational, government, military, business and church communities. Thirty years of volunteer work has included only 4 years of paid work. She is a product of Santa Barbara schools. As a wife, mother and grandmother she continues to inspire others dealing with handicaps. Her 25 year battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis (as a result of Valley Fever) has resulted in artificial/rebuilt joints in all four limbs.

Current Involvement

Chairman, Board of Directors, Aunt Cherie's Home, Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer, Board of Directors KAXL Radio
Vice President, Kern Veterans Memorial Foundation
Immediate Past Chairman, Board of Governors, San Joaquin Valley College
Advisory Board, San Joaquin Valley College
Advisory Board CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Member Air Force Association
St. Philip The Apostle Church
Olive Drive Baptist Church
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce
Womens Aglow International

Past President/Chairman

Charter Hospital Citizens Advisory
California State Board CRA- Family Values Committee
California State Board CRA- Education Committee
Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Women's Division
K.E.R.N. Non Profit Executive Directors
Council for Maternal Child & Adolescent Health of Kern County
St. Philips Womens Club

Past Membership

Kern County District Attorney Statutory Rape Advisory
Military Affairs Committee - Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise College Committee - Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Bakersfield Alumni - Chamber of Commerce
National Chamber of Commerce - Womens Division
California Chamber of Commerce - Womens Division
Concerned Women of America
Kern High School District Child Advisory Committee
Kern County Mental Health Department Substance Abuse Advisory Board
Kern County Health Department Tobacco Control Coalition
All America City Competition Team
Board of Directors, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce
North of the River Womens Club
North of the River Chamber of Commerce
Council of Catholic Women
Christian Wornens Club
American Business Womens Association
Leadership Bakersfield Graduate of 1989
Senate District Director CRA

Current Involvement

Past President/Chairman

Past Membership

Other Community Involvement

Helped restore MISS FREISE'S MATERNITY HOSPITAL for current use as a residential program for women and children in Bakersfield. (Babies had been delivered there between 1930 and 1960). The Bakersfield Mayor declared November 22,1992 as Miss Freise Day.
Scout Leader, Soccer Mom and High School Band Booster Club

Awards/Honors/Recognition

Nominated for Beautiful Bakersfield Humanitarian Award
Won Beautiful Bakersfield Award for ~All America City" Team Competition
Individual Citizen of the Year - 1988 Chamber of Commerce
Businesswoman of the Year - 1991 Women's Division Chamber of Commerce Award
California Senate Woman of the Year - 1990
Graduate Leadership Bakersfield 1989 Invocation Speaker
National Security Forum1 Air War College~ Maxwell AFB 1992
"One Person Makes A Difference Award GERA
State of California Resolution for the All America City Award
Kern County Board of Supervisors Resolution for the All America City Award
Bakersfield City Council Resolution for the All America City Award
Frequent guest of the Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Optomist1 Zonta, Masons, Knights of Columbus, ABWA and others
"Book of Golden Deeds" Award Exchange Club of Kern County
Merit Service Award California National Guard, Grizzly Youth Academy
Frequent guest of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish congregations
She has given invocations and commencement speeches for private colleges
Frequent guest speaker for Bakersfield College and C.S.U.B
Candidate for Kern County Board of Supervisors 1994
During events put On at the Civic Center for Aunt Cherie's Home she has honored the JR. ROTC Units at Bakersfield High School, Air Force ROTC, and South High School Army ROTC.

She has given numerous invocations for Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinners, political gatherings, and special events.

Family

cheriehusb (20K)
Cherie's Husband, Jim and a past Board President, John Lynch

Married with six children, their spouses and eleven grandchildren (ranging in age from 4 months to 16 years old). Her children include two police officers, a registered nurse, a retired American Airline Flight Attendant, a lyrist/singer and an operator for Chevron Oil.
Since none of her family are in Kern County, she has been able to spend the time helping other people's children. She has involved herself with the Arthritis Association because of her twenty five year battle with that disease.