Joeann Smith of St. Francis County

From single parent to scholarship champion, Joeann Smith knows exactly why education changes everything.

From St. Francis County, Joeann has been advocating for single parents and educational opportunities for nine years with Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF), which is honoring her as the August Volunteer of the Month.

Joeann’s story with ASPSF began in the late 1990s when she discovered the organization at a local community organization meeting. What started as personal involvement blossomed into leadership when she was elected Chairperson, a role she held with dedication from 1998 to 2005.

As a former single parent who worked tirelessly to achieve family self-sufficiency, Joeann understands firsthand the challenges that single parents face. Even after stepping back from formal leadership roles to focus on full-time work and raising children while serving other community organizations, her passion for ASPSF’s mission never wavered.

Joeann Smith (left) celebrates ASPSF recipient Charlene Adams at a Fall 2022 scholarship ceremony.

“I became a volunteer because I wanted to continue assisting and introducing others to the benefits of the single parent scholarship and the organization’s positive impact of breaking the cycle of poverty through education,” Joeann said.

Today, Joeann focuses her volunteer efforts on what she does best: connecting with people. She distributes information and recruits single parents, helping them discover the life-changing opportunities that ASPSF scholarships can provide.

“Her approach is personal, genuine, and rooted in her own experience navigating single parenthood,” ASPSF Program Manager Angela Thomas said.

“Whenever there’s an event or something that needs to be done, Joeann steps right up and shows up rain or shine — no matter how far away it is from where she lives,” Angela said. “She has also been a huge advocate for the program and connected me to new collaborations and new volunteers. Joeann is a volunteer who genuinely relates to the mission and loves the program and all that we do.”

Joeann Smith embodies the spirit of community that makes ASPSF’s work possible. Her nine years of dedicated service, from leadership roles to grassroots outreach, demonstrate how one person’s commitment can create lasting change in countless lives.

We’re incredibly grateful for volunteers like Joeann who understand that supporting single parents isn’t just about scholarships — it’s about building stronger communities, empowering families, and creating opportunities for future generations to thrive.

Want to join Joeann in making a difference? Sign up at aspsf.org/volunteer.