Clarence Smith Jr. Family - Mahoning Valley First Responder Wellness Center

We are reaching out to ask for your support establishing a dedicated First Responder Wellness Center that serves our Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Dispatchers, and EMS in Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties in the Mahoning Valley of Northeast Ohio.   

First Responders (Fire, Police, Emergency Medical Services, and Dispatchers) face an increasingly dangerous and traumatic work environment. These issues carryover from the workplace and affect families after both immediate critical incidents and after prolonged systematic exposure to trauma. Depression and post-traumatic stress related disorders are five times more common in First Responders than the general population. Recent studies have shown that 85% of First Responders report symptoms related to mental health conditions. Providing proactive wellness programing and mental health services to our First Responders is essential in helping them protect our communities.  

The Clarence R. Smith Jr. Family – Mahoning Valley First Responder Wellness Center is a location that can take on this important function in Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties which are served by their 152 First Responder agencies. The property, located in Boardman Township, is ideal to serve as a central location for both active and retired First Responders in partnership with area mental health professionals. The Smith First Responder Wellness Center is not intended to replace existing services, mental health treatment, or existing area agency programs that support wellness. The focus will be to serve as a place for First Responders and their families to attend proactive wellness programming. By addressing this on a multi-county level, agencies no matter their size can share resources, educational programming, and area subject matter experts to truly help our area First Responders.         

The Mahoning Valley First Responder Wellness Center has been named in honor of Clarence R. ‘Sonny” Smith Jr. who was well known for his generous support to First Responders in need. For our logo, the Smith Wellness Center has adopted the outline of two Redwood Trees, which he planted on the property in 1950 and continue to thrive to this day. The trees represent strength, growth, stature, and most importantly resiliency which are attributes our First Responders show every day while they keep our communities safe.

The Clarence R. Smith Jr. Family – Mahoning Valley First Responder Wellness Center has been established as an Ohio non-profit corporation. We have successfully obtained certification as a tax exempt 501(c)(3) entity through the Internal Revenue Service. A Board of Directors has been established, with an approved business plan and organizational by-laws to oversee the budgeting and expenditure of funds for the build out and operation of the Smith Wellness Center.

You may donate through this portal or mail a donation to the Clarence Smith - Mahoning Valley First Responder Wellness Center at P.O. Box 3311, Boardman, Ohio 44513. Or contact us at TheSmithWellnessCenter@gmail.com, or 330-953-0911 for additional information.

A focus of our efforts will be to recognize those individuals, families, and organizations that have supported the Smith Wellness Center. The below listed levels have been established to recognize this support with contributors displayed in the Wellness Center's memorial room. 

Individuals and Families: Belief - $100, Promise - $250, Service - $1,000, Devotion - $10,000
Public Entities & Businesses: Compassion - $1,000, Fidelity - $5,000, Valor - $25,000, Resilience - $100,000  

This project will not happen without the support of our community. Please consider donating to this important project that supports our First Responders!