Monthly Archives:

Tiffany Aliah (Smith) Woodson is the Co-Founder and President, of the Mary E. Smith Foundation, Inc. Tiffany received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Western Illinois University and Masters of Education from De Paul University in Chicago. As an early advocate for change, Tiffany has led and created multiple health and educational initiatives since the early 1990’s as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her passion for mentoring and teaching influenced her early career. She spent 5 years educating secondary students on Chicago’s west and north sides until 2002.  In September of 2003, her mother was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor. Although the benign tumor wasn’t deemed to be life threating, she died 4 days later. Tiffany was devastated and turned to her faith. From the depths of the pain, the Mary E. Smith Foundation, Inc. was born. Incorporated in 2008, the charity set out on a mission to bring awareness to this neurologic condition. Under her leadership MESF has flourished in the fight against brain tumors. Her innovation has led to several notable accomplishments by the charity that include:

 
• Awarding over $45,000 in scholarships nationwide.
• Donating over $1000 to fund life saving preventative screenings for MRI’s & CT scans to supplement patient incomes.
• Contributing $5000 towards advocacy programs supporting the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) & the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS).
• Funding $10,000 in research at Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute (NBTI) in Chicago for glioblastoma’s; a highly malignant tumor type that killed the late senator Ted Kennedy & Vice President Joe Biden’s son; pledging to reach a donation goal of +$50,000 towards clinical trials over the next 5 years.
• Participating in both the 2016 Head to the Hill NBTS Advocacy Event and the 2016 Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s (PBTF) Conference to Eliminate the Challenges of Childhood Brain Tumors.

Tiffany has been married to the Co-Founder of the Mary E. Smith Foundation, Inc., Tabari Woodson for 18 years, whom she credits for initiating the idea of giving scholarships to the under privileged in his mother-n-laws name. Their one wish is that Mary would have lived to meet their two children, Savannah and Jordan who are now ages 9 and 11.

With the support of her loving family, Tiffany is an up and coming philanthropic dynamo standing on faith. She remains dedicated to serving under represented communities, patients and their families in both her professional and personal life. Her ultimate goal is to one day live in a world where brain tumors do not exist…period.

Tabari Woodson, has been a community engagement manager and hospital administration director for a large academic medical center in Chicago.  He is an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) as well as the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE). He studied business economics at Florida A&M University and at Chicago State University; he was the recipient of the Ernest T. Collins academic scholarship award for the College of Business. He received a Masters in Health System Management from Rush University. Tabari is a community volunteer who helps with Chicago area churches, health fairs and fitness symposiums.  He spear headed the charities “AIM HIGH” initiative which awards scholarships to the under privileged in his mother-n-laws name.

Delecta Davis received her undergraduate degree in Communication Science and Disorders from Western Illinois University and Masters of Arts in Gerontology- Emphasis in Health Care Administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Delecta has held the position of vice-president and treasurer of an undergraduate chapter of the public service organization Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. during the year’s of 1994-1996. Delecta has worked in the education field in the area of speech and language pathology in the south suburbs of Chicago from 1996-2007. She has written and received several grants for special education. She has a vast knowledge of the south suburban community. She has served as a community outreach chairperson of the BWS committee for the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Joliet Area/South Suburban Alumnae chapter since 2006-current. She is currently working in pharmaceutical sales helping to educate physicians and patients in the areas of diabetes and sleep apnea.

Dr. Kennedi Strickland-Dixon has served as a dedicated educator for 28 years in the field of special education.  Dr. Strickland- Dixon currently serves as an educational consultant working to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in school districts.   She holds a bachelor of science in Special Education from Western Illinois University and a master in school administration at Concordia University in River Forest, IL   Dr. Strickland-Dixon obtained a doctorate in  School Leadership from DePaul University and serves as an adjunct faculty.