Executive Director, Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation
Shirley Anne Smith, affectionately known as "SAS," is the executive director of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation Inc. (AFRF), a nonprofit organization solely dedicated to community-centered public safety and fundraising in support of the 1,100 women and men of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD). She and the organization are called upon by City of Atlanta officials, Fire Chief Smith and the first responders across the 36 fire rescue stations for real-time needs including essential equipment, training and workforce readiness. In response to COVID-19, Smith and her team raised more than $500,000 to support Atlanta Fire.
For their leadership, Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation members were recognized by WebMD Magazine as “Health Heroes” and by Atlanta Intown magazine as among “20 Who Made 2020 Bearable.” This year Smith was honored by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as one of the 50 Most Influential Hispanics and received the coveted Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 award.
She is the incoming 2021-22 president of Outstanding Atlanta (class of 2020) and was recently invited to attend the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute (RLI), an elite group of leaders representing diverse regional interests.