“A fearless and tenacious fundraiser, author and motivational speaker, Linda Smith revolutionized the principles of non-profit fundraising, community relations and event management, while gaining an international reputation as an innovative leader, fundraising guru and most of all, a humanitarian.“

A woman in a red and black polka dot top stands beside a grand piano, with a framed photo behind her. The setting is elegant, reflecting themes of philanthropy and nonprofit leadership.| Linda’s Life – Linda Smith

Linda’s Story

As a young girl growing up in poverty and abuse, Linda Smith faced insurmountable challenges that would have left most people broken and defeated. During her troubled youth she was pressed to find her voice and become a self-advocate, or lose her voice and become a victim. The world told her yet again to “give up,”when she became a new mother to a baby boy who was born with Down syndrome and given a disclaimer and expiration date. She was told, “Your son will be a burden. He won’t live long. Give him up to an institution and move on!”
In many ways, two people were born that day; a son who would grow in size and shape, but remain as vulnerable and dependent as the day he was born and, a mother, reborn to be a champion for all people with disabilities. Linda quickly found that the world wasn’t ready for her son Christopher and like her own childhood, the odds would be stacked against him (with a voice he would never find on his own.) On this day, Linda transformed from a self-advocate to a selfless champion of Christopher and folks like him. She has become an advocate for disability freedom and has published books about her journey in honor of her son, who himself has become a disability advocate through his strength.
#LindasLife is more than her long list of accomplishments, more than the five hundred plus million dollars she raised to support people with disabilities, more than taking a small and floundering organization and transforming it into a juggernaut force of good. #LindasLife is about what YOU can do when you are armed with love and outraged by injustice. Her first fundraising event “The Concert of Love” is the theme for her life and a model of how to live with passion and determination; uniting people through a cause and inspiring all who will listen. It’s about joining together to fight on behalf of the most disenfranchised humans on the planet, to welcome and celebrate integration and diversity, to turn an idea into a reality and transform the misfortunes life delivers into the fuel that drives people forward to then say with relentless conviction…

“NO! That’s not good enough. #SorryNotSorry rejection is not an option!”

A woman in a red and black polka dot top stands beside a grand piano in a modern room. A black-and-white portrait hangs on the wall. This image represents nonprofit leadership and advocacy, highlighting her role as a disability advocate.| Linda’s Life – Linda Smith
Linda Smith, a motivational speaker, stands beside a plaque surrounded by festive holiday decorations and trees adorned with red bows, symbolizing her dedication to advocacy and nonprofit fundraising.| Linda’s Life – Linda Smith

Linda’s Legacy

Opportunity Village logo featuring two stylized human figures climbing a large "O" and "V," with the text "Opportunity Village" below. The tagline reads "Pride. Purpose. And a Paycheck." Linda Smith is known for her advocacy and nonprofit leadership.| Linda’s Life – Linda Smith

Opportunity Village Fundraising

After raising over a half a billion dollars for Opportunity Village, Nevada’s largest organization for people with disabilities, Linda embarked on a crusade to spread her talents and help others around the world.

Career highlights as a fundraiser are numerous and impressive, and include:

  • Securing the largest single gift of $35 million for a local disability organization, followed up with a $40 million Estate gift.

  • A five-year effort by Linda to involve superstar vocalist Celine Dion in a benefit concert and raising $1 million in a single day.

  • Creation of a fully funded $5 million Endowment for social recreation and arts named for her son Christopher, through which people with profound disabilities have access to programs to enhance their physical and creative talents and boost their self-esteem.

  • Linda launched a comprehensive Capital Campaign with a 5-year goal of $136 million by 2018 and raised $141 million in gifts and pledges by mid-2016.

  • Creation of world respected signature events, but not limited to The Magical Forest, an outdoor holiday spectacular grossing more than $2.5 million annually; and The Great Santa Run, featuring thousands of runners in Santa garb with Shania Twain as Grand Marshall and the initiation of the World Santa Challenge. Linda pioneered the annual Concerts of Love netting millions of dollars with no expense, she created Camelot a million dollar annual gala, Jeans to Jewels a down-home BBQ and The Meatball Festival a speed eating PR/ fundraising event.

  • Linda appealed to the new Las Vegas-based NHL team prior to their arrival in town securing $700k in annual revenue through a $1 per seat ticket sales.

  • Major gift solicitations generating $8 million raised each year.

  • Linda has the innate ability to engage major corporations, philanthropists and entertainers to support her cause. Celebrities who have become friends and supporters include Brad Garrett, David Copperfield, Wayne Newton, Celine Dion, Tom Jones, Shania Twain and Penn Jillette whose recent appearances on Celebrity Apprentice raised over $2 million for her charity.

Linda Smith, a motivational speaker and disability advocate, stands beside a plaque at a charity event, surrounded by festive Christmas trees adorned with ornaments and lights, highlighting her commitment to philanthropy and nonprofit fundraising.| Linda’s Life – Linda Smith

Linda’s Legacy

Opportunity Village logo featuring two stylized human figures climbing a large "O" and "V," with the text "Opportunity Village" below. The tagline reads "Pride. Purpose. And a Paycheck." Linda Smith is known for her advocacy and nonprofit leadership.| Linda’s Life – Linda Smith

Opportunity Village Fundraising

After raising over a half a billion dollars for Opportunity Village, Nevada’s largest organization for people with disabilities, Linda embarked on a crusade to spread her talents and help others around the world.

Linda Smith Accolades and Awards

“Active in various professional associations, Linda was named “Fundraising Executive of the Year” by the National Society of Fundraising Executives. She received the prestigious “Woman of Achievement” Award from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. The Nevada System of Higher education conferred the “Distinguished Nevadan” award for exceptional service to the State and Nation. Linda is a willing mentor to Nevada non-profits and to organizations across the globe who reach out to for her help. She recently received the “Best Buddies International Super Hero” Award and the “Key to the City of Las Vegas” in November of 2016. Linda is traveling across the globe in support of nonprofits in need. Her memoir UNWANTED and a series of “Linda’s Way” (to fundraising success) journals will be on bookshelves in late 2018.“

ALL PROCEDES GO TO THE CHRISTOPHER SMITH FOUNDATION

UNWANTED

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