Community Involvement

At Smart Investor, we believe that it is very important to give back to the communities where our clients and staff live.  In addition to a variety of volunteer activities by members of the Smart Investor staff, Smart Investor has made recent charitable donations to the following worthy non-profit organizations:

Boys & Girls Club of Placer County

Boys & Girls Club of Placer County provides a safe, fun and educational environment with after-school programs that are making a significant difference in the lives of children ages 6 to 16. The programs are focused on developing leadership and character while helping youth grow into caring, responsible citizens. In addition to the recreational activities and snacks, the kids benefit from getting help from their adult mentors, many of whom are volunteers, with their homework from school.

In the last few years, one of the local public schools with a majority of students for whom English is a second language (most of whom have benefited from the Club’s "Power Hour" of homework assistance) doubled its score on the State standardized scholastic test. You can learn more from their website: www.bgc-auburn.org.

Watch the Boys & Girls Club of Placer County Video For Donor Recognition.

Sutter Roseville Medical Center Foundation

The Sutter Roseville Medical Center Foundation is dedicated to improving the health of the people who live in the Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln and other communities within the South Placer County area served by Sutter Roseville Medical Center.  Governed by a board of community volunteers including business leaders, professionals, and concerned residents, the Foundation raises financial support to help fund a variety of community health programs including hospice care for patients and their families, education and preventative health programs for cancer patients, seniors and infants, as well as other programs that enhance patient care.  You can learn more at their website:  http://sutterroseville.org/philanthropy/foundation_welcome.html


Truckee YoungLife Invitational

Smart Investor helps sponsor the Truckee YoungLife Invitational, which is hosted by Martis Camp and sponsored by YoungLife, a world-wide organization that reaches out to more than one million middle school, high school and college students in friendship and faith. Founded in 1941, YoungLife is a non-denominational Christian ministry committed to making a positive difference in the lives of kids through their friendship and influence of caring adults. YoungLife is also all about fun. Clubs, camps and many other activities provide kids with an opportunity for trying new things and being with their friends. You can learn more from their website: http://sites.younglife.org/sites/Truckee.


Livingston-Merced Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Merced Assembly Center Committee

Livingston-Merced Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Merced Assembly Center Committee have spearheaded an effort to erect a memorial structure named "Only What You Can Carry" to commemorate the 4,669 Americans of Japanese ancestry detained at the Merced Assembly Center in 1942.  Children were unsure of their futures and their parents secreted the harsh realities from them. These families were told to abandon their homes and bring only what they could carry and report to the Merced Assembly Center at the County Fairgrounds. There they spent three months until they were sent to Amache, Colorado for the duration of the War and their interment. They had committed no crime—they simply looked like the enemy.

The monument serves as an important reminder of a serious past civil rights violation by the government based on race and ethnic background.  It consists of a rectangular–shaped collection of bronze suitcases piled on top of each other, with name and identification tags hanging from the handles. A small girl is sitting on one of the suitcases looking confused and sad. Storybooks are placed on the monument describing the historical event.  For more information, please contact Bob Taniguchi at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails

Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails (formerly American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails) has been a leader in fighting for cleaner air, healthier lungs and a tobacco-free tomorrow since 1917. Breathe California sponsors many youth based outreach programs as well as scientific research regarding air quality in the greater Sacramento Area. Smart Investor helps sponsor the annual "Hackademy Awards," a youth advocacy event that educates young adults about the impact of tobacco use. This is a Hollywood style red carpet event, complete with paparazzi, where young adults review approximately 300 movies each year and give a "Thumbs Up" or "Thumbs Down," critiquing those movies. Please visit "The Clean Air and Healthy Lungs People" website for more information on this organization: www.sacbreathe.org.

Amelia Diaz College Scholarship Foundation

Amelia Diaz College Scholarship Foundation was inspired by Amelia Diaz who is sometimes called "The Next Helen Keller." Amelia was born in 1987 with congenital glaucoma. She was subsequently found to have a rare ocular condition called Peter’s Anomaly, and endured 8 operations to restore her sight – all before the age of one and all unsuccessful. The final attempt to regain her vision was a 12-hour surgery, which resulted in the loss of both eyes.

Amelia is now 22 and a senior at California State University, Fullerton, majoring in both English and French. She is well on her way to becoming a French teacher for the visually impaired. In the meantime, she is tutoring blind girls. She continues her volunteer work with the Oregon Guide Dogs for the Blind program, along with her own guide dog and companion Benny, and has made many friends in various states with whom she maintains contact through these efforts. She is also active in the church choir.

Amelia's many accomplishments include instigating what has become recognized as the best Braille transcription and "Reading for the Blind" program in the United States where the work is performed by inmates at Folsom State Prison. This foundation provides scholarships for blind students. The Central Lions Club of Sacramento has spearheaded the foundation. Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Amelia has no doubts that she will make a strong, positive impact on the world, for both the blind and sighted.

Francis House of Sacramento

Francis House of Sacramento is a non-denominational resource counseling center that assists the poor and homeless in an effort to break the cycle of poverty. It provides emergency assistance, services referral, advocacy, problem solving, personal attention, counseling and employment services – and in general "gives a helping hand to those in need." Working with a small army of volunteers, an unusually high eighty-six per cent of Francis House resources are distributed directly to its clientele through a very strong person-to-person effort.

Francis House programs include Fast Track Employment Services, Self-Help Housing, a Family Rescue Shelter Program and a Veteran’s Outreach Program. You can learn more from their website: www.francishouse.info.

Foundation for Financial Planning

The Mission of the Foundation for Financial Planning is to help people take control of their financial lives by connecting the financial planning community with people in need. The organization achieves this by supporting pro bono advice and outreach activities. Through 2009, the Foundation has awarded 66 grants for more than $3.5 million to organizations whose pro bono projects and financial life skills education are reaching people in need.You can learn more at their website www.foundation-finplan.org.