Our Team and Advisors
Our Team
Smiles and Hearts Foundation
Co-founded by Jane Boyd & Jeff Werner
Jane Boyd — Educator, Author, & Servant Leader
Jane Boyd is a nationally honored educator, published author, and speech and debate coach whose career has shaped students and school communities for decades. Guided by her Christian faith and lifelong commitment to service, she
Smiles and Hearts Foundation
Co-founded by Jane Boyd & Jeff Werner
Jane Boyd — Educator, Author, & Servant Leader
Jane Boyd is a nationally honored educator, published author, and speech and debate coach whose career has shaped students and school communities for decades. Guided by her Christian faith and lifelong commitment to service, she now advances community-driven initiatives that support children and women in Africa through education, safety, and opportunity.
Jeff Werner — Entrepreneur & Visionary:
A nationally recognized technology executive and entrepreneur whose career includes leading multi-million-dollar enterprises and earning an Inc. 500 award for building one of America’s fastest-growing companies. He now channels his visionary leadership and passion for innovation into advancing the mission of the Smiles and Hearts Foundation, empowering children and communities in Africa.
Jeff Werner - Chair
Jane Boyd - Co-chair, Secretary
Travis Cochran - Board member,
a nonprofit development professional with experience in fundraising, research, and mission-centered storytelling. Currently affiliated with Catholic Charities, he has supported donor engagement and program advancement by aligning resources with community needs
Jeff Werner - Chair
Jane Boyd - Co-chair, Secretary
Travis Cochran - Board member,
a nonprofit development professional with experience in fundraising, research, and mission-centered storytelling. Currently affiliated with Catholic Charities, he has supported donor engagement and program advancement by aligning resources with community needs and clearly and purposefully communicating impact. His background in nonprofit development and research makes him well-suited to support Smiles and Hearts Foundation as it grows its education- and community-focused initiatives, bringing thoughtful strategy, credibility, and a strong commitment to service.
- Salmon Mogotsi – Education Partnership and School Leadership
Provides strategic guidance for collaboration with Reenpan Primary School, ensuring alignment with local educational goals and long-term learner development.
- Edward Motlhatsane – Community Liaison and Local Operations
Facilitates communication, coordination, and logistical p
- Salmon Mogotsi – Education Partnership and School Leadership
Provides strategic guidance for collaboration with Reenpan Primary School, ensuring alignment with local educational goals and long-term learner development.
- Edward Motlhatsane – Community Liaison and Local Operations
Facilitates communication, coordination, and logistical planning with community stakeholders across Sentrum and surrounding areas.
- Yvonne Nshemereirwe – Grants, Partnerships, and Donor Relations
Advises on resource development, strategic partnerships, and philanthropic engagement to strengthen the Foundation’s sustainability and impact.
.
Smiles and Hearts Foundation
Smiles and Hearts Foundation honors two remarkable women.
Michelle Werner
Michelle’s radiant smile uplifted everyone around her. Though gone too soon, her legacy of kindness and joy continues to inspire Smiles and Hearts Foundation.
Jane Boyd
A lifelong educator, Jane dedicated nearly four decades to empowering women and children through education and compassion. Her leadership and passion remain at the heart of our mission.
Smiles and Hearts Foundation exists to empower and uplift children, women, and communities in rural Africa by strengthening education, enhancing safety, and fostering dignity, opportunity, and long-term wellbeing through community-driven partnerships.
Our beliefs and values
Our beliefs and values
Our beliefs and values
- Service with Purpose
Guided by Matthew 25:40, we serve with the understanding that compassion for others is an act of faith.
- Compassion
We uplift children, women, and families with care that honors dignity and worth.
- Respect & Cultural Partnership
We work with humility and respect for local cultures, traditions, and leadership.
- Education
We expand access to learning as a foundation for opportunity and growth.
- Safety & Dignity
We promote well-being and protection, especially for women and children.
- Opportunity
We create practical pathways to brighter futures through community-led solutions.
- Guided by Faith
Our work is informed by Christian values of humility, gratitude, and service.
WHERE OUR IMPACT BEGAN
Our beliefs and values
Our beliefs and values
In October 2024—before Smiles and Hearts Foundation even existed—Jane Boyd and Jeff Werner visited Reenpan Primary School in rural Limpopo. They brought simple gifts: books, pencils, and handwritten notes for every teacher. What happened next changed everything. Children lit up. Teachers felt seen. A real partnership began.
One year later, in October 2025, Jeff and a small volunteer team returned—not to arrive with answers, but to listen. Principal Mogotsi and Reenpan’s teachers spoke clearly about what their students needed to succeed. A woman from the nearby community shared another urgent hope: help launching a small village bakery to support local families.
Those conversations shaped two community-driven priorities:
- STEM for Reenpan — expanding access to hands-on science and learning tools
- The Village Bakery Project — creating sustainable income for women and families
These projects are not finished—but they are real, carefully planned, and built alongside the people they serve.
Your support moves this work forward. What started with simple gifts has become a long-term commitment to dignity, opportunity, and lasting change for the children and families of Reenpan and the surrounding community.
Programs -Success STEM for Reenpan
Our Programs
STEM for Reenpan
STEM for Reenpan
Our work is focused, community-led, and grounded in current partnerships.
Education & Schools:
We support learning at Reenpan Primary School by strengthening classroom resources and expanding educational opportunities for students.
Women & Community Support:
We partner with women in the Sentrum Settlement to support locally identified needs that strengthen families and opportunities.
STEM for Reenpan
STEM for Reenpan
STEM for Reenpan
STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Need — No science tools → Curiosity limited
Response — Portable STEM lab → Hands-on learning
Impact — Serving ~300 students with real science, real exploration
Call to Action
Help put hands-on science into students’ hands. Support STEM for Reenpan today
NEWS
Smiles and Hearts Foundation Earns Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid
Smiles and Hearts Foundation has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), the nation’s leading authority on nonprofit accountability and public trust.
The Platinum Seal is Candid’s highest level of recognition and is awarded to fewer than 1% of nonprofit organizations in the United States. This distinction reflects an exceptional commitment to financial openness, ethical governance, impact reporting, and public transparency.
To achieve Platinum status, organizations must go beyond standard nonprofit disclosure by publicly sharing in-depth financial data, leadership and governance information, strategic goals, and measurable impact outcomes. Platinum organizations are also required to update and verify their information annually, ensuring transparency remains current, accurate, and credible.
What the Platinum Seal Means
Candid’s Seal of Transparency program includes four levels:
- Bronze — basic public disclosure
- Silver — expanded leadership and program reporting
- Gold — advanced financial and impact reporting
- Platinum — reserved for organizations demonstrating the highest level of verified transparency and accountability
The Platinum Seal serves as a trusted, third-party signal of credibility, helping donors, partners, and the public:
- Evaluate financial stewardship and governance
- Understand organizational impact and outcomes
- Access verified nonprofit data
- Give and partner with greater confidence and clarity
Nonprofit research consistently shows that organizations demonstrating higher transparency build stronger donor trust, improve fundraising outcomes, and strengthen long-term public credibility.
View the Official Candid Platinum Profile
Our Partners Support Smiles and Hearts Foundation's Mission
