“Jane inspired many of us to step forward and contribute to the idea of a Women’s Fund. It was such a joy and pleasure to support Jane in the introduction of Women’s Fund of Hawai‘i. For 10 years we worked to establish WFH, and I witnessed the organization’s baby steps. Thank you to all who continue to grow her vision.”-  Mimi Beams

“The first time I met Jane was when Pauline Lo Bailey, Rosemary Leary Liu and I went to meet with her and Janis Reischmann at HCF, seeking guidance for our parent-led efforts to take over the infant-toddler center from the YWCA of O’ahu. The YW had (in our minds) announced suddenly to us that they were going to close the center. After hearing our complaints, Jane said simply, ‘The YWCA is an important institution in this community, and we must support it.’ And so we did. She had that effect on people. A few years later, I became the executive director of the YWCA, and I was incredulous when Jane agreed to come to work with me upon her retirement from the community foundation. Once, I asked her why, and she said, ‘When you’re younger, you pursue your vocation; when you’re older, if you’re lucky, you get to pursue your avocation.’ I often quote Jane when people ask me what they as individuals can do to address the huge challenges we face in society today. The mission of the YWCA is to empower women and eliminate racism, and with Jane’s help, we raised millions of dollars in our capital campaign that we had no business being able to raise—and took another step in the direction of empowering women, Jane’s lifelong passion. ‘Mind the interstices,’ she would say. Our connectivity allows our individual actions to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Jane made an indelible mark on our community and on me. She was just simply a wonderful person. I feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to know her and work alongside her.” – Susan Au Doyle

 

 

Photo: Jane Renfro Smith with Leela Bilmes Goldstein (one of WFH’s former Executive Directors)