Brayden Smith Memorial Fund

The Brayden Smith Memorial Fund is dedicated to furthering the educational aspirations of southern Nevada students.

Throughout his life, Brayden pursued every opportunity to improve his understanding of the world. Intensely interested in philosophy, economics, politics, semantics, and geography, Brayden intended to attend law school with an eye toward a career in the U.S. government. He was a serious student who lived a lifelong dream by appearing as a contestant on the popular Jeopardy! gameshow. As a five-game champion, he was, at the time of his death in 2021 at age 24, preparing to compete in the Tournament of Champions. In preparing for the competition, Brayden memorized every world capital, read or reread Shakespeare’s plays, and brushed up on popular culture.

A 2020 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in economics, Brayden was a voracious reader and autodidact, a lover of knowledge, and an advocate for justice. In 2020 he served as an intern with the prestigious Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., where he researched criminal justice reform issues.

At Liberty High School in Henderson, Nev., Brayden was a National Merit Scholar semifinalist, and was active in the Junior Classical League and jazz band, where he played saxophone. Perhaps foreshadowing his Jeopardy! prowess, he also captained his school’s Quiz Bowl team to back-to-back district runner-up finishes. He made the game’s all-star team both years, and in his senior campaign was named the Harvey Dondero outstanding player, earning a college scholarship.

This fund will support students who share Brayden’s passion for learning. Distributions will include funds for scholarship awards, conference fees, seminar tuitions, research grants, school supplies, field trips, and more.

Fund Administrators

  • Debbie Smith
  • Scott Smith

CharitySmith accepts donations in two ways:

By Mail:
Brayden Smith Memorial Fund
CharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation
13100 Filly Lane
Truckee, CA 96161
Online:
Use credit card by clicking the link below.

The above Memorial Fund is established as a division of Charitysmith Nonprofit Foundation (EIN 87-0636433). All donations are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax law. Receipts for tax purposes are sent via US Mail within two weeks of donation. Please consider asking if your employer participates in a gift-matching program. If so, your donation may be matched by your employer.

For questions regarding your donation or this memorial fund please contact CharitySmith.

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