NCCF board member, Sanford orthodontist honored for community leadership in Lee County
The Lee County Community Foundation honored longtime community leaders Dr. Lynn Harrison Smith and Jan Hayes and at its Man and Woman of the Year celebration on March 19 at the Wicker Civic Center in Sanford.
The affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation annually recognizes individuals whose service and leadership have helped shape the community.
For Hayes, the Woman of the Year honor marks decades of work both locally and across North Carolina.
A Sanford resident and managing partner of Hayes Group Consulting, Hayes serves on the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Board of Directors, where she chairs the Affiliate Impact Committee. In that role, she works to strengthen the statewide affiliate network and support efforts that help communities across the state thrive.
Her commitment to Lee County runs deep. Hayes served 15 years on the advisory board of the Lee County Community Foundation, including as grants chair. She previously led the United Way of Lee County as executive director.
“As a woman in leadership, I’m respectfully mindful of the responsibility that comes with influence,” she said. “Leadership is not about titles or recognition. It’s about service. It’s about lifting others up. It’s about creating space for new voices and leaving things better than we found them.”
Smith was honored as Man of the Year for more than 50 years of service to Lee County. After a stint as a dental officer in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Sanford to establish Smith and Smith Orthodontics, where he has cared for generations of local families. He also spent 15 years on the Lee County Board of Education, including time as board chair.
Through the Man and Woman of the Year awards, the Lee County Community Foundation celebrates individuals whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact while supporting its local grantmaking. Each year, the LCCF awards grants to charitable organizations addressing critical needs and opportunities across Lee County.
About the Lee County Community Foundation
LCCF was founded in 1997 and is led by a local volunteer advisory board that helps build community assets through the creation of permanent endowments, makes grants and leverages leadership — all for the benefit of Lee County. Advisory board members live and work in Lee County, positioning them to strategically leverage resources, meet local needs and access opportunities. For more information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Lee.