Raymond Smith
Raymond C Smith Jr, who is better known as Coach Ray was born and raised in Washington DC and is a graduate of Spingarn High School. After graduating he started his career working with the Marriott Corporation in Bethesda MD as a kitchen supervisor then transitioning his career to become a computer operator for Planning Research Corporation in Mclean Virginia. He lived as a single father raising the inspiration of his life his son Richard Austin age 3 and he found that life would provide wondrous challenges for their lives with great success, at the age of 10 years of age Ray’s son Rick won the NFL Pass, Punt and Kick contest for the North West region of Washington DC. In 1986 he made another change in his career while working with Pitney Bowes Management Services Corporation in Washington DC as a copy operator then being promoted to a facilities manager for major law and accounting firms in downtown Washington DC. After his promotion he received a wonderful life bonus from God in the gift of his now loves of his life his wife Cynthia of 31 years! He and Cynthia have been blessed with 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren.
In 1990 Ray started coaching his sons in football for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the District of Columbia, then transitioning to AAU boys basketball where he has had the privilege to coach some of the nation’s best student athletes in football and basketball. While working for one of the top law firms he was given an opportunity to receive some very structured help with forming a 5o1c nonprofit status creating the Youth Trac Foundation which allowed them to properly prepare the young men with their spiritual, academic, and community civic responsibilities with support for college preparation the results was over 98% of the young men went to college on full scholarships! In 2006 Ray started having some health issues dealing with diabetes which later in 2007 the diabetes attacked his eyes and he became legally blind. He then lost his employment which causes his family a real financial hardship they lost their home and vehicles to foreclose. In 2009 the lord led Ray to a blind rehab school to learn how to become independent and deal with his blindness at this incredible school in Baltimore MD called Blind Industries where he graduated in 2010. While being at Blind Industries he was introduced to the National Federation of the Blind which is a nonprofit organization supporting and advocating for the equal rights for the blind citizens worldwide. In 2011 God blessed Ray with another opportunity while becoming employed by the Maryland National Parks and Planning Commission & Sports & Recreation Division as an Inclusion specialist.
The Lord blessed him again with working with a grant funded program of the Port Towns Health Partnership of the towns of Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Cottage City and the town of Edmonston where we are combating the disease of obesity. While participating in this wonderful partnership Pastor Willie Duvall and Ray formed the Ecumenical Health Council which brings spiritual foundational perspectives toe the concept of Healthy Eating Active Living better known as H.E.A.L. In 2011 the Lord led Ray and Cynthia to join Reid Temple A.M.E. church where Ray has become one of the leaders for the Bridges Ministry which is a ministry for the disable members. In June of 2014 the Lord blessed Ray with an honor to become a Commissioner for the department of disabilities for Prince Georges County Maryland advocating on behalf of disable citizens of the county.
Within the last year the Lord has introduced Ray to this incredible organization called First Financial Securities where financial literacy is being shared and taught with wonderful results helping family’s to obtain financial freedom People often ask me about what drives me and I share with them a very well learned lesson I received from the Lord years ago which was understanding my purpose for my life and it was to simply to SERVE HIM!! He’s taught me to seek him first his kingdom of God and all of his righteousness and all of these things will be added unto me. I asked the Lord when I lost my sight; How can I still serve you as a blind man? He answered me with a question which was will I TRUST HIM? I replied speaking his word back to him Proverbs 3:5 which says to Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding, but in all of thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path! I know that speaking God’s word back to him he promises that it will never return to him void.
Raymond C Smith Jr, who is better known as Coach Ray was born and raised in Washington DC and is a graduate of Spingarn High School. After graduating he started his career working with the Marriott Corporation in Bethesda MD as a kitchen supervisor then transitioning his career to become a computer operator for Planning Research Corporation in Mclean Virginia. He lived as a single father raising the inspiration of his life his son Richard Austin age 3 and he found that life would provide wondrous challenges for their lives with great success, at the age of 10 years of age Ray’s son Rick won the NFL Pass, Punt and Kick contest for the North West region of Washington DC. In 1986 he made another change in his career while working with Pitney Bowes Management Services Corporation in Washington DC as a copy operator then being promoted to a facilities manager for major law and accounting firms in downtown Washington DC. After his promotion he received a wonderful life bonus from God in the gift of his now loves of his life his wife Cynthia of 31 years! He and Cynthia have been blessed with 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren.
In 1990 Ray started coaching his sons in football for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the District of Columbia, then transitioning to AAU boys basketball where he has had the privilege to coach some of the nation’s best student athletes in football and basketball. While working for one of the top law firms he was given an opportunity to receive some very structured help with forming a 5o1c nonprofit status creating the Youth Trac Foundation which allowed them to properly prepare the young men with their spiritual, academic, and community civic responsibilities with support for college preparation the results was over 98% of the young men went to college on full scholarships! In 2006 Ray started having some health issues dealing with diabetes which later in 2007 the diabetes attacked his eyes and he became legally blind. He then lost his employment which causes his family a real financial hardship they lost their home and vehicles to foreclose. In 2009 the lord led Ray to a blind rehab school to learn how to become independent and deal with his blindness at this incredible school in Baltimore MD called Blind Industries where he graduated in 2010. While being at Blind Industries he was introduced to the National Federation of the Blind which is a nonprofit organization supporting and advocating for the equal rights for the blind citizens worldwide. In 2011 God blessed Ray with another opportunity while becoming employed by the Maryland National Parks and Planning Commission & Sports & Recreation Division as an Inclusion specialist.
The Lord blessed him again with working with a grant funded program of the Port Towns Health Partnership of the towns of Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Cottage City and the town of Edmonston where we are combating the disease of obesity. While participating in this wonderful partnership Pastor Willie Duvall and Ray formed the Ecumenical Health Council which brings spiritual foundational perspectives toe the concept of Healthy Eating Active Living better known as H.E.A.L. In 2011 the Lord led Ray and Cynthia to join Reid Temple A.M.E. church where Ray has become one of the leaders for the Bridges Ministry which is a ministry for the disable members. In June of 2014 the Lord blessed Ray with an honor to become a Commissioner for the department of disabilities for Prince Georges County Maryland advocating on behalf of disable citizens of the county.
Within the last year the Lord has introduced Ray to this incredible organization called First Financial Securities where financial literacy is being shared and taught with wonderful results helping family’s to obtain financial freedom People often ask me about what drives me and I share with them a very well learned lesson I received from the Lord years ago which was understanding my purpose for my life and it was to simply to SERVE HIM!! He’s taught me to seek him first his kingdom of God and all of his righteousness and all of these things will be added unto me. I asked the Lord when I lost my sight; How can I still serve you as a blind man? He answered me with a question which was will I TRUST HIM? I replied speaking his word back to him Proverbs 3:5 which says to Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding, but in all of thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path! I know that speaking God’s word back to him he promises that it will never return to him void.