Five mission objectives
We are because he was
Our mission is organized around five objectives, depicted as pillars in our overview graphic: rooted in family, upheld by purposeful work, and always returning to the remembrance of Jelani.
One structure · One promise
A mission built from roots to roof
The building depicted in our overview graphic represents the complete mission framework of the Jelani Washington Seeds of Hope Foundation. Every part carries meaning: the roots tell where we come from, the pillars define the work we intend to do, and the roof reflects the place to which we will always return—remembering Jelani.
We are because he was.
The roof · Remembrance
Where we will always come back
It is our greatest hope that the very essence of who Jelani was as a person in this world will be remembered for years and years to come. Though young, he was deeply impactful—caring, kind, generous, brave, inquisitive, and socially conscious despite the tenderness of his years.
We hope this foundation will have the opportunity to grow and mature in the ways Jelani never had the chance to. We hope it will help other children and families in some of the ways we could not find help, become something that would make him proud, and bring comfort to those of us who will miss him for the rest of our lives.
The objectives · Depicted as pillars
Five commitments inspired by his life
Each of the five core objectives depicted in the overview graphic above and the boxes below reflects Jelani’s life, passions, values, and interests. Click on each objective to learn more about its connection to the foundation’s overall mission and how it honors Jelani and his life.
Plant Hope
Share gardens, seeds, plants, and growing experiences that bring comfort, beauty, and joy to children and families.
02Empower Youth
Help young people grow in confidence, environmental responsibility, healthy living, leadership, and service to others.
03Raise Awareness
Increase understanding of renal medullary carcinoma and other pediatric cancers through education, outreach, and partnership.
04Support Families
Offer practical compassion, financial assistance, and connections to resources for children, caregivers, siblings, and bereaved families.
05Build Legacy
Honor the importance of family and help preserve a child’s possibilities, memory, voice, values, and lasting impact—including through fertility-preservation awareness.
Family at the center
He worried about us more than himself
The Build Legacy pillar includes fertility-preservation awareness, but its meaning reaches far beyond that important concern. It also honors the importance of family—a value at the very center of who Jelani was.
People can hear Jelani speak in videos recorded during his illness, and he returned again and again to how deeply he loved his family and how much he worried about us. He was not afraid of dying; he was afraid that we would not be okay or protected without him. At only 15 years old, he already felt responsible for his family, and he carried that responsibility with remarkable sincerity and honor.
Even while suffering excruciating pain, Jelani did not dwell on how unfair his circumstances were. Instead, he spoke of how fortunate he felt to have had 15 years with his family when so many other children were given only their toddler years. During chemotherapy appointments, he noticed the younger children around him and often expressed sympathy for what they were enduring. His compassion remained focused on others even as he approached the end of his own life.
The roots · Where we come from
Agrarian, humble, and service-oriented
The roots represent Jelani’s family heritage—from Alabama farmers to his great-uncle Ephraim Smiley Jr.’s hunger-relief garden in Fort Wayne. They also represent the place where Jelani’s love of plants first took hold and the values that continue to nourish this work.
Read about our family’s roots
Be a Light Like Jelani
Help carry his generous spirit forward
Help build his legacy — donate, volunteer, fundraise, sponsor, spread the word, partner with JWSH, and engage with us online. We want to know your stories and to have your experiences inform and improve upon the work we are doing. Thank you for spending some time with us and helping to keep Jelani’s memory alive.
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