Caren Franzini, former CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and one of the founders of Greater Trenton
Join us on December 3, 2024 at 5 p.m. as we come together for an evening of cocktails and conversations to reflect on Trenton’s past, reimagine its future, and make connections with some of the most influential leaders impacting the Capital City.
The celebration honors Caren Franzini, former NJEDA CEO and one of the founders of Greater Trenton, by presenting the Caren Franzini Capital City Award to The Smith Family, Founders of The Smith Family Foundation.
For information on how you can join the effort to memorialize Caren’s extraordinary leadership while helping Greater Trenton reboot, refresh, and reinvigorate our Capital City, please reach out to Greater Trenton at admin@greatertrenton.org or call 609-473-2837.
The Smith Family Foundation | Caren Franzini Capital City Award
In May of 2016, the Smith family — Pearlie Smith & her seven children — received a substantial financial blessing. Blessed with a new opportunity, the family made it their collective mission to improve the quality of life for residents in their hometown – thus the Smith Family Foundation was born. While the foundation allows the Smiths to support their community in ways previously unimagined, the family is no stranger to philanthropy.
The seeds for the foundation were planted decades ago in the South Side of Trenton, where Seamon and Pearlie Smith raised their children on values of hard work, love of God, and giving back. Living in an area plagued with poverty, dilapidated housing, and drugs.
Pearlie made sure her children attended church and understood the importance of education in creating a better life – all while working as a paraprofessional for Trenton Public Schools. The influence of her example and the values she instilled is seen in the educational path and career choices of all of the Smith children.
Despite circumstances, the son and daughters of Pearlie Smith have lived lives of service and excelled in their respective careers, having created community based programs, volunteered at local churches, and obtained degrees in their field or currently working toward one. With God at the forefront of their mission, the family plans to combine their individual talents and experience to transform lives in their community through the Smith Family Foundation.
Freddie and Rosa Rosado | Business Impact Award
Freddie and Rosa were both born and raised in the City of Trenton, New Jersey. They are first generation Puerto Ricans and have been happily married for over 41 years and have 2 children, Freddie II, and Rosa Mia. Freddie is a graduate of Trenton Central High School and Rosa is a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Both Freddie and Rosa took courses at Mercer County Community College before attending Hamburger University in Chicago, Illinois. They have been McDonald’s Owner/Operators for over 26 years. During their 26 years as McDonald’s franchisees, they have owned and operated up to 6 restaurants and employed over 400 in Philadelphia for almost 20 years before selling them all to open their current restaurant in Trenton.
Freddie and Rosa have received numerous awards for their work in the community. They have been honored for their many efforts on behalf of the Puerto Rican Day Parade of Trenton, the Mayor of the City of Trenton, the Mercer County Executive, the Mercer County Freeholders, the City of Trenton Council members; they have received the annual Mayor’s Small Business of the Year Award from City of Trenton, the Business Person of The Year from former Governor Christie Whitman, the Small Business Person of The Year from The Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, and many more awards from the community, city, county, and state.
Over the years, they have served on many boards, such as The Princeton Regional Chambers of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Philadelphia, the New Jersey Catholic Conference Public Policy Committee, the McDonald’s Hispanic Owner/Operator Association, Ronald McDonald’s House Charities and Hispanic Achievers College Education Resource (HACER), committee member for McDonald’s Corporation of the Philadelphia Region, The Trenton Literacy Movement Board, The Capital City Redevelopment Corporation Board, and many more. Some of these boards Rosa continues to hold a position on to this day.
As Owner/Operators, they have received much recognition for their outstanding business operations from the McDonald’s Corporation. Freddie and Rosa are the recipients of the Ronald Award; an award given only once in an Owner/Operator’s career by McDonald’s Corporation for making outstanding contributions locally, regionally, and nationally to the development of Brand McDonald’s in the areas of advertising, promotion, public relations and who grows the business through operations.
Currently, Freddie and Rosa continue their involvement in supporting the youth of Trenton. Annually, they give a scholarship to a selected high school student to use towards furthering their education. Additionally, they offer college tuition assistance to their employees to help them continue their education. They are always committed to give back to the community that they call home. But what will always bring them the most joy is being parents, spending time with their family, and serving their church and community.
Jacqueline Baptiste, African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ Elijah Dixon, Equity by Design John Goedecke, Citizens Bank Reggie Hallett, 1911 Smokehouse BBQ Duncan Harrison, Princeton University Pat Hartpence, NJM Insurance Group Jeannine LaRue, The Zita Group Shirley Michael, Greater Trenton Aquatia Owens, PNC Wealth Advisors John Rogers, NJM Insurance Group George Sowa, Greater Trenton Angelica Stern, Greater Trenton Mike Van Wagner, Retired, NJM Insurance Group
Greater Trenton is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses private funding and a network of collaborative relationships to advance economic revitalization efforts in the state’s capital city. Formed in the fall of 2015, Greater Trenton’s key objectives include coordinating downtown economic development projects; providing one-stop support and information for investors interested in taking on new projects; reaching out to potential residential, commercial and/or retail investors and tenants; supporting and promoting existing downtown initiatives; engaging downtown stakeholders in a strategic economic development plan; and developing investment marketing strategies.
