Sharon Smith Martin, 1965
B.A., Denison University
Community Volunteer
Denver
Citation awarded May, 2015
Since moving to Denver in 1981, Sharon Martin has been an active community volunteer and leader. She devoted nearly two decades of service to St. Anne’s
Episcopal School (Pre-K to Eighth), first as an active member and President of the Parent Association and later as a Trustee, serving as Chairman f the Committee on Trustees, Long Range Planning, Development and the Capital Campaign to build a new Library. During her tenure at St. Anne’s, the school strengthened its enrollment, dramatically expanded its facilities and increased its diversity.
At Graland Country Day School (Pre-K to Ninth), Sharon served as President of the Parent Council as well as Chair of the Fundraising, Volunteer, Nominating and Headmaster Advisory Search Committees. She also served as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Currently, Sharon is a Trustee of St. Elizabeth’s School, where she was an early supporter of one of Denver’s newest inner- city schools, dedicated to serving a diverse population. Open to all qualified students no matter what their ability to pay, St. Anne’s began in 2006 with just seven kindergarten students and now serves 112 students through sixth grade, with seventh and eighth grades to be added in the next two years. Here, Sharon serves on the Committee on Trustees, Development and Strategic Planning.
In addition to her dedication to education, Sharon also has a passion for the arts and has spent over 30 years as an active member of the Central City Opera House Association which supports one of the country’s oldest opera companies. She devoted nine years as a Trustee for the Denver Botanic Gardens and 25 years as an active member of the Denver Debutante Ball which is a major supporter of the Colorado Symphony and more recently, the Denver Botanic Gardens. In recognition of her long-time service and leadership, Sharon was named Honorary Chairman of the Denver Debutante Ball.
Over the past 10 years, Sharon has hosted over 30 Denver organizations with renowned dinners at her downtown Museum Residence. These occasions have helped direct both local and national attention to many of Denver’s leading charities.
Throughout all these years, Sharon has remained involved with her alma mater. Her service on Denison’s Board of Trustees from 2003-2012 has been one of her great joys and included membership on the Student Affairs and Enrollment Committees as well as Chairman of Institutional Advancement.
