- About
More Than Just a non profit organization
Who We Are
Rooted in Compassion. Driven by Knowledge. Connected Through Community.
Soup for Hope brings together compassionate care, trusted health education, medical research translation, food, comfort, and human-centered storytelling to help individuals, families, and communities access meaningful support and information.
Soup for Hope was inspired by the legacy of Chef Odette Smith Ransome and the belief that food, comfort, education, and trusted information are meaningful forms of care.
What began through a personal caregiving journey has grown into a community-centered nonprofit connecting patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, community organizations, and supporters.
Our work recognizes that individuals and families navigating cancer and other health challenges may need more than medical care alone. They may also need clear information, compassionate support, nourishing food, practical resources, meaningful connections, and a community that understands.
Through education, advocacy, community programmes, research translation, and storytelling, Soup for Hope helps make trusted health information and compassionate support more accessible to the people who need them.
THE LEGACY THAT INSPIRES US
Chef Odette Smith-Ransome legacy continues through every life touched by food, education, and community.
Chef Odette Smith-Ransome was a celebrated Pittsburgh chef, culinary educator, mentor, and community leader whose work brought people together through food, culture, and hospitality.
She believed food could do more than nourish the body. It could create connection. Dignity. Opportunity. Hope.
Her legacy continues through the people she taught, the communities she nourished, and the mission that now carries those values forward.
A Life Rooted in Community
Chef Odette was known for her commitment to locally sourced, multicultural cuisine and for investing in the next generation of culinary professionals. Her influence extended through teaching, mentorship, restaurant leadership, catering, community events, and meaningful relationships throughout Pittsburgh. She helped create opportunities for others to learn, grow, and believe in what was possible.
Chaz & Odette
Chef Odette co-owned the former Chaz & Odette restaurant with Chef Chaz Smith. Together, they created a warm dining experience rooted in creativity, hospitality, and multicultural cuisine. The restaurant became part of a larger story, one centered on food’s ability to bring people together.
An Educator and Mentor
Chef Odette’s influence reached beyond the kitchen. As a culinary educator and mentor, she helped aspiring professionals build confidence, develop skills, and discover pathways into the food industry. Her commitment to education reflected something deeper: when we invest in people, opportunity can grow.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Soup for Hope honors Chef Odette by continuing to believe in the power of food, education, mentorship, and community.
Her legacy reminds us that one person’s commitment to others can continue far beyond a lifetime.
Lauren Smith - Founder
Connecting Compassion, Knowledge, and Community
Soup for Hope connects healthcare, research, patients, caregivers, nutrition, education, storytelling, and community partnerships.
Through compassionate programmes and trusted educational initiatives, we help individuals and communities better understand health information, access meaningful resources, and take informed next steps.
Our mission isn’t limited to one type of support. We bring together care, education, research translation, food, comfort, and community connection to help create a more informed, supported, and empowered community.
- WHY OUR WORK MATTERS
Important Information Should Be Understandable and Accessible
Medical research continues to create important discoveries, but much of that information remains within research journals, laboratories, conferences, and technical language.
Patients, caregivers, and community members are often left asking:
What does this mean for me?
Why does this research matter?
What should I understand or do next?
Soup for Hope helps address this gap by connecting medical knowledge with real people, real experiences, and practical community education.
Through our WHO KNEW?™ Research Translation Initiative, we help make complex medical research clearer, more relatable, and more meaningful without changing the science.
Health Education & Research Translation
We help communities better understand important health topics and medical discoveries through clear educational resources, research translation, workshops, stories, and meaningful conversations.
Cancer Support & Comfort
We provide compassionate support and comfort to individuals and families navigating cancer through initiatives such as Throws of Hope and other community-centered programmes.
Caregiver Support & Nourishment
We recognize the important role caregivers play and work to connect caregivers and families with nourishment, resources, education, and meaningful support.
Food, Nutrition & Community Development
We explore the connection between healthy food access, nutrition education, agriculture, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and stronger communities.
Community Health & Engagement
We bring health education, awareness initiatives, resources, and community conversations into spaces where people live, learn, work, and connect.
Human-Centered Storytelling
Through stories, video, photography, and educational media, we help bring lived experiences and important health information to life.e
- Our approach
We Bring People and Knowledge Together
Our work is guided by a connected approach
01
Compassion
We meet people with dignity, empathy, and practical support.
02
Education
We help make trusted health information clearer and more accessible.
03
Research Translation
We connect medical discoveries with the people and communities they are intended to benefit.
04
Storytelling
We use human experiences to create understanding, connection, and meaningful engagement.
05
Partnership
We work alongside healthcare organizations, researchers, universities, businesses, community groups, and supporters.
06
Community
We believe lasting impact is created when people, knowledge, resources, and opportunities are connected..
- OUR VISION
A More Informed, Connected, and Supported Future
We envision communities where individuals and families have access to trusted health information, compassionate support, meaningful resources, and opportunities to participate in their own health and well-being.
We envision a future where important medical discoveries are not limited to scientific or clinical spaces, but are communicated in ways that people can understand, trust, and use.
Through collaboration, education, storytelling, and community-centered care, we aim to help strengthen health understanding, build trust, and create meaningful connections between research and the people it serves.
JOIN THE MISSION
Together, We Can Turn Understanding Into Action
Creating meaningful change takes collaboration.
Whether you are a patient, caregiver, healthcare professional, researcher, community organization, business, donor, volunteer, or supporter, there are many ways to become part of the mission.
Together, we can help create stronger connections, expand access to trusted information, support individuals and families, and build healthier, more informed communities.
Our Team
Lauren Smith
Founder
Sarah McCarty
Researcher
Brian Heath
Scientist
Scientist
Founder
Amy Woodard
Project Manager
Joe Young
Senior Supervisor
Kimberly Chung
Secretary
Albert Warthen
Donation Quality