Wade Shaquille Vaughn-Smith Foundation

10/03/2025

Sentencing for Jaden Ardoin and Jaimon Mason in the Wade Vaughn-Smith murder case delayed. The family of Vaughn-Smith, however, remains hopeful and continues to fight against gun violence.

07/14/2025

Thank You for an Incredible Day of Support and Remembrance

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who came out this past Saturday for the 4th Annual Truck Ride “Wheels on the ground” in honor of Wade, whose life was tragically taken by gun violence. Your presence, love, and support meant the world to us and helped keep Wade’s memory alive in the most powerful way.

A very special thank you goes out to the Melville Police Department, Krotz Springs Police Department, Port Barre Police Department, St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Department, and the Opelousas Police Department for your continued support and protection throughout the event. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you also for supporting The Wade Shaquille Vaughn Smith Foundation, which continues to work tirelessly in Wade's name to fight against gun violence and create a safer future for our community.

It was truly a beautiful day, full of unity, remembrance, and strength. Let’s continue to honor Wade by standing together, lifting each other up, and spreading awareness.

We ride for CHANGE.! We ride with a PURPOSE! 💙💙



💙

07/11/2025

Ride for a CHANGE this Saturday 07/12/2025!!💙💙💙💙💙

In Honor of the life of Wade Shaquille Vaughn-Smith

This is a heartfelt reminder that our 4th Annual truck ride “Wheels on the Ground” event is right around the corner. We ride in honor of a young man whose life was tragically taken due to gun violence, a life that touched many and continues to inspire unity, love, and change in our community.

On June 30th, 2025, justice was served as those responsible were convicted. While we can never undo the pain, we continue to stand together and celebrate his memory with strength and purpose.

Event Details:

Saturday, 07/12/2025

🕛 Ride Starts at 12 PM

📍 Starting Location: 121 Walnut Street, Melville, LA 71353

🏁 Ending Location: 11626 Hwy 190, Opelousas, LA

📍 Outdoors – Please plan accordingly!

🔥 We’ll be cooking on-site, so come hungry and ready to share good food and great company!

What to Bring:
• Tents
• Lawn chairs
• Tables
• Cooking essentials

Let’s make this a beautiful day of remembrance, unity, and community. Please spread the word and ensure everyone attending is prepared for a fun-filled, meaningful event.

This is a nonprofit event created to uplift our community and honor the life we lost.💙💙💙

07/08/2025

In Honor of the life of Wade Shaquille Vaughn-Smith

This is a heartfelt reminder that our 4th Annual truck ride “Wheels on the Ground” event is right around the corner. We ride in honor of a young man whose life was tragically taken due to gun violence, a life that touched many and continues to inspire unity, love, and change in our community.

On June 30th, 2025, justice was served as those responsible were convicted. While we can never undo the pain, we continue to stand together and celebrate his memory with strength and purpose.

Event Details:

Saturday, 07/12/2025

🕛 Ride Starts at 12 PM

📍 Starting Location: 121 Walnut Street, Melville, LA 71353

🏁 Ending Location: 11626 Hwy 190, Opelousas, LA

📍 Outdoors – Please plan accordingly!

🔥 We’ll be cooking on-site, so come hungry and ready to share good food and great company!

What to Bring:
• Tents
• Lawn chairs
• Tables
• Cooking essentials

Let’s make this a beautiful day of remembrance, unity, and community. Please spread the word and ensure everyone attending is prepared for a fun-filled, meaningful event.

This is a nonprofit event created to uplift our community and honor the life we lost.💙💙💙

02/15/2025

Today, we remember Wade (Shaq) , a bright soul taken from us far too soon due to gun violence. His laughter, kindness, and dreams were stolen, leaving a void in the hearts of his family, friends, and community.

At The Wade Shaquille Vaughn - Smith Foundation , we honor his memory by standing against gun violence and working toward a future where no more lives are lost to senseless tragedy. We remain committed to supporting families, advocating for change, and ensuring that Wade’s legacy inspires action.

Join us in remembering Wade (Shaq) and in our mission to create a safer world. Together, we can turn pain into purpose.

LEADING IN LOVE, LEADING WITH A PURPOSE.💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

03/02/2024

Attention!!! Everyone todays ride will leave at 1p.m. Please be here on time and ready to show out !!!‼️‼️

03/01/2024

Officially one day away 💙💙💙🕊️

🗣️🗣️PLEASE READ FULL POST🗣️🗣️

📣📣📣This year is bigger and better than ever!

Everyone, please join us in celebrating our 3rd Annual Truck Ride with a Twist.!

We ask that you bring your balloons to the Civic Center grounds. The colors will be Blue, White, and Pink.

This year, we will have a cookout on the Civic Center grounds, and everyone who wants to participate must contact Terriona Hartford at 337-281-8684 or James Vaughn at 337-793-8213 in advance to ensure there is adequate space available. Set up on the Civic Center grounds will take place from 10 am to 11:30 am to ensure there is enough time for everyone to make it to 121 Walnut Street, Melville, LA, for those who want to participate in the ride.

The Truck Ride will start at 12 pm. Everyone must be lined up by 11:45 am.

Please keep in mind law enforcement will be present during and after the ride to ensure everything runs smoothly as we celebrate and honor Wade’s Legacy!

Any donations to the foundation are WELCOME.

Please use

02/27/2024

Y’all Come Join US. After the ride there will be a cook-off! We will have judges and they will be judging for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Please contact James Vaughn at 337-793-8213 or Terriona Hartford 337-281-8684 if you want to participate. There is NO charge! Let’s Enjoy the Day💙💙🕊️

🗣️🗣️PLEASE READ FULL POST🗣️🗣️

📣📣📣This year is bigger and better than ever!

Everyone, please join us in celebrating our 3rd Annual Truck Ride with a Twist.!

We ask that you bring your balloons to the Civic Center grounds. The colors will be Blue, White, and Pink.

This year, we will have a cookout on the Civic Center grounds, and everyone who wants to participate must contact Terriona Hartford at 337-281-8684 or James Vaughn at 337-793-8213 in advance to ensure there is adequate space available. Set up on the Civic Center grounds will take place from 10 am to 11:30 am to ensure there is enough time for everyone to make it to 121 Walnut Street, Melville, LA, for those who want to participate in the ride.

The Truck Ride will start at 12 pm. Everyone must be lined up by 11:45 am.

Please keep in mind law enforcement will be present during and after the ride to ensure everything runs smoothly as we celebrate and honor Wade’s Legacy!

Any donations to the foundation are WELCOME.

Please use

02/23/2024

🗣️🗣️PLEASE READ FULL POST🗣️🗣️

📣📣📣This year is bigger and better than ever!

Everyone, please join us in celebrating our 3rd Annual Truck Ride with a Twist.!

We ask that you bring your balloons to the Civic Center grounds. The colors will be Blue, White, and Pink.

This year, we will have a cookout on the Civic Center grounds, and everyone who wants to participate must contact Terriona Hartford at 337-281-8684 or James Vaughn at 337-793-8213 in advance to ensure there is adequate space available. Set up on the Civic Center grounds will take place from 10 am to 11:30 am to ensure there is enough time for everyone to make it to 121 Walnut Street, Melville, LA, for those who want to participate in the ride.

The Truck Ride will start at 12 pm. Everyone must be lined up by 11:45 am.

Please keep in mind law enforcement will be present during and after the ride to ensure everything runs smoothly as we celebrate and honor Wade’s Legacy!

Any donations to the foundation are WELCOME.

Please use

02/19/2024

Sorry for the inconvenience but the post is being updated. We will be posting it again tomorrow.!

01/06/2024

We will be accepting 15 applications for Laptops for College Students on Friday, January 19, 2024 and again on Friday, January 26, 2024 from 8 A.M. - 12 P.M.

11/20/2023

In 2021, the most recent year for which complete data is available, 48,830 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC. That figure includes gun murders and gun suicides, along with three less common types of gun-related deaths tracked by the CDC: those that were accidental, those that involved law enforcement and those whose circumstances could not be determined. The total excludes deaths in which gunshot injuries played a contributing, but not principal, role. (CDC fatality statistics are based on information contained in official death certificates, which identify a single cause of death. In 2021, 43% were murders (20,958), according to the CDC. We have to make a difference together. 💙💙💯
“Leading in Love, Leading with a Purpose.”