The objectives of the Foundation are:

To receive funds for the purpose of helping preserve the culture and to improve the quality of life of the Sherpa People of Nepal by contributing to:

• the development, improvement and maintenance of Health Services and facilities and the implementation of health education programs;
• the availability and quality of education by assisting in the development and enhancement of literacy and education programs and construction of new schools;
• the development and implementation of programs to address the  environmental concerns of the region such as reforestation, water purification and  pollution control;
• the maintenance and restoration of historical and/ or cultural structures and monuments; scholarships and bursaries for persons of the Solu-Khumbu region of Nepal (Everest Region) who engage in studies or training programs directly connected with and/ or to further the objects of the Foundation;

Byron first became involved with the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation upon  returning from a Mount Everest Expedition in 1998. He was the only Canadian on a British Expedition and was stopped  270 vertical feet below the summit.        Go to www.byronsmith.com for more information

In the  fall of 1998 Byron met Zeke O'Connor ,the Foundations Founder, in Toronto, where he discussed his plans for returning to Mount Everest in the spring of 2000, leading and organizing his own expedition.

Byron's media partner would be CBC Television, they would broadcast live television 2  times a day for 3 straight months, making history in the process.

CBC and Byron developed an amazing website which was essential a virtual Everest Field Trip. It incorporated a K-12 lock step education program which is still being used around the world today.

Because of this educational aspect, The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation endorsed Byron's Everest Expedition, making it only the second time they have done so. The first time was with in 1982, where they endorsed the   Canadian Expedition which put our  1st Canadian on the summit, Laurie Skreslet.

In 2005, Zeke O'Connor called up Byron and asked him if he would be interested in organizing a Fund-raising Gala Dinner and Auction in Calgary. Byron, being very honored to be asked, committed to organizing the event, and the rest is history. It is an annual event at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel.

In the Fall of 2008 Byron became a Director with the  Foundation and is an integral member in their Fund-raising initiatives.

In June 2010, the Board of Directors voted Byron in as Vice President of Marketing.

From organizing the Fund-raising Gala's, Calgary Tower Rappels, Byron is passionate about helping the Sherpa people and committed to giving back to those that helped him achieve his goal of summitting Mount Everest.