Removing Barriers. Strengthening Families. Building Legacies.
The Rice Family Foundation exists to help families thrive by providing access to resources, education, and compassionate support. Rooted in gratitude and driven by service, we stand in the gap for families, empowering stability, confidence, and opportunity for generations to come.
Because when families are supported, communities grow stronger.
Standing in the gap for families — because someone once stood in the gap for us.
our story
About Us
The Rice Family Foundation was born out of a simple yet powerful belief — that true success is measured by how much we give back to others.
Shakira and Billy Rice both came from humble beginnings, where hard work, faith, and the encouragement of caring family and educators helped shape their paths. Those family members and educators not only inspired them to pursue higher education but also instilled in them the importance of service, compassion, and community.
As they built their lives together, Shakira and Billy made it their mission to model those same values for their daughter, Kendra — teaching her that lending a helping hand and serving others is not just an act of kindness, but a way of life. Their family motto, “Service is the rent you pay to live on Earth,” guides everything they do.
Through The Rice Family Foundation, the family continues to live out this calling by providing resources, education, and support to empower other families. Every event, program, and initiative is driven by love, gratitude, and a deep desire to remove barriers for others — just as others once did for them.
Currently, the Foundation’s community service efforts are self-funded, with the Rices personally investing in each project and relying on the generosity of donors who share their vision. Together, they are building a legacy of empowerment, compassion, and service — one family at a time.
mission
The Rice Family Foundation exists to remove barriers that prevent families from thriving. We provide resources, education, and support that empower families to build stability, confidence, and opportunity. Guided by gratitude, we are committed to paying it forward—standing in the gap for others just as others once stood in the gap for us.
vision
We envision a world where every family has access to the tools, knowledge, and community support needed to create lasting success and generational strength. Through empowerment and compassion, we strive to build stronger families, one connection at a time.
We envision a world where every family has access to the tools, knowledge, and community support needed to create lasting success and generational strength. Through empowerment and compassion, we strive to build stronger families, one connection at a time.
Billy Rice
President of the Board
Billy Rice serves as the first President of the Board for The Rice Family Foundation, bringing a lifelong passion for service and community leadership to the role. Born in Athens, Alabama, Billy is the youngest of eleven children. From an early age, he learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and giving back to others. Billy attended Chipola Junior College and Georgia Southwestern State University before beginning a distinguished 25-year career serving the Clayton County community as a Firefighter, EMT, and Arson Investigator. His dedication to protecting and serving others became the cornerstone of his personal and professional life. Now retired from public service, Billy continues his commitment to the community through The Rice Family Foundation and by co-owning several childcare centers with his wife, Shakira. Together, they provide nurturing environments for young learners while creating opportunities for families to grow and succeed. In his spare time, Billy enjoys staying active, working out, and spending time maintaining and improving his home. Above all, he finds fulfillment in helping others and living by the family’s guiding principle: “Service is the rent you pay to live on Earth.”
Shakira Brown Rice,
Chief Executive Officer
Shakira Brown Rice has over 25 years of experience in the education industry. Prior to her work in education, she served as a mental health professional. A lifelong advocate for those in need, she has dedicated her career to removing barriers and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
Kendra Rice,
Chief Financial Officer
My name is Kendra Rice, and I am a driven and thoughtful professional who values growth, authenticity, and meaningful connection. I take pride in my work as being a Senior Consultant for a company called Deloitte. I enjoy bringing a strong sense of organization, problem-solving, and accountability to everything I do. I’m known for being dependable, detail-oriented, and committed to continuous improvement, while always keeping people and purpose at the center of my efforts. Outside of work, I enjoy creating balance through activities that inspire and ground me , whether that’s spending quality time with loved ones, exploring new experiences, staying active, or taking moments to reflect and recharge. I value honesty, resilience, and loyalty, and I believe in showing up consistently, leading with compassion, and growing through every season of life.
Billy Rice,
President of the Board
Shakira Brown Rice,
Chief Executive Officer
Kendra Rice,
Chief Financial Officer
Billy Rice serves as the first President of the Board for The Rice Family Foundation, bringing a lifelong passion for service and community leadership to the role. Born in Athens, Alabama, Billy is the youngest of eleven children. From an early age, he learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and giving back to others. Billy attended Chipola Junior College and Georgia Southwestern State University before beginning a distinguished 25-year career serving the Clayton County community as a Firefighter, EMT, and Arson Investigator. His dedication to protecting and serving others became the cornerstone of his personal and professional life. Now retired from public service, Billy continues his commitment to the community through The Rice Family Foundation and by co-owning several childcare centers with his wife, Shakira. Together, they provide nurturing environments for young learners while creating opportunities for families to grow and succeed. In his spare time, Billy enjoys staying active, working out, and spending time maintaining and improving his home. Above all, he finds fulfillment in helping others and living by the family’s guiding principle: “Service is the rent you pay to live on Earth.”
Shakira Brown Rice has over 25 years of experience in the education industry. Prior to her work in education, she served as a mental health professional. A lifelong advocate for those in need, she has dedicated her career to removing barriers and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
My name is Kendra Rice, and I am a driven and thoughtful professional who values growth, authenticity, and meaningful connection. I take pride in my work as being a Senior Consultant for a company called Deloitte. I enjoy bringing a strong sense of organization, problem-solving, and accountability to everything I do. I’m known for being dependable, detail-oriented, and committed to continuous improvement, while always keeping people and purpose at the center of my efforts. Outside of work, I enjoy creating balance through activities that inspire and ground me , whether that’s spending quality time with loved ones, exploring new experiences, staying active, or taking moments to reflect and recharge. I value honesty, resilience, and loyalty, and I believe in showing up consistently, leading with compassion, and growing through every season of life.
Shakira Brown Rice,
Chief Executive Officer
our board
Chris Foster
Born in California and raised in Atlanta, GA, Chris is a proud product of Clayton County Schools, graduating in 2007. Today, he stands as a devoted husband to Stamekia and a loving father to two incredible children, Hope and Jordan. Chris’s life is rooted in service. With a deep commitment to giving back to the village that raised him, he’s built a legacy of impact—constructing Habitat for Humanity homes, leading annual Christmas toy drives, feeding the unhoused, and showing up wherever his community needs him. His faith fuels everything he does. Chris is passionate about spreading the joy of Jesus and being a source of encouragement wherever he goes. Whether through acts of kindness or words of hope, he lives to uplift others and reflect the love of Christ. Chris isn’t just present—he’s purposeful. And his life is a testament to what happens when you give God your “yes” and pour back into the soil that shaped you.
Derick Colbert
A native of Athens, Georgia, Derick Colbert-Rice now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where he continues to make an impact as a business owner and community leader. He is a proud graduate of Paine College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Derick is the owner and managing partner of Creative Occasions, a catering and event service known for its creativity and excellence, and Colbert-Rice Trucking Company, a growing logistics enterprise. His entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to service have earned him numerous recognitions, including being recently honored as one of Paine College’s 40 Under 40 for his professional achievements and community involvement. Guided by his passion for growth, leadership, and service, Derick lives by the motto: “Success isn’t just what you accomplish for yourselfit’s what you inspire others to do.”
Janise Harris, LMSW, PhD Candidate
Janise Harris is a licensed social worker and PhD candidate at Clark Atlanta University’s School of Social Work. She is deeply committed to improving the well-being of children, families, and aging individuals through advocacy, research, and compassionate service. As a devoted mother and community advocate, Janise brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her role as a founding board member of the Rice Family Foundation, helping to advance its mission of empowering and supporting families in need.
Billy Rice,
President of the Board
Shakira Brown Rice,
Chief Executive Officer
Kendra Rice,
Chief Financial Officer
Billy Rice serves as the first President of the Board for The Rice Family Foundation, bringing a lifelong passion for service and community leadership to the role. Born in Athens, Alabama, Billy is the youngest of eleven children. From an early age, he learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and giving back to others. Billy attended Chipola Junior College and Georgia Southwestern State University before beginning a distinguished 25-year career serving the Clayton County community as a Firefighter, EMT, and Arson Investigator. His dedication to protecting and serving others became the cornerstone of his personal and professional life. Now retired from public service, Billy continues his commitment to the community through The Rice Family Foundation and by co-owning several childcare centers with his wife, Shakira. Together, they provide nurturing environments for young learners while creating opportunities for families to grow and succeed. In his spare time, Billy enjoys staying active, working out, and spending time maintaining and improving his home. Above all, he finds fulfillment in helping others and living by the family’s guiding principle: “Service is the rent you pay to live on Earth.”
Shakira Brown Rice has over 25 years of experience in the education industry. Prior to her work in education, she served as a mental health professional. A lifelong advocate for those in need, she has dedicated her career to removing barriers and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
My name is Kendra Rice, and I am a driven and thoughtful professional who values growth, authenticity, and meaningful connection. I take pride in my work as being a Senior Consultant for a company called Deloitte. I enjoy bringing a strong sense of organization, problem-solving, and accountability to everything I do. I’m known for being dependable, detail-oriented, and committed to continuous improvement, while always keeping people and purpose at the center of my efforts. Outside of work, I enjoy creating balance through activities that inspire and ground me , whether that’s spending quality time with loved ones, exploring new experiences, staying active, or taking moments to reflect and recharge. I value honesty, resilience, and loyalty, and I believe in showing up consistently, leading with compassion, and growing through every season of life.
Shakira Brown Rice,
Chief Executive Officer
our board
Chris Foster
Derick Colbert
Janise Harris, LMSW, PhD Candidate
Born in California and raised in Atlanta, GA, Chris is a proud product of Clayton County Schools, graduating in 2007. Today, he stands as a devoted husband to Stamekia and a loving father to two incredible children, Hope and Jordan. Chris’s life is rooted in service. With a deep commitment to giving back to the village that raised him, he’s built a legacy of impact—constructing Habitat for Humanity homes, leading annual Christmas toy drives, feeding the unhoused, and showing up wherever his community needs him. His faith fuels everything he does. Chris is passionate about spreading the joy of Jesus and being a source of encouragement wherever he goes. Whether through acts of kindness or words of hope, he lives to uplift others and reflect the love of Christ. Chris isn’t just present—he’s purposeful. And his life is a testament to what happens when you give God your “yes” and pour back into the soil that shaped you.
A native of Athens, Georgia, Derick Colbert-Rice now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where he continues to make an impact as a business owner and community leader. He is a proud graduate of Paine College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Derick is the owner and managing partner of Creative Occasions, a catering and event service known for its creativity and excellence, and Colbert-Rice Trucking Company, a growing logistics enterprise. His entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to service have earned him numerous recognitions, including being recently honored as one of Paine College’s 40 Under 40 for his professional achievements and community involvement. Guided by his passion for growth, leadership, and service, Derick lives by the motto: “Success isn’t just what you accomplish for yourselfit’s what you inspire others to do.”
Janise Harris is a licensed social worker and PhD candidate at Clark Atlanta University’s School of Social Work. She is deeply committed to improving the well-being of children, families, and aging individuals through advocacy, research, and compassionate service. As a devoted mother and community advocate, Janise brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her role as a founding board member of the Rice Family Foundation, helping to advance its mission of empowering and supporting families in need.
Dr. Shakeria Chaney
Dr. Shakeria Chaney serves as the Principal of North Clayton Middle, a Magnet School in College Park, Georgia. A dynamic and visionary leader with more than 25 years of experience in education, she has guided the school to earn Cognia STEM Certification and expand innovative STEM programs through partnerships such as the Peach Bowl Foundation. Rooted in her belief in servant leadership, Dr. Chaney is passionate about helping others and empowering scholars, families, and communities to reach their fullest potential. She fosters a culture of excellence, equity, and collaboration, leading with the motto, “Tiger Strong—No Excuses, Just Results!” A lifelong learner and advocate for public service, Dr. Chaney is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She believes in the power of collective impact and strives to create pathways that inspire growth, leadership, and continuous learning.
Dr. Shakeria Chaney serves as the Principal of North Clayton Middle, a Magnet School in College Park, Georgia. A dynamic and visionary leader with more than 25 years of experience in education, she has guided the school to earn Cognia STEM Certification and expand innovative STEM programs through partnerships such as the Peach Bowl Foundation. Rooted in her belief in servant leadership, Dr. Chaney is passionate about helping others and empowering scholars, families, and communities to reach their fullest potential. She fosters a culture of excellence, equity, and collaboration, leading with the motto, “Tiger Strong—No Excuses, Just Results!” A lifelong learner and advocate for public service, Dr. Chaney is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She believes in the power of collective impact and strives to create pathways that inspire growth, leadership, and continuous learning.
