Hope Begins with Us: My 40th Birthday Fundraiser for Orphans in Gaza

This year, I’m turning 40 on 6/18- a milestone birthday. But more than a celebration of years, this one carries even deeper meaning: it's my first as a new mom.

As I raise my little one, I’m reminded every day of the tenderness, safety, and love every child deserves. Every sleepy cuddle, every tiny laugh, even every tear—they ground me in the truth that children need us. All of us.

That’s why this year, I’m asking for something different. Instead of gifts, I’m raising funds to support orphans in Gaza—children who, through no fault of their own, have lost parents, homes, and any sense of normalcy. Children who still deserve to grow up in safety, to play, to dream, and to heal.

This is not about politics. It’s about love. It’s about choosing kindness in the face of heartbreak.
It’s about breaking cycles of violence with compassion and care.

We can’t undo what’s been done, but we can plant seeds of hope. Every donation, no matter the size, is a powerful gesture—one that says: you are not forgotten.

This cause is also personal in another way. My son absolutely adores Ms. Rachel, and through him, I’ve come to admire her deeply too—for her love for children, her kindness, and her commitment to building a more nurturing world for them. Ms. Rachel is deeply involved with this organization, which is why I chose it for my birthday fundraiser. I hope to follow her example—and be one for my son as well.

Let’s raise more than just funds—let’s raise hope.

My goal is to raise $4,000 as a gift of compassion and solidarity. Whether you can give $4 or $40, every contribution helps restore hope where it’s needed most.

Thank you for standing with me, and with them.

Following the 2014 war on Gaza, hundreds of children were orphaned and in need of basic humanitarian help - food, medicine, and clothing - to help survive. PCRF currently helps 290 orphans in Gaza through sponsors to provide them these basic necessities.