It all started 4 years ago in Uganda. I arrived in Kitgum to open a maternity ward that I funded through a beautiful campaign called Power of A Mom. There was so much anticipation for this trip but most importantly I would be able to open this maternity ward the second I would arrive. 

Walking up to New Life Medical Center was one of the most incredible moments of my life. Mainly because a few months prior I had embarked on my first sabbatical. I quit my corporate job at an agency. I knew I wasn't going to completely leave my career but I knew I had to risk it all for the ultimate challenge, to change the world. 

I spent over a decade working with some of the biggest artists in the entire world, working with some of the biggest brands in the world and activating ideas that reached millions of people. But I had one question that I kept asking myself: 

If I could sell millions of dollars in activations, sell millions of albums and sell millions of tickets to shows, could I save millions of lives?

I decided that I wanted to test my skillset in the biggest way, which was to help hundreds and even thousands of people and perhaps millions of people in need. So I reached out to this amazing organization called Blood: Water Mission who was founded by the incredible Jars of Clay. The first thing I was tasked to do was to help move the organization up to digital speed and then create a meaningful storyline to fundraise for a maternity ward. But this wasn’t just any maternity ward and this wasn’t just any fundraiser. 

Throughout my entire career, I have always put heart into everything that I do. So I felt like this was the most logical thing I have ever done- dive right into helping those with the greatest need. I didn’t realize how this one initiative would change my entire life. 

The fundraiser itself was based around the idea that everyone was connected to a mother. And if we cared about mothers then we could find strength in mothers because they live for their kids. So I recruited 4 women to share their stories. Some were mothers going through hardship and some were friends of mothers and one was a soon to be a mom (we didn’t know she was pregnant at the time). 

These stories were heart-wrenching and beautiful. They helped people understand that all mothers are alike, they live for their kids. And mothers in sub-Saharan Africa have a tough battle to fight. You see- their children are born with HIV/AIDS. Children are born fighting the toughest disease out there. 

Because of this fundraiser children are born free of HIV/AIDS. They are born free of the worst disease- meaning they are cured of the impossible. I can’t tell you how insane it is to be a part of this. When I left Kitgum, Uganda- Dr. Dennis told me that many babies would be born named Diana. This is something that I cannot get over and there is no greater honor. 

This was the beginning of what I would call House of Darlings….