A Business That Gives Back
In early 2020, my biz bestie Catelyn and I took Marie Forleo’s B-School program together.
It was Marie who inspired me to consider my business as more than just a problem-solving, revenue-generating machine—and instead, as a vehicle for good.
I finished one of the modules inspired to create a program that gave back to an organization that had made an immense impact on me during the darkest time in my life.
Before There Were Four…
Before there were the four beautiful kids I get to raise today, there was Hudson Ruth.
She was a highly anticipated arrival, due on the 4th of July. She took her sweet time… and on July 11, 2012, after a complicated labor, was delivered via emergency C-section.
Without a heartbeat.
Doctors were able to revive her, but she had been without oxygen for too long to breathe on her own. Whisked to Spokane via helicopter, Hudson spent three days in the NICU there, undergoing a cooling protocol in an effort to minimize the damage.
On the fourth day, we were supposed to take her off the cooling protocol and see what her little body was capable of on its own.
But the night before we were supposed to navigate those waters, Hudson made the tough calls for us—as her heart slowed to a stop, held finally in mommy and daddy’s arms.
Why We Fundraise
For the past five years, we’ve shared Hudson’s story with the Email Mavens community every July as part of our fundraising efforts for the Forget-Me-Not Program at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington.
This organization supports families with children in the NICU by helping them create memories with their babies—
and these are some of my most cherished possessions today:
- A teddy bear with her heartbeat recorded inside of it
- A mold of her precious, tiny feet
- Footprints
- An entire photoshoot donated by a professional photographer who captured her while we were in the hospital there… photos I have never had the heart to look at, knowing that they’ll be the last new images I’ll see of her.
We donate a portion of our business revenue to the Forget-Me-Not Foundation every July—
that’s our Total Package client retainers, any project-based work, and Mavens On Demand subscriptions.
These donations help fund the irreplaceable work this organization does for families like mine.
New Ways to Get Involved in 2025
This year, to celebrate what would have been Hudson’s 13th birthday, we’ve created two brand new ways to help us reach our fundraising goal of $5K:
👉 Join the Christmas in July Mini-Course ($13 to honor Hudson’s 13th birthday)
🎁 Coming soon: our totally free (with optional donation)
Email Marketing Playbook for Wineries
A Legacy of Impact
Our beautiful little red head charmed and enchanted everybody who met her during her three short days on earth.
She continues to make an impact through the work we get to do every July.
I truly believe that Email Mavens wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for Hudson.
Her short life has challenged me to seize every moment and lead with more heart.
Choosing Meaning Over Mourning
A tragedy like the death of a child could be something we try to get as far away from as possible.
But I embrace this part of our story because it has made me more of who I’m meant to be.
Every July, I get reacquainted with my old pal Grief—rather than numbing it away or ignoring the meaning that July 11–14 holds for me.
We celebrate Hudson and what her life has done (and continues to do), rather than mourning her and wishing things were different.
A Final Word for You
Thank you for reading.
For participating in whatever way makes sense for you.
For sharing this story if you feel so inclined.
But most importantly, I want to remind you of the incredible gift that your life is.
You are a true miracle.
The number of things that had to go right for you to exist in this moment and be reading this? Countless.
Let this be a reminder—or a catalyst:
- ✨ You’re meant to do big things.
- ✨ Your life is a gift to the universe.
- ✨ We need what you have to offer.
Go big… because if a baby who never opened her eyes in her 3 days on earth can accomplish this much, what can we do with what we’ve got?
