Moms across the county share their stories of how and why they give.
Julia Bendis
City: Rancho Santa Margarita
Family: Husband and two sons ages 17 and 22
How do you give back? “Since Day 1 of the war in Ukraine I got on the phone connecting with volunteers, civilians and military personnel on the ground, translating documents from the Ukrainian government with requests for medical supplies, connecting NGOs and other volunteers for evacuations, calling Ukrainian people stuck in their homes to get them evacuated safely, a lot of them elderly, disabled or with medical conditions. I’ve been creating lists of names and locations of those in desperate situations who needed help evacuating. One of those helping is blind and deaf himself but stayed in order to help others. I am part of many teams of Russian/Ukrainian-speaking volunteers gathering information and connecting those who are seeking shelter and housing. Recently, I was able to help some Ukrainian families find temporary housing as they arrived at the Mexican/US border. There will be a lot more of Ukrainian refugees coming to various borders in the US and undoubtedly, they will need our help.”
What’s your inspiration? “I am an immigrant myself. My family and I were lucky enough to have escaped communism. I will never forget how difficult it was for us to be in a foreign country, to navigate a culture we knew nothing about and learn the language while watching my parents struggle to find jobs and put food on the table. I owe this country everything, but at the same time I have never forgotten where I came from. We raised our boys to always give back, to never look away and help as much as they possibly can. I have always been a connector and a conduit in every way. That’s the biggest reason why I started my matchmaking and relationship business; not only so I could help the lonely singles of OC, but to also connect people in many ways. My business (matchbyjulia.com) allows me to give back to my community as well as to my home country of Ukraine. I am donating 25 percent of all my matchmaking and coaching services to Ukraine as well as 100 percent of my book’s proceeds.
Elizabeth Fell
City: Foothill Ranch
Family: Husband, Ky; sons, Treyton, 7 and Eli, 5
How do you give back? “I am the volunteer community coordinator for Healthy Kids Running Series, which is a nonprofit running program for ages 2-14 years old. We engage with the South OC community and families by providing an inclusive youth running experience, inspiring kids to believe in themselves and lead an active healthy lifestyle. I first learned about the Healthy Kids Running Series through a fellow runner friend and loved the mission behind the program. As an avid runner myself, I was looking to get more involved with the running community to help inspire others to pursue their goals.”
What’s your inspiration? “I wanted to share my love of running (which I didn’t find until later in life) with not just my own kids but kids from all different backgrounds and experiences. The main goal of this program is to introduce the sport of running in a fun, inclusive environment. We do this by having community involvement from local businesses, encouraging kids to cheer loudly for their peers, and reward every child that crosses the finish line. It’s a truly incredible event that brings families and the local community together.”
Alexandra Spitz
City: Irvine
Family: Husband, Eric; children, Jack, 11 and Asher, 8
How do you give back? “I’m the founder of The New Mom School where we are constantly supporting mothers in our community in their times of need. We’ve done numerous drives over the years for organizations like MOMS OC and Families Forward as well as individuals who are in crisis. Currently we are running a drive for supplies for new mothers in Ukraine. I also volunteer with Animal Alliance Rescue Foundation and we foster dogs and help coordinate adoptions. Dogs are such an important member of the family and a very positive experience for children to have dogs. We have fostered over 50 dogs and puppies.”
What’s your inspiration? “My inspiration was my own experience as a new mom and the challenges and loneliness I felt. I want to be able to give back to any mother in need that our incredible community can come together and help in a big way. If everyone does a little, we can help a lot. As for dogs, it brings us so much joy to know that we can help dogs learn to trust again and get them prepared to be placed into a family where they will be loved and cared for forever.”
Jesse Brown
City: Tustin
Family: Husband, Doug; daughter, Cecile, 10, son, Matthew, 8
How do you give back? “I run a nonprofit that serves the infertility community. When I was younger, I always pictured myself having a huge family. So, when I was struck with the reality of my own infertility, I was shocked and broken. Infertility changed me and the direction of my life forever. Since then, I have become an adoptive parent, and foster parent. In 2020, I founded Uniquely Knitted, a nonprofit that serves the infertility community. We are on a mission to help heal the traumas of infertility and end the isolation that goes with struggling to conceive. We do that by running process groups for the infertility community and infertility clinics.”
What’s your inspiration? “I am inspired to continue in my passions when I see people come out of isolation and into community. Life hands us many things that are difficult to deal with and many times there is nothing we did to deserve the painful realities we find ourselves in. These painful realities can isolate us and make us feel like we are the only people on earth experiencing pain. I feel honored and energized to walk with people as they reach out from that place of isolation into a deeper sense of connection.”
Sara Farsani
City: Newport Beach
Family: Daughter, Simone, 4; dog, Heart
How do you give back? “I became involved with MOMS Orange County through The New Mom School owner Alexandra Spitz. I have held a donation drive at the park and invited families to join me for a dessert truck and donate new/gently used items. I am also on the Bright Futures Steering Committee meeting for MOMS Orange County, helping with donations and fundraisers. I also helped raise funds for Adopt a Family with MOMS Orange County over the holidays.”
What’s your inspiration? “Their mission is my inspiration. MOMS Orange County’s mission to help mothers and families have healthy babies means so much to me. Being a new mom can be a very beautiful but also lonely and scary place. Knowing that moms have a safe place to go to, warms my heart.”
Karen Kelso
City: Santa Ana
Family: Husband, Mark; children, Samuel, 25, and Sarah, 23
How do you give back? “Around the age of 13, my daughter, Sarah, started to have horrible health issues. We went from doctor to doctor in search of answers and help. She went from being an athlete and A student to being barely able to walk or function through the school day. Sarah ended up having a rare disease called Ehlers-Danlos. I wrote about the experience of finding her elusive diagnosis for The Orange County Register. I received hundreds of emails from all over the world. I had parents coming up to Sarah and me at her doctor visits recognizing us and asking us for help. Then we had a couple of doctors approach us about the community in Orange County needing some type of support group. So, in the summer of 2019, I emailed anyone who had sent me emails replying to my story in The Register inviting them to our house to form a support group. Forty mothers and daughters came and that was the beginning of The Real Zebras of Orange County. It’s a local group for people who have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Before COVID the group would have meet-ups and seminars and the group has now grown to over 250 members.”
What’s your inspiration? “To connect chronically ill people and their parents so they don’t feel so isolated. Being sick all the time or being a caretaker can really take a toll.”
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Debora Wondercheck
City: Garden Grove
Family: Husband, Gary; son, Chenaniah, 19, daughters, Charis, 17, and Chara, 15
How do you give back? “I’m the founder and CEO of Arts & Learning Conservatory (Performing Arts School in Costa Mesa), a cellist and a conductor. The Arts & Learning Conservatory is the premier performing arts organization of SoCal that sets students up for success in life through the arts. We believe that a high-quality and integrated arts education can strengthen education transformation efforts, boost academic achievement, increase student self-efficacy, create creative entrepreneurship and career pathways. I am in the business of transforming the lives of children through keeping high-quality arts programs available in their lives. This is whether on school campuses, where the arts either do not exist or need revamping (we are at 40 schools), or through opportunities at our studio campus.”
What’s your inspiration? “My inspiration is my mother. If she hadn’t advocated for my siblings and created the exposure to arts, I truly would not be where I am today impacting the lives of thousands of children.”
Carol Walsh
City: San Juan Capistrano
Family: Husband, Jim; children, Charlie, 15, Andrew, 12
How do you give back? “In 2016, I created Tennis Serves Others (TSO), a nonprofit organization that unites tennis ladies to serve those in need. Within two years, we had 140 members and multiple chapters with tennis ladies from all over Southern California participating in our events. We have donated thousands of shoes to the homeless and children in need through Tennis SOLES for Others, organized and hosted dozens of tennis events, which in total have raised and distributed more than $275,000 to local charities such as International Sanctuary, Fristers, Forever with Us, Mary’s Kitchen, Good Shepherd Shelter, Canine Companions, ACEing Autism, Breast Cancer Solutions and Wings for Crossover; we have assembled and donated hundreds of bags filled with toiletry items and other necessities to local homeless shelters. Those are just a few examples. In addition to TSO, we are an active family in fostering kittens and cats.”
What’s your inspiration? “My inspiration comes from God, my family and the wonderful ladies I have the honor to serve with. Spiritually, I believe that service to others is service to God, and service to others has always been a part of my life.”
Anna Giss
City: Santa Ana
Family: Children, Darryn, 18, Emma, 15, Bradley, 3
How do you give back? “I work in treatment as a behavioral health technician at New Directions for Women. I got into this field after being sober for a year. I’m now two years sober. I absolutely love my job and helping others change their lives. I love helping other women and mothers turn their life around. I believe that women can empower other women. I’m living proof that we can change and become loving, caring and beautiful independent women and mothers.” What’s your inspiration? “My inspiration for getting sober this time was my son, Bradley, who is autistic. I would not be able to be a good mother to him if I didn’t get sober. What has helped me stay focused and sober is God and helping other people working in treatment definitely gives me a purpose and helps me remember where I came from, and what I need to do to stay sober.”
By Magda Hernandez
