About Us
The Mother's Day Project
Beginning in 2017, Rebecca Feinglos of Durham, NC, decided to start something positive to honor her late mother on Mother's Day, whom she had lost to brain cancer as a child. Rebecca wanted a meaningful way to channel her energy during a challenging time of year.
Since then, thousands of dollars have been raised to fill Mother’s Day gift bags for mothers with newborns in critical care in the Triangle.
Mother's Day bags have been filled with items just for the mothers, like spa items or sweet treats, mostly from small businesses in NC, including Lo & Behold Naturals and Chapel Hill Toffee.
In six years, the project has raised about $50,000 through hundreds of donors and supported over 400 mothers. Given the overwhelming growth of the effort, in 2021, The Mother's Day Project, LTD was incorporated in NC, and earned tax exempt status from the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN #86-3591621).
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission: To help women with babies in intensive care feel supported, valued, and empowered.
Our vision: Women are centered in their health care, and their mental and physical wellbeing are prioritized when baby is born.
Our approach: We deliver gift bags every Mother's Day to mothers with infants in intensive care at local hospitals.
Our impact is unique: When women find their baby in intensive care, it's usually sudden, unexpected, and the entire focus of their days becomes the health of their infant. The Mother's Day Project helps mothers get remembered, even if just briefly, when energy is otherwise focused on their new baby. This is so important for every mom's wellbeing.
Meet Our Team
Founder & President
Rebecca Feinglos
Rebecca is the founder of www.grieveleave.com.
Previously she served as the chief policy and strategy advisor for the Division of Child Development and Early Education in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Rebecca served at NCDHHS for nearly four years, where she advised the Secretary’s Office on early childhood health, child welfare, and early learning. In 2020, she coordinated statewide COVID-19 response for Pre-K through grade 12 schools, in close partnership with education leaders. In 2021, Rebecca built and led the strategy team at the Division of Child Development and Early Education to utilize $1.2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds for early childhood. She also provided support to statewide Hispanic/LatinX and higher education policy throughout COVID-19 response.
Prior to joining NCDHHS, Rebecca served as the Early Childhood Policy Associate for the Chicago Mayor’s Office, where she coordinated citywide outreach efforts to encourage preschool enrollment, and worked across city agencies to advance the Mayor’s early education priorities. Rebecca also brings experience as an instructional coach for preschool, elementary, and middle school teachers in Dallas- Fort Worth, Texas. Rebecca started her professional career in service as a bilingual kindergarten teacher in Fort Worth, Texas. Rebecca is originally from Durham, North Carolina, and is a graduate of Duke University with a BA in Spanish, history, and political science, Magna Cum Laude, and the University of Chicago with a master’s degree in public policy and a certificate in municipal finance.
Board Member
Tina Sherman
Tina Sherman is Senior Campaign Director for Maternal Justice at MomsRising. She serves on the Board of Directors of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. Tina has dedicated her professional life to supporting and empowering moms and families. Tina has served as a legislative aide in the United States Senate, has worked with several child and women's advocacy organizations, and is a certified birth doula.
With formal training in public policy and a heart is in serving and supporting women and families, Tina is committed to ensuring that public policies reflect the needs of real people and meet women where they are.
Tina and her husband JP are raising four boys ranging from 7 to 16 years, including 13 year old twins. She is active in her small town serving on the Town Planning Board and Affordable Housing Committee.
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Board Member
Lauren Hughes
Lauren Hughes is a neonatal nurse practitioner at UNC Health and former NICU nurse at Duke University Medical Center. She is extremely passionate about her job and knew early on in her life that the NICU was where she was meant to be. She and her brother were both preemies with extended NICU stays. In addition to caring directly for the state’s smallest and sickest babies, Lauren works closely with families to prepare them for discharge.
Lauren and Rebecca have known each other since their college days at Duke University. Lauren has been involved with the Mother’s Day Project since its inception, helping to coordinate logistics and promote fundraising activities. Lauren is looking forward to assuming a more active role in the organization and give back to these strong, resilient, dedicated, and all around amazing NICU mamas. She just became a mama herself in February!
Board Member
Dr. Kristine Brown
Kristine Brown is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician who is currently completing her fellowship training at Columbia University. Kristine loves her job caring for patients with high-risk pregnancies, which can be from medical concerns with either mom or baby. As part of her job, she takes care of and delivers for many families who know their infant will ultimately need NICU care after birth. She is so grateful to work closely with the NICU and knows that her special patients and their families will receive excellent care and support as they make their transition to the NICU after delivery.
Kristine and Rebecca have known each other for over a decade, since their freshman year at Duke. Kristine has been inspired by Rebecca’s creation and vision for the Mother’s Day Project and is excited to help grow and support the project. Kristine dreams of the Mother’s Day Project expanding to help special moms just like her patients all over the country!