Some of the most meaningful connections happen when you least expect them. Mine began at a women-in-business panel, where I was invited to talk about my specialty: website design. Across the table was Rebecca Montgomery, talking about her bookkeeping business. I didn’t know it then, but that introduction would lead to a new friendship that I am sure will last a lifetime.

After the panel, the moderator invited us both to join a women’s mastermind group. We met weekly to share the challenges of running a business and brainstorm ways to support one another. It didn’t take long for me to know that I wanted to get to know Rebecca beyond the meetings. Her kind spirit, her laugh, and her work ethic were contagious. We had so much in common, and yet as we grew closer, I began to learn the parts of her story that made her who she is. Rebecca is a single mom, and the strength it takes to do what she does, build a business, raise daughters, and show up fully every day, is something I really admire.

As our friendship grew, I had the privilege of meeting her daughters, whom I now proudly call my friends as well. And then came a moment I didn’t realize I would treasure as much as I do. At Rebecca’s 50th birthday celebration, I met a woman with an undeniable presence. Vibrant, welcoming, and beaming with pride. I didn’t know right away that she was Rebecca’s mom, but it was clear she was someone special.

Not long after that celebration, Rebecca and her family lost her mother to cancer. It happened far too quickly. I feel genuinely grateful that I got to be there that day, to feel her energy, and to understand where so much of Rebecca’s heart comes from.

In the months that followed, Rebecca began sharing a dream she had been holding onto, a foundation that would honor her mother’s legacy by supporting single mothers who are struggling. Her mom had always been there for her, and Rebecca wanted to find a way to pass that on to other women who might not have that same support. When she told me about Strong With Mom, I didn’t hesitate. I knew I had to be a part of it.

I am not a mother, and I was fortunate enough to grow up with both my mom and my dad by my side. So some might wonder what draws me to a foundation like this. But here’s what I know: mothers are some of the strongest people in the world, and they don’t always have the circumstances that match that strength. When you invest in a mother, you invest in her children, her family, and the generation that follows. The ripple effect of that support is something worth showing up for, and I want to show up for it.

I am excited to be a part of Strong With Mom and to help it grow and make a difference in the lives of families who need it most. And more than anything, I look forward to continuing my friendship with Rebecca, filled with plenty of laughs, good stories, and the kind of mutual support that reminds you why community matters.