On December 12, 2023, our sweet Benjamin Akiro Laws II (Benny) was born and our lives were forever changed. Benny was born with previously undetected genetic disorders and a large ventricular septal defect (VSD). We were fortunate to be by his side in the NICU during his life of 16 days.
It was during this time that we witnessed many babies without the comforting presence of their parents.
We learned that the absence of parents was due to financial constraints. To honor our time with Benny, we want to change the landscape of NICU wards to allow parents the financial freedom so they can spend time with their newborns in critical condition. We strive to ensure that the recipients of 16 Day Grants can be fully present, free from the financial burdens that often force them to choose between work and being at their child's side.
Thank you for helping us achieve our goal of assisting other families create their own beautiful memories with their newborn babies. We are forever grateful for the 16 days we spent with our beloved Benny.
Our goal is to provide the same gift of time that we had with Benny to other families, so they can create their own beautiful memories.
We help parents stay by their newborn’s side during the most critical days in the NICU, easing financial stress so families can focus on what matters most—being present.
Our grants cover essentials like meals, transport, and lost wages, giving parents the freedom to hold, comfort, and advocate for their babies without worry.
Read how families like Taylor and Jordan found strength, hope, and connection during their NICU journey—one day, one heartbeat, one memory at a time.
Our team is united by a shared belief: every family deserves precious time together in the NICU. We’re parents, advocates, and dreamers—here to support, uplift, and walk alongside you on this journey.
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Ben is a seasoned CEO across multiple ventures and wears many hats at 16 Days. He is the key visionary for the organization and as well as an advocate and spokesperson, championing the mission to provide the gift of time to NICU families.
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Jenna brings a wealth of expertise from her CCO and CIO roles at Evexia Wealth and provides guidance and daily oversight. After seeing so many babies alone in the NICU, she has become a tireless advocate for NICU families. Her leadership is shaping the vision and impact of 16 Days.
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Reagan is a leading expert in peptides and regenerative medicine and brings his health and wellness expertise to 16 Days. As founder of EastWest Health and a visionary in functional medicine, he is combining his knowledge and dedication to help others support the tiniest of fighters.
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Blake is the founder and CEO of Alturas, a diversified holding company in real estate, construction, technology, health, wellness, and beauty. He is combining his entrepreneurial and NICU parent skills to 16 Days, understanding firsthand how vital skin-to-skin care is for newborns.
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Stacy, founder and CEO of Havener Capital Partners, is a powerhouse in capital raising and storytelling for boutique investment firms. Her unique ability to merge data-driven strategies with authentic storytelling is invaluable to advancing the mission of 16 Days.
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Ann is a retired early childhood family educator with decades of experience in teaching and parent education. With the NICU close to her heart, Ann brings empathy, wisdom, and a nurturing spirit to the 16 Days team. Her lifelong passion for supporting children and parents lives on in her volunteer work to ensure that NICU families feel seen, supported, and never alone
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Julia brings nonprofit management experience, including donor relations and community outreach to her role and will focus on building partnerships and developing programs. She is the primary point of contact for the 16 Days community, ensuring NICU families receive the support they need.
Supported with essential NICU grants
Parents present for healing moments
Stories of hope & healing
We never imagined how much every moment would mean until we were able to hold our daughter close, day after day. The support we received let us focus on her, not our bills. We are forever grateful for the memories we made together.
Being by our son’s side in the NICU was everything. The grant helped us stay present for every milestone, every cuddle, and every heartbeat. We felt seen, supported, and never alone.
Thanks to the help we received, we could be there for our baby’s first smile and every tiny victory. Those days shaped our family and gave us hope when we needed it most.
The financial relief allowed us to focus on loving and caring for our newborn, not worrying about missing work. We’ll always cherish the time we had together in those early days.
