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. No parent should have to choose between being present and providing.”
Read how families found strength, hope, and connection during their NICU journey—one day, one heartbeat, one memory at a time.
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.
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
of parental presence bought back.
faster discharge than expected (average)
increased parental presence
Stories of hope & healing
Every moment with your NICU baby is precious as you never know if it will be the last. While life goes on outside of the NICU, not having to worry financially truly helps parents be present with their children.
The nicu is a beautiful place to help preemies grow big and strong to come home so loving and caring and very supportive there. Thank you guys so much for helping us through this difficult time.
16 Days was a massive support for us when we were still in the NICU and then coming home. The mental and emotional relief of 16 Days stepping in and being able to say “worry about your child, not about the bills”. We can’t begin to explain how much of a relief this was for us.
You are helping me maintain gas in my car, I am grateful for the money and support. The financial support really helped me reduce my financial stress.
