Our Story
The name Twiga comes from the Swahili word for giraffe, my mom's favorite animal and a symbol that has quietly followed me through some of life's most difficult and meaningful moments. When pancreatic cancer took her from us 14 years ago, the giraffe became a representation of the life that she lived.
Giraffes move through the world gently, even though they're one of the strongest animals on Earth. They rise above the chaos and see things from a higher perspective. They stand tall without needing attention. They're peaceful, graceful, and quietly aware of what's happening around them. That was my mom.
After she died, giraffes stopped feeling like just an animal she loved and started feeling like a reminder of what really matters, that even in life's hardest moments, there is still so much good to be found in this world.
As a fundraiser and nonprofit leader, I spent years working alongside families facing unimaginable challenges, including helping lead development efforts for the world's largest Ronald McDonald House. While the work could be heavy, it also revealed something extraordinary: even in difficult circumstances, people continue to show up for one another with kindness, generosity, and hope.
That belief stayed with me.
In 2019, I left my fundraising career to launch The Giraffe Effect, a magazine inspired by my mom and built around a simple idea: the world is filled with more good than we often realize. Then life shifted again. In 2022, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The magazine was put on hold, and I returned to nonprofit work, serving children with serious illnesses and their families.
Along the way, something unexpected happened. I reconnected with an acquaintance I'd known since elementary school. That friendship became a relationship, then a marriage, and eventually a new life in Indianapolis as a wife and stepmom to three incredible boys.
On our honeymoon in Africa, I saw giraffes in the wild for the first time. Standing there, watching them move across the landscape, I felt connected to my mom, my journey, and the belief that had carried me through it all.
Today, that belief lives on through Twiga.
Every design is created to remind us of what matters: love, resilience, compassion, confidence, and connection. And because happiness should be shared, 10% of all Twiga proceeds support the creation of the Happiness Museum of America, a new nonprofit experience dedicated to exploring the science, stories, and pursuit of happiness and wellbeing.
Twiga is more than clothing.
It's a reminder that even when life feels heavy, there is still good to be found. And sometimes, that's exactly what we need to wear. 💛