What Have We Been Up To at Our Daughters Foundation? I’m Glad You Asked…

We’ve had quite a bit going on at Our Daughters Foundation recently! I’m thrilled to share that our 501(c)(3) non-profit status has been approved — we are now officially registered as a public charity. That means all of your gifts toward the work of our foundation are tax-deductible. And just to be sure you know: 100% of what you give goes directly to women facing health challenges or to research on women’s health — particularly endometriosis and immune system/hormone-related diseases. That’s big news!

In addition, we’ve been hard at work forging relationships with other foundations, surgeons from around the world, and care groups that assist women in crisis — while also working directly with women who have reached out for assistance or advice. We’ll be heading to New York soon to build more relationships with many of these partners (and will share those partnerships publicly soon!).

We are taking our time and methodically researching the best ways to invest our resources in research that will make the most difference. Just this past week, we were blown away by a lab doing remarkable work close to home.

Krissy joined me in touring the Women’s Health Integrated Research Center (WHIRC) at Inova in Annandale, Virginia — and we left both inspired and hopeful.

WHIRC isn’t your typical lab. It’s a place where clinical care and advanced science meet — where physicians, researchers, and technologists work together to better understand women’s health at the molecular level. Their work spans genomics, proteomics, and biomarker discovery — powerful tools that help us detect diseases earlier, personalize treatments, and ultimately improve outcomes for women across generations.

From studying gynecologic cancers to exploring new ways to support women through pregnancy and menopause, the WHIRC team is helping redefine how women’s health research is done. It’s research that matters — not only for patients in Northern Virginia, but for women everywhere.

We were both struck by the passion the leaders had for finding answers to the most challenging health issues facing women. As Dr. Maxwell and Dr. Conrads shared, endometriosis is grossly underfunded, and private funding is essential to begin making a dent in what we still don’t know about this disease. A lab like WHIRC has the capability to make a lasting difference.

For us at Our Daughters Foundation, this visit was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do: to uplift, connect, and advocate for women’s health, equity, and empowerment. Seeing this kind of innovation up close makes us even more committed to bridging the gap between research, awareness, and real-world impact.

A heartfelt thank-you to the WHIRC team at Inova for welcoming us, sharing their knowledge, and showing us what’s possible when passion meets purpose. We can't wait to share more of our happenings at Our Daughters Foundation. Please spread the word and help us make a difference!