Meet Your Hosts and

Board of Directors

  • Co-Founder, President

    In 2017, I unexpectedly discovered that I am an NPE (Not Parent Expected) while delving into my family history. Since then, I've devoted much of my time to assisting others in their quests to find family connections, serving as a search angel.

    My dedication to service extends beyond my academic pursuits. I've established a supportive online community for NPEs on Facebook and regularly facilitate Zoom meetings, as well as a weekly book club tailored to Adoptees, Donor Conceived Individuals, Late Discovery Adoptees, and fellow NPEs. Advocating for social justice is a core value of mine, and I actively engage in nonprofit work within my community.

    In addition to my academic and nonprofit endeavors, I am deeply invested in education as a high school special educator. My focus lies in supporting students who navigate emotional regulation challenges, utilizing trauma-informed approaches, and implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in Schools. I am a certified Reiki practitioner, 500 RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) through Breathe for Change, and currently, I am pursuing MSW at Rutgers School of Social Work.

    I make my home at the beautiful Jersey Shore, where I share my life with my wonderful husband, three sons, and our beloved pup, Cooper. When I manage to carve out spare time, I indulge in my passions for reading, yoga, meditation, and binge-watching crime TV.

  • Co-Founder, Chief Financial Officer

    I was adopted at three months old, and that reality has profoundly shaped my identity. From a young age, I felt a deep pull to uncover my origins and understand the truth of my beginnings. With the support of my adoptive parents, I began searching for answers—but when I turned 18 and requested my original birth certificate and records, I was met with sealed files and systemic silence, a struggle many adopted people continue to face.

    That experience sparked my lifelong commitment to advocacy. Over the years, I’ve worked to raise awareness about the lifelong impact of separation, promote family preservation, and expose the deep flaws within the adoption industry. As I continued learning, witnessing, and supporting others on similar paths, my work evolved—from advocacy to calling for the abolition of the system entirely.

    With the rise of DNA testing, I became a search angel, helping others reconnect with their biological families. I’m especially devoted to assisting Amerasian individuals in identifying their American GI birth fathers—an effort rooted in justice, restoration, and truth.

    Personally, I’ve been married to my husband for 32 years, and together we've raised three incredible adult children. These days, nothing brings me more joy than spending time with our three beautiful grandchildren. I also love genealogy research, reading, relaxing by the water, and the occasional shopping trip.

  • Secretary

    Spotting a sale display in WalMart for 23andMe, I thought it would be fun and exciting to do DNA testing. At that point I had spent the past 25 or so years building a family tree and figured that DNA testing may help fill some of the gaps. I never expected it was going to provide me with jigsaw puzzle pieces I never knew I was missing, including identifying a father I didn't know. When the results came through in March 2018, I excitedly found out I was nearly 100% Italian....but then realized half of me was missing...I did not have any Irish heritage from my father (and I knew he wasn't Italian). On my quest to uncover the truths, I soon discovered a few other familiar NPEs and adoptees (LDAs) and aided them on their journeys, each with their own unique story. I am grateful for the amazing support of an additional family I discovered along the way, my fellow NPEs and Adoptees within the HHH community. While born and raised in New York City, I now call New Jersey my home (although I work in New York City). Professionally I work in higher education administration managing the global business operations for a large university with programs in 10+ countries and growing; and in my role I sit on various educational boards. I am often traveling globally which has enabled me to visit ancestral places and continue to build upon my family history. I hold a Doctor in Education (Higher Education Administration) degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Public Administration from New York University and a Bachelors in Business Administration from St John's University. When I am not working or searching for family history, I am hanging with Carter and Dixie, my rescued dogs.

Meet Helix — Our Healing Mascot
While Helix isn’t a human member, this little hedgehog embodies the spirit of our community: gentle strength, resilience, and compassionate support. Helix reminds us all to be patient and kind with ourselves as we navigate the complexities of healing.

Look for Helix’s monthly tips in our newsletter — small bursts of encouragement and wisdom to support your journey.

Meet Our Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee plays a vital role in guiding, supporting, and advancing the mission of Hiraeth Hope & Healing, Inc.—serving those impacted by origin loss, family separation, and hidden truths about their beginnings.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic guidance on programs and initiatives

• Advocating for awareness of family separation and its impact

• Engaging with the community and strengthening connections

• Supporting core efforts, including retreats and policy advocacy

• Fostering networking opportunities and assisting with special projects

• Contributing to the growth and success of the organization’s mission

Through their expertise and dedication, committee members help shape the organization’s direction, ensuring it remains a source of healing, connection, and empowerment.

  • Chairperson

    Born within months of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, I am among the last of the Baby Scoop Era Domestic Infant Adoptees. Adopted at 2 days old, this early separation from the woman who gave me life has profoundly influenced my identity from childhood onwards. From an early age, I have felt a deep empathy for those unable to remain with their families of origin throughout their youth and promised myself when I “grew up” that I would do something to make it better. I was always motivated to find my birth family and have enjoyed reunion with many family members over the years including grandparents, sisters and a brother. Words are insufficient to describe the validation I experienced, seeing my reflection in another's face for the first time. After retiring as an executive in Human Resources, drawing on my professional experience and passion for helping others, I enjoy volunteering my time with Hiraeth Hope & Healing. Additionally, I enjoy quilting, traveling, learning about different cultures, and spending time with family and friends. Residing in the scenic Pacific Northwest, I cherish my roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, and dog-mom to four golden doodles.

  • Committee Member

    Gina Daniel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing mental health therapy at her Camp Hill, PA practice, Graystone Mental Health and Wellness Group, LLC. She specializes in assisting adults experiencing depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship difficulties, parenting, as well as NPE-related issues. She is certified as an Intuitive Eating Coach and most recently, became certified to provide Neurofeedback at Graystone. In 2021, Gina earned her doctorate in social work. Her dissertation research study was on the experience of discovering unexpected paternity after completing a direct-to-consumer ancestry test. Her interview focus was on how this experience affects family relationships and the impact on personal identity. When she is not working at her practice, she is traveling, buying more plants, or reading.

  • Committee Member

    Married to David, Mom to Ben and Pierce, Step Mom to Hillary and Grayson. Grandmother to 11 with 1 more on the way. NPE, discovered 09/2020. Raised with BCF, Mom and younger sister. Retired airline employee of 26 years, retired National Park Ranger, now working in an environmental laboratory managing large projects. Love to be outside, doesn’t matter if it’s hot or cold, rainy or sunny, I just want to be outside. Travel is my paradise. Have seen some beautiful and remote parts of our planet and traveling for 9 years full time in our motorhome we’ve discovered some amazing places in the USA.

  • Committee Member

    What is most important to me is that I’m a mother & a wife & have an amazingly supportive & loving self-created family. I am also a Registered Nurse for over 18 years now & have worked in cardiology, ICU, stroke & currently home infusion. My passion & desire for helping others lives on outside my professional life as I volunteer as a mentor for NPEN, where I help others process their DNA discoveries, and now am excited to be a part of the advisory committee for Hiraeth Hope & Healing.

    I am also a late discovery donor conceived person. My discovery was in 2018 and came as a complete shock to me. This secret was intended to be buried with my parents and for me to never know that a complete stranger makes up half of me. Through a direct to consumer DNA test, I learned that I had 4 half siblings. I also have a wonderful Grandmother, my biological dad’s mother, who has been a crucial piece of me learning who I really am & where I really come from. My family history is rich and full of interesting & talented people. My bio dad passed in his 40’s, long before my discovery, due to a chronic health condition unfortunately. I have had many obstacles & challenges come up through this DNA discovery & I’ve relied heavily on the NPE, LDA, adoptee, DCP community for assistance on my healing journey. Now I feel it’s time I give back even more & help others and I am very happy to be a part of Hiraeth Hope & Healing.


    In my free time you can find me in nature with my  family, snuggling with my rescue pup, “treasure hunting” for sea glass & driftwood, practicing yoga, traveling, creating art, reading psychological thrillers or watching true crime documentaries! I also love baking & cooking, and I am a small business owner: Long Island Tastees: Charcuterie & Sweets.

  • Committee Member

    Antoinette Tuscano is a communications professional with more than 25 years of experience working for nonprofits and associations in the Chicago area. She previously was a reporter in Chicago and the suburbs. Her work spans writing, editing, social media strategy, website content and video production. Antoinette also has experience working with volunteers and association members as well as nonprofit and association committees. Furthermore, she’s served on the communications committee and then the board, including as president, for a local literacy nonprofit. She has an undergrad degree in newspaper journalism from Columbia College in Chicago, IL, and a master’s degree in liberal studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

The Advisory Committee works closely with the spirit of Helix, supporting our mission with the same care, steadiness, and dedication that our mascot symbolizes. Through initiatives like Helix’s monthly email tips, we aim to offer ongoing guidance and connection beyond our retreats and events.

Logo design by LIQUIDSTYLE

We were very selective with our name and logo choice!

Hiraeth Hope & Healing

Hiraeth: “here-eyeth” (roll the “r”) a Welsh word for a homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for lost places of your past.  

Hope: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, a feeling of trust, the absence of despair.

Healing: to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment, to bring to an end or conclusion, as conflicts between people or groups, usually with the strong implication of restoring former amity; settle; reconcile.

We truly believe "Togetherness Heals"

Leaves: Growth past pain from all walks of life, people, and circumstances; hence the color variations.

Heart: Love as the core of the Hiraeth Hope & Healing ethos.

Hands: Togetherness as the foundation of hope and healing. We will hold your hands as long as you need us to.

…but, since we can’t roll our r’s, we pronounce it Hi - rith