Michelle has spent the last 10+ years as a middle school learning support teacher. The mother of Stella & Joy, Michelle founded this organization to ensure her daughters' passing wasn’t in vain. With a love for reading herself, Michelle and her husband, Zach, decided holding a book drive to support underprivileged families was the perfect way to carry on their daughters’ legacies.

Zach uses his creativity running his company, North Hills Creative. The father of Stella & Joy, Zach ensures his daughters’ legacies continue through the founding of Books from the Heart.

Michelle’s mother and Stella & Joy’s Mimi, Ilene wanted to be a part of the foundation formed in memory & honor of her granddaughters.