The Birthday Party That Never Stopped: Mandie Davis on Grief, Challah, and Loving Homeless Kids

In this episode, Stacy sits down with co-host Denise and philanthropist Mandie Davis, who turned a devastating miscarriage into Worthy of Love, the nonprofit that has thrown a birthday party for unhoused and sheltered kids every single month for more than 12 years. What started with 15 kids, a dollar-store cake, and a mascot named Skitty Cat has grown into five locations across LA and Houston and more than 50,000 children celebrated. Mandie talks about the moment her husband Ari first put on the mascot suit and couldn't stop crying, the shelter in Houston where the birthday photo booth doubles as the only baby pictures incarcerated moms will ever have, teaching homeless mothers to bake challah as therapy (and eventually as a paycheck), and the plaque she still keeps on her mantle from a teacher who once told a lonely five-year-old exactly what her name means. It's a conversation about faith, four miscarriages, and finding joy in the hardest rooms in the city. ✨ Episode Highlights How a heartbreaking miscarriage turned into a monthly birthday party for homeless kids The mascot suit Mandie's husband Ari couldn't stop crying in Why the photo booth at the Houston shelter means more to incarcerated moms than anything else at the party Teaching moms in shelters to bake challah, and the plan to turn it into real jobs The plaque on Mandie's mantle that gave Worthy of Love its name A boy, a pair of new shoes, and the moment that still breaks Mandie's heart Converting to Judaism, four miscarriages, and finding peace in the middle of chaos Why Mandie says yes to every high schooler who wants to volunteer How to get involved: donations, hairstylists, and a monthly party that needs Los Angeles to show up 🔗 Follow Mandie, Worthy of Love — Instagram: @worthyofloveproductions | worthyoflovela.org Denise — Instagram handle as shared on the episode; please confirm exact spelling before publishing Stacy Phillips — Website: stacydphillipsesq.com/my-podcasts | Instagram/LinkedIn: @stacydphillipsesq 🕒 Timestamps 00:00: Stacy welcomes co-host Denise and Worthy of Love founder Mandie 04:00: What Worthy of Love is, and the Skid Row theater group where it began 05:06: The miscarriage that led to the very first birthday party 07:13: From 15 kids to five locations and 50,000 celebrated 07:22: Why Worthy of Love expanded to a shelter in Houston, and the photo booth that means everything there 10:57: The mascot suit, and the healing Mandie's husband didn't expect 14:17: Learning to bake challah as grief therapy, one disastrous loaf at a time 16:03: Teaching moms in shelters to bake, and the plan to employ them for real 19:06: Converting to Judaism, a whirlwind honeymoon, and a Shabbat candle that means everything 22:15: A third miscarriage, a friend's house burning down, and Shabbat dinner anyway 33:56: The plaque on Mandie's mantle, and how a teacher once told her exactly who she is 36:28: A shirt, a foster daughter, and the outfits that mean more than anyone realizes 44:29: The aromatherapy bag that “smells like home, dad” 48:13: What's happening to the unhoused families Worthy of Love hasn't been able to find lately 53:01: How to volunteer, donate, or bring your kid to the next party