About

Deanna is a central-Wisconsin native, now Madison-based, and works with United Way of Wisconsin | 211 Wisconsin. As a Project Manager, she works in partnership with local United Ways and through 211 to expand community-based connections and resources.

Life in Chicagoland—two years between Wausau and Madison—afforded her the opportunity to find On Your Feet Foundation. As an adoptee of a closed infant adoption, this is the first time in her life that she’s been in a shared community with people who are all in some way connected to adoption. While the lens on adoption as an adoptee is most personal to her, to learn from others as birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees of other adoption contexts has been a most precious gift of healing and inspiration. She has been reunited with her birth mother and father, and their families, since 2012.

In addition to being a Board Member of On Your Feet Foundation, she helped establish the Inner Light Sanctuary of Kosa Ayurvedic Spa in Madison that supports empowered healing for those journeying with cancer. In her spare time, she is pursuing education in energy and body work: obtaining certification as a Reiki practitioner in 2023 and currently studying to become licensed in massage and bodywork therapy through the East-West Healing Arts Institute.

Pauline is an adoptive mom living on the south side of Chicago alongside her husband, TJ, two sons, Kendrick and Ari, and their beloved beagle, Annie. Embracing open adoptions, she fosters deep connections with both of her sons' birth mothers. Pauline loves to travel both as a family and with friends. Their family’s most recent big trip was last summer to Istanbul, Paris, and London; much of the trip was with Maryellen (Kendrick’s birth mom). Ari’s birth family in Arizona gives plenty of reasons to travel often to the sunshine. Pauline and TJ love to try Chicago's never-ending array of restaurants. Her advocacy extends beyond her family, as she is passionate about many racial equality and social justice causes.

Hope O Helder is the Vice Chair of On Your Feet Foundation and a passionate advocate for birthmother rights, diversity, and women’s empowerment. She serves as the Global Strategic Partner Leader at Globalization Partners, focusing on partnerships with SAP. Additionally, Hope is the author of Finding Hope, a best-selling memoir that chronicles her journey as a birthmother navigating the complexities of open adoption.

Hope brings a unique perspective to her role, inspired by her own experience as a birthmother in an open adoption. Her son is now in his double-digit years, a milestone she cherishes as part of her continued journey.

Residing in Southern Minnesota, Hope balances her professional pursuits with family life alongside her husband, three stepchildren, two dogs, three cats, and three fish. Together, they recently launched Pool and Spa Experts, a service and sales spa and pool business. 

Hope’s dedication to uplifting others and sharing her story drives her work, both personally and professionally, as she continues to inspire and lead within the adoption community and beyond.

Board Secretary

Erika is a California native and birthmother specializing in trauma-informed care and Crisis Intervention. As the Volunteer Program Coordinator for San Mateo County’s only rape crisis center, she directs the Volunteer Program, training and supporting others as they work with those impacted by sexual violence. As a longtime Court Appointed Child Advocate (CASA), Erika also supports and mentors youth within the dependency system. As a birthmother of almost 8 years, Erika understands the need for resources to help others heal from trauma and hardship. With the support of a strong adoption community, Erika has arrived at a place where she can actively continue the work that is necessary to provide other birthparents with the support and resources they need to heal. 

With her lived experience, expertise, and rigor, Erika continues to grow in her purpose and expand her impact on her communities.

Jennifer is an adoptive mom living in Evanston, Illinois with her supportive husband, Chad, wonderful teenage son, Aidan, and adorable dog Bulldozer. Jennifer, who is passionate about ensuring that birthparents receive the post placement care they deserve, joined the board for On Your Feet Foundation in 2016. She served as past board president from 2019-2021. Jennifer is also dedicated to advocating for adoption education for potential adoptive parents and promoting mental health resources for adoptees and adoptive parents. She enjoys cooking, attending Saint Paul AME church where she is active in the women's ministry, watching her son play sports and perform in school chorus concerts and musicals, and traveling with her family to Colorado, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Clemencia grew up in Abilene, Texas, and attended Cisco Junior College, where she majored in Early Child Development. She helps run logistics and office administration for a local company that fixes commercial kitchen equipment.

Clemencia placed her son in an open kinship adoption about 16 years ago. Her experiences over the past years have allowed her to develop a special insight into the importance of having open communication and emotional agility. This has fueled her desire to continue learning and connecting with others working there. Helping to update standards of modern adoption practices while also helping other birthparents cultivate a voice of their own and heal their wounds.

In addition to her work with On Your Feet, she has volunteered with Planned Parenthood of North Texas, where she helped educate others on the resources Planned Parenthood has and attends educational events like learning about the hidden truth to “crisis pregnancy” centers and online resources. 

Clemencia enjoys reading, yoga, indoor rock climbing, and cooking plant-based meals in her spare time. 

Hannah lives in Chicago, but she is a desert girl at heart, with her husband, twin girls, Ezra + Olive, and their winsome goldendoodle, Hadley. A photographer, designer, and creative, Hannah is passionate about adoption education and lifting up all voices of the adoption triad. After seeing firsthand the lack of birthmother support after placement she got involved with On Your Feet Foundation. Hannah is also the founder of Kindred + Co.

Maureen Fura, MPA, has spent the last 12 years building key relationships with policymakers, advocates, leaders, survivors, scientists, researchers, providers, and families to close the gaps in Maternal Mental Healthcare (MMH). She is the Writer and Director of Dark Side of the Full Moon documentary, exposing the gaps in care in the US. She was a founding member of the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health. She spearheaded the first National Awareness Campaign for MMH for four years. She was a founding member of Postpartum Support International (PSI) Miami (now Postpartum Support International Florida Chapter). She is a PSI coordinator and PSI Support Group Leader. Maureen was the recipient of the Advocate of the Year in 2017 from 2020 Mom and the Florida Champion in MMH from the Florida Collaborative of Maternal Mental Health in 2020. Maureen is a birth/first parent in an open adoption with her adult daughter.

Billy Kaplan’s work is being his daughters’ father and his wife’s husband. To support that work he is the President and Clinical Director of TreeHouse Health, a human services company that provides mental health and emotional wellness services to individuals, couples, and families. TreeHouse Health specializes in treating issues related to attachment, trauma, and adoption in children and adolescents. He earned a Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University, the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. He is a Certified Brainspotting Consultant and Practitioner. Billy is also the creator of Parenting in SPACE™, a therapeutic parenting model. He has presented extensively, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, on topics including attachment, trauma, and therapeutic parenting.

Karen Rhone, PhD, grew up in Paterson NJ and attended William Paterson University where she double majored in Economics and Political Science. She then attended graduate school at the University of Chicago where she earned an MA and PhD in International Political Economy. Currently, she is a government consultant. Karen's experience as an academic and researcher inspired her to devote her time and energy to On Your Feet's mission. In addition to holding a position on the Board of On Your Feet Foundation, she volunteers to help survivors of domestic abuse and people struggling with mental health issues. In her spare time, Karen enjoys reading and writing.