Baby2Baby enlisted the Hollywood glitterati to amplify its mission. Today, its out-of-the-box approach takes its charity work to the next level.

Moments after the Baby2Baby gala fundraiser kicked off in Los Angeles in November, Miranda Kerr donated $1 million. An artwork by Jadé Fadojutimi had just reached an impressive final auction sum. Hosts Kerry Washington and Olivia Munn spoke passionately about the powerful work that the non-profit had done in the past 12 months. The audience—sitting at tables dressed in beautiful white linens, wearing sparkly, silken gowns—listened as Munn delivered some hard-hitting statistics. In 2025, Baby2Baby had helped over one million children across 300 cities in all 50 US states. Shortly afterwards, Paris Hilton added $250k to the fundraising pot.

Led by co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Baby2Baby has become a powerhouse in philanthropic entrepreneurship. Known for its glossy annual gala and its close relationship with the A-list, Baby2Baby has built a formula that combines style, celebrity, and culture. Where most charities and non-profits rely on private donations or public fundraisers like marathons, Baby2Baby leverages the influence of its celebrity network to further distribute its reach. Jessica Alba is on its board of directors, while patrons include Naomi Osaka, Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, and Danimás’ founder, Dany Garcia. “Our 2025 gala raised a record-breaking $18 million and garnered over 22 billion media impressions,” says Weinstein. “Last year, Vogue called it the West Coast’s Met Gala.” 

There is serious grit behind the glamour at Baby2Baby, which is named for its razor-sharp focus on the “often ignored needs of children,” says Patricof. One of its most impactful initiatives to date has been cutting diaper poverty. “A shocking one in two families in the US are struggling to afford diapers for their babies, and this statistic has driven our mission from day one,” says Weinstein. “Some of them have to use towels or newspapers instead of diapers.” When the need skyrocketed during the pandemic, they took matters into their own hands. “We built our own diaper manufacturing system, allowing us to produce diapers for 80% less than the retail price and distribute five times more,” she says. 

This was a mic drop move. Many women will identify with this resolute, resourceful mindset and, quite frankly, this badass feminine acumen to think outside the box: no surprise Weinstein and Patricof were named two of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024. But it’s important to acknowledge how rare this dynamic innovation is within the charitable and non-profit sector—here, ambition meets action. It’s rarer still at this scale. Many organizations across the world are prohibited by red tape and complex regulations at both state and federal levels; usually, this slows down strategies and can divert resources, time, and energy away from any core mission. “Baby2Baby sees challenges as opportunities,” said Washington, on-stage. Their shrewd business savvy has enabled them to give out over 270 million diapers so far. That’s “more than any other organization in the country,” said Washington. 

Ciara and Jessica Alba pack Baby2Baby’s maternity care packages in New York; Baby2Baby on the ground. Getty/Courtesy

Exactly how can a non-profit organization be so nimble? “We’re not starting from scratch when a disaster hits,” says Patricof. “We partner with 1,000 organizations serving children in 300 cities, and we are sending them regular shipments of essentials. This means when there is a hurricane in Florida, we already have supplies on the ground.” As an influential organization, Baby2Baby is also able to leverage its connections with companies and brands. During the LA fires, it received $60 million worth of donated goods. The annual gala’s costs are equally covered entirely by sponsorship, ensuring all money raised from the night’s ticketing, tables, and fundraising goes directly to Baby2Baby. Entrepreneurial vision meets maximum efficiency: It's no wonder its impact is bigger and better each year. 

“Weinstein and Patricof have a badass feminine acumen to think outside the box: Baby2Baby gets the job done.”

Baby2Baby’s powerhouse of high-profile angel ambassadors also advance the cause on the ground. “We recognized the power of celebrity from the very beginning, and we’ve seen time and again how transformative it is when influential people use their platforms for good.” The duo has curated their all-female board of directors and angels from across industries to ensure the reach and impact are broad. Celebrities and actresses drive awareness and headlines; entrepreneurs and business leaders enable actionable change. “Whether it is traveling to advocate for the removal of sales tax on diapers, sharing our disaster relief fundraisers on their social platforms, donating millions of in-kind items from their companies or showing up to distribute emergency supplies to families we serve, our Angels are constant fundraisers and ambassadors for our brand,” says Weinstein. 

Serena Williams, Alicia Keys, Paris Hilton, and Ciara at the November gala; Getty Images for Baby2Baby

Weinstein thinks the allure of the non-profit’s mission is what drives such broad, high-profile interest. “Almost everyone can agree that babies and children deserve to have their basic needs met,” she says. “Our [purpose] to provide children with the essentials they need is simple and universal.” Many of its donations center around school supplies. It empathically adopts the lens of a child to think: What are the hidden needs of children from low-income families? It then applies the mindset of a parent to envisage: How can Baby2Baby nimbly alleviate this? So far, it’s distributed 10 million backpacks. It’s a ‘need’ many might overlook, but it’s one with profound impact. Not only does the backpack campaign ensure a child has the tools that they need to learn, it also helps reduce socio-economic stigma at school. The organization predominantly serves children living in foster care, or homeless and domestic violence shelters. 

“Baby2Baby is showing what’s possible when compassion meets action,” said Serena Williams, a Baby2Baby angel who received an honorary award on-stage in Hollywood. Baby2Baby isn't just doing important work. They're saving lives, they're restoring hope and giving families a chance to survive and a chance to thrive.”