While working at Amazon, Laura saw how a category 5 hurricane devastated her homeland of Puerto Rico. The devastation claimed 4,000 lives, displaced 250,000 families, and left the island without electricity for months. Laura alongside a group of Puerto Ricans sprang into action to help. She recruited volunteers in Seattle and Puerto Rico. She built a platform to expedite donations to Puerto Rican families in need. Her project would use the power of Amazon wishlists and logistics to reach every town in Puerto Rico. People used the platform to donate items, and over 100 volunteers in Puerto Rico received and distributed donations. She provided full transparency, showing donors their donated items being delivered to families. In 2 months, 300 donors donated more than 20,000 items through the platform, impacting 4,000 families. Laura’s success was celebrated at Amazon where her story was shared with employees worldwide. She volunteered for the Amazon’s Disaster Relief team where she connected with many nonprofits that expressed their struggle to grow and continue their mission. Seeing how many Puerto Rican families didn’t get aid in time after the hurricane and how many nonprofits in the community struggle to stay afloat, Laura was inspired to build a platform to change how the nonprofit industry operates. Laura resigned at Amazon and began working on building NEDDIE. Laura created NEDDIE with a vision to advance philanthropy. Changing how donors get involved in philanthropy by connecting them to nonprofits instead of only fundraisers. Donors get to know and support the incredible grassroots to medium sized nonprofits in their community and beyond. Allowing small nonprofits to get in the spotlight and not live in the shadows of larger nonprofits. Creating a nonprofit community where nonprofits support each other, not competing over donors. Providing sustainable funding for nonprofits to grow, expand, and fulfill their missions. Opening philanthropy to everyone, empowering them to help no matter their age or financial status. NEDDIE is the platform where every nonprofit can grow, and where everyone is empowered to help.