About Us

We Believe in the Power of YES

YES DAY exists because every child — no matter what they're facing — deserves a day that's entirely, completely, joyfully theirs.

Our Story

How YES DAY Began

YES DAY was created from a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves moments of joy, hope, celebration, and connection — especially during life's hardest seasons. We saw too many children and families facing challenges beyond their control while hearing "no" far too often. We wanted to create an organization built around one simple word with extraordinary power: YES.

YES DAY is an awesome addition
to the wish-granting space.

YES DAY exists to ensure:

✓Older teens and young adults are seen, valued, and fully served
✓Children with chronic but non-terminal conditions are included
✓Foster youth and children facing trauma receive support
✓Mental health challenges are recognized as real challenges
✓Families facing financial hardship still experience joy, dignity, and community

The organization is intentionally designed to be flexible, compassionate, creative, and deeply personalized in how support is delivered. Through our various YES programs, we create personalized experiences designed to bring joy, hope, comfort, and unforgettable memories to children and families during challenging times.

Because every child deserves moments of joy.

Every child deserves to feel seen.

And every child deserves a chance to hear the word YES.

Our Mission

To create extraordinary moments of joy for children and young adults facing life's toughest challenges.

YES to Joy

YES to Hope

YES to Magic

Our Vision

Everyone Deserves a YES

We envision a world where every child and young adult facing adversity has the opportunity to experience joy, create lasting memories, and hear "YES" when they need it most.

Joy is powerful because it changes how people feel in the middle of hard things — not just after them.

One "YES" creates momentum:

Volunteers

find purpose

Donors

feel deeply connected

Businesses

feel inspired to give back

Communities

become kinder, stronger, and more united

We can't always change a child's reality, but we can bring light, joy, and unforgettable moments into it.

Meet Our Founder

The Heart Behind YES DAY

Jodi Sonenshine

Founder & Executive Director

"Every child deserves to hear YES. That's not a wish — it's a responsibility."

For years, Jodi knew she wanted to start a nonprofit. She didn't know exactly what it would look like, but she knew one thing for certain: it would be about creating joy for kids who needed it most.

She has always believed that joy isn't just something nice to give—it's something every child deserves, especially during life's hardest moments. When the right season came, and an incredible group of people came together around that same belief, YES DAY was born.

Through years of working alongside children and families facing life's toughest challenges, Jodi witnessed extraordinary resilience—and extraordinary need. She met children who somehow still found reasons to laugh from hospital rooms. Siblings quietly carrying more than anyone realized. Parents trying to stay strong through impossible days. Foster teens longing to feel seen, celebrated, and connected.

She also witnessed something just as powerful.

The nurses who never stopped encouraging.

The therapists who celebrated every victory.

The teachers, social workers, volunteers, community partners, and caregivers who showed up day after day with compassion, hope, and love.

And through all of it, one truth became impossible to ignore:

We can't always change a child's circumstances... but we CAN change how they feel in the middle of them.

That belief became the heartbeat of YES DAY. Our North Star.

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Jodi grew up in a family where giving back wasn't something you did—it was simply who you were. She earned a degree in Advertising with a minor in Psychology from the University of Florida before eventually making Atlanta home.

Her career has blended creativity, storytelling, relationship-building, and nonprofit leadership, but the work that has always meant the most has been creating moments that help people feel seen, valued, and loved.

Outside of YES DAY, Jodi's greatest joy is being mom to Dylan and Sami. Whether she's planning adventures, hosting friends, cheering from the sidelines, or finding ways to make ordinary days unforgettable, she has always believed that joy multiplies when it's shared.

Today, that same belief guides everything YES DAY does.

Because every child deserves moments that remind them they are more than their diagnosis, more than their circumstances, and never alone.

Everyone deserves a YES.

Meet Our Team

The People Behind the YES

Board of Directors

Brittany Rainwater

President - Board of Directors

Brittany lives in Brooks, Georgia, with her husband, Jason, and their four awesome boys. She brings a background in commercial real estate development, but what really stands out about Brittany is who she is. She's a force. The kind of person who refuses to accept "it can't be done" and somehow always finds a way to make things happen. Her heart is just as big as her work ethic, and her entire family lives out the kind of generosity and kindness that makes people want to be around them. Brittany joined YES DAY because she believes in creating moments that bring families together, make people feel seen, and remind kids that they're worth celebrating. She's exactly the kind of person you want helping build something from the ground up.

Candace Harbuck

Treasurer - Board of Directors

If you've ever wondered how someone can do it all, you probably haven't met Candace Harbuck yet. An entrepreneur, wife, and mom of four incredible kids, Candace somehow manages to be everywhere at once—supporting her family, serving her community, and always showing up for others. A graduate of Georgia State University with a business degree, a minor in mathematics, and a certificate in hospitality, she brings both financial expertise and an enormous heart to YES DAY as our Treasurer. Candace lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, and has a passion for helping children, spreading kindness, and making a difference wherever she can. We are incredibly grateful to have her helping build YES DAY from the very beginning.

Nora Brown

Secretary - Board of Directors

Nora is a wife, mom of two boys, and former preschool teacher with a passion for helping children and families feel seen, supported, and celebrated. With years of experience working with young kids, she brings warmth, creativity, and heart to everything she does. Through YES DAY, Nora is excited to help create unforgettable experiences and joyful moments for children facing life-altering challenges and the families who love them.

Randi Blick

Marketing & Creative Guru

Randi is an Atlanta native who headed to the University of Florida for college, met her husband in Washington, D.C., and eventually made her way back home, where they're now raising three boys and a puppy. She's a certified Swiftie, obsessed with reality TV, audiobooks, and craft projects that usually require more supplies than actual crafting. A lifelong volunteer, Randi believes everyone has a responsibility to help others and has been giving back since she was a child. Through YES DAY, she gets to combine her favorite things: creating joy, building community, and making a difference in the lives of others.