Donor Profiles
ZERO TO THREE is grateful to all its generous supporters.
We are proud to highlight two longtime Baby Champions.
& David
For over 30 years, Miriam and David Phalen have been tireless advocates for children.
Driven by a profound belief in the importance of early childhood development, their commitment to supporting families and ensuring every child thrives is at the heart of their philanthropy.
“Nothing is more important — or harder — than parenting,” says Miriam. “ZERO TO THREE supports families from the very beginning, providing comprehensive programming with a national reach. It’s an incredible organization, and we’re proud to support its work in every way we can.”
The Phalens are inspired by the HealthySteps program, which places child development specialists in pediatric settings. “They’re breaking negative cycles and giving children the nurturing and safe environments they deserve. Supporting this work brings us joy because we know it’s changing lives every single day,” Miriam explains.
As grandparents, the Phalens see the challenges parents face. “You look around and see parents hanging on by a thread,” Miriam says. “One program, one person, can transform a child’s life — and in doing so, strengthen society as a whole.”
For the Phalens, supporting ZERO TO THREE’s mission is not only a priority but also the cornerstone of infants and toddlers’ well-being, as it focuses on their brain development during this crucial stage of life. “At the end of the day,” Miriam says, “the heroes are the people on the front lines doing this work. We’re honored to play a small role in helping them make a difference.”
A lifelong advocate for babies, Irving Harris was a founding Board Member of ZERO TO THREE. His leadership and generosity continue to shape the field through the Irving Harris Foundation’s enduring work.
His impact is woven into the fabric of our organization — helping to build the professional field of infant and early childhood mental health, driving the integration of brain science into our work and even influencing the name ZERO TO THREE. He proposed simplifying our original name (the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families) to emphasize the critical years we serve.
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"Driven by a deep commitment to social justice and equity — and inspired by the Jewish tenet of Tzedek, justice, Irving Harris dedicated much of his life to strategic grantmaking focused on ensuring every child and family had access to the services and supports they need to thrive. In the last 20 years, the Foundation has become even more intentional about centering intersectional racial equity to address root causes of racial and gender inequities and create a more just world for every baby, family and community."
– Phyllis Glink, longtime CEO of the Irving Harris Foundation
For nearly 50 years, we have been honored to partner with the foundation on efforts to support infant and early childhood mental health leaders, policies and advocacy including the ZERO TO THREE Fellowship, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Financing Policy Project and the Harris Professional Development Network, among others. Its steadfast dedication to advancing the well-being of infants, toddlers and families is unparalleled and deeply inspirational. Together, we continue to work toward a future where all babies have a strong start in life.
