About Us
Walking alongside families during their most vulnerable hour.
OUR STORY
Bahati: blessing, destiny, and fortune.
The Bahati Foundation is born out of great struggle. A family facing uncertainty of the NICU. A mother in critical care. Our Founder’s lived experiences are the reason we strive to ensure that Each and Every waiting family who expected to take home a baby and is instead in the NICU is cared for. That Each and Every family whose mother has fallen ill during and immediately after pregnancy is held. That Each and Every one who passes through hospital corridors knows they will never walk alone.
At twenty-six weeks, something about our Founder’s pregnancy did not feel right. Her OBGYN confirmed the imminency of preterm birth. What followed was many long nights in the NICU, filled with blinking monitors and flashing lights. When pregnant a second time, her husband waited by her bedside, surrounded by monitors and lights; she had had a massive hemorrhagic stroke. She was in a coma.
She pulled through. She survived. And so did her children. But she’s not the only one. Roughly 10% of all pregnancies find their way to the NICU, High-Risk Ward, or both.
Our founder, Katherine Okello, wanted to see that no family must walk through uncertainty alone. The Bahati Foundation is her answer to that call — and an open invitation for you to walk alongside us.
MISSION & VALUES
Our Mission Statement
The Bahati Foundation exists to walk alongside families during pregnancy and neonatal crisis, providing presence, practical care, and continuity of healing — so that no family faces their most vulnerable hour alone.
Our Values
At The Bahati Foundation, our core values are integral to every interaction. From the darkest moments to the deepest joys, to beneficiaries and to auditors, we strive to maintain these key values.
Honesty
We possess authenticity and sincerity in words, actions, and intentions in every interaction.
Integrity
We are committed to acting in accordance with strong ethical principles.
Respect
We acknowledge and value the worth, dignity, and rights of others by showing consideration, kindness, and fair treatment.
Confidentiality
We honor individuals' personally identifiable information and their privacy.
Professionalism
We demonstrate our value for others through our competence, reliability, and respect in every setting
Compassion
We show empathy toward NICU and maternal-crisis families, as well as the nurses and doctors who assist them.
The People Behind the Mission
Katherine Okello
President & Founder
Katherine Okello is the Founder and President of The Bahati Foundation, a mission born directly from her lived experiences. A mother who navigated the uncertainty of a preterm birth at twenty-six weeks and later survived a massive hemorrhagic stroke during her second pregnancy, Katherine understands firsthand what it means to walk through the most fragile moments of life. Her faith, resilience, and deep compassion for other families in crisis drove her to create an organization dedicated to ensuring that no family walks through a NICU corridor or a high-risk ward alone. She is committed to building a foundation that shows up for families not only in the hardest hours, but through every step of healing.
Javan Okello
Director of Strategy
Husband, father, and lover of interior design, antiques, flowers, and all kinds of pies. He serves as Chief Business Officer (CBO) at a leading healthcare company, where he drives strategic growth, operational excellence, and innovation. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking.
Heather Lowell
Secretary / Director of Operations
Heather Lowell serves as Director of Operations of The Bahati Foundation, where she helps bring structure, accountability, and heart to the organization's mission. With a professional background spanning both business leadership and healthcare operations, Heather brings compassion, attention to detail, and decisive leadership to every aspect of her work. When she is not at work, she can be found crocheting or sewing with a warm cup of tea.
Fabine Bryant
Treasurer / Director of Finance
Fabine Bryant serves as Treasurer of The Bahati Foundation, bringing a thoughtful, disciplined approach to stewarding the organization's financial resources. With a background in accounting and tax, she is committed to ensuring the Foundation's sustainability so it can continue to serve families when support matters most.
Her work is grounded in the understanding that behind every number is a family navigating uncertainty. At the core of her contribution is a steady belief: that strong financial stewardship makes compassionate care possible, and that every family deserves access to support delivered with dignity and intention.
Karen Lugo Vega
Director of Communications
Karen brings a thoughtful and authentic approach to storytelling, informed by her experience in applied social science research and community-based public policy work. She is passionate about building meaningful connections and using communication as a tool to uplift communities and inspire change. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, exploring new coffee shops, and painting.