At Growing Families, we’re more than just a company. We’re a community built on love, resilience, and a shared mission to make family-building a reality for those who need it most.
Here’s a closer look at the people who make up our community, the ones who support, guide and inspire others along their journey.
Dreambuilders
Dreambuilders are the intended parents, those with unrelenting hope and determination in their hearts. They are driven by a vision of their family and will persevere to make that vision come true. Dreambuilders are persistent, resilient, and full of faith in the process, even when it feels uncertain. They are the ones who dream of parenthood and refuse to give up, no matter the obstacles they may face. Dreambuilders inspire others with their courage and unwavering belief that the dream is worth every challenge.
Lightbringers
Lightbringers are surrogates and donors – remarkable individuals who help ignite the path to parenthood for others. They bring hope where it once flickered, and clarity to a journey often filled with uncertainty. With courage, empathy, and deep generosity, Lightbringers shine a light into the lives of Dreambuilders, guiding them toward the family they’ve long dreamed of.
Lightbringers don’t just carry life — they illuminate possibility. Their role is one of quiet strength and radiant kindness, offering a chance where there was none and changing lives forever with their gift.
Here are just a few selfless Lightbringers:
Sascha Costigan
Julie Laherty
Felicity
Amy White
Charmaine Staal
Their generosity is extraordinary — and so are their reasons. Here’s what one of our Lightbringers said when asked why she does what she does:
Charmaine Staal
Two-time Surrogate &
Selfless Lightbringer
I chose to become a surrogate to help someone I cared about experience the kind of love I was lucky enough to have so easily. The most rewarding part has been the deep friendship that came out of it — even 10 years later, I’m still close with the very first intended parents I helped. For anyone considering it, know that it’s not for the faint-hearted — but it’s the most rewarding, emotional rollercoaster you’ll ever be on. Goosebumps and feel-good moments included.
Waymakers
Waymakers are the agencies, lawyers, IVF specialists, mental health and other professionals who help turn dreams into reality. They are the ones who guide the logistics and the detail to ensure the process runs smoothly. Waymakers are experts in their fields, with a deep understanding of the surrogacy and donor IVF journey. They are problem-solvers, facilitators, and guides who make sure that every detail is handled so that families can focus on what matters most – bringing their child home. Without Waymakers, the journey would be filled with even more hurdles. They provide the structure, support, and guidance that allow dreams to come true.
Flamekeepers
Flamekeepers are the friends, family members, and other supportive individuals who offer unwavering support to those walking the surrogacy or donor IVF path. They provide the emotional backbone to the journey, offering love, encouragement, and practical help along the way. Flamekeepers are dependable, empathetic, and always ready to lend a hand. They know the value of a well-timed word of encouragement or a simple act of kindness, and they are the ones who offer these without hesitation. Flamekeepers make the tough days a little easier and the good days even brighter.
Some amazing Flamekeepers are the loved ones who stand by the side of intended parents, surrogates, and donors, offering everything from a shoulder to cry on to hands-on help with logistics. Their presence is a steady source of support throughout the journey.
Torchbearers
Torchbearers are passionate advocates who light the way for others by driving awareness, education, and change. Often parents who have walked the path of surrogacy or donation themselves, they use their lived experience to help others navigate the journey. Torchbearers advocate for ethical practices, better regulations, and the rights and safety of everyone involved in surrogacy and donor IVF. They are relentless in their commitment to making the process safer, more transparent, and more supportive for all, whether it’s through legal reform, ethical advocacy, or simply offering guidance to others in the community.
Torchbearers are bold, unwavering, and deeply empathetic. They are always ready to speak up and offer resources, advice, and support, driven by a commitment to making the journey smoother for those who follow.
Some Torchbearers are the amazing people who have shared their stories to help inspire others, such as Sheila Vijeyarasa, Sassy Scott, Adam Zuchetti, and our very own Anita Fiorenza and Sam Everingham. They’re joined by many of our Ambassadors, such as Trudy Bateman and Paul Hadfield-Jia, who play a vital role in keeping the light burning through advocacy, support, and lived experience.
Here’s what a few of our Torchbearers shared when asked why they continue to support others on the journey to parenthood:
Paul Hadfield-Jia
Dad via US Surrogacy, Growing Families Ambassador
& Proud Torchbearer
What keeps me supporting others is simple: I remember what it felt like to not have answers, to feel overwhelmed and alone. I share my story because I wanted to be the voice I wish I had back then. If there is one message I always come back to, it is this: You are not alone, and there is a path forward, even if it looks different to what you imagined.
There is no better feeling than knowing your story has inspired someone or given them hope, that they too can have a family through surrogacy. That it’s not impossible. While I can give people hope, I’ll continue to share my story, advocate, guide people, answer questions and be a cheerleader for those coming after me. Surrogacy is the hardest thing I’ve ever done but I’m a better person, friend and parent because of it.
Trudy Bateman
Mum via Surrogacy,
Growing Families Ambassador
& Supportive Torchbearer
Adam Zuchetti
Dad via Surrogacy,
Growing Families Ambassador
& Dedicated Torchbearer
By sharing my journey, I’d like to give hope to other aspiring parents, to support them in navigating some of the trials and tribulations faced along the way, and most of all, to encourage them to speak up for themselves. Because fundamentally, we can’t receive help if no one knows we need it!
Challengers
There are also those who might be seen as Challengers—individuals or groups who oppose surrogacy altogether or criticise the practice. Their perspectives can be confrontational, questioning the foundation of surrogacy, but are usually rooted in ethical concerns and a desire to protect individuals, especially children and women.
Though their viewpoints can be difficult and controversial, they are part of the broader conversation on surrogacy. It’s important to recognise that their voice raises critical ethical questions and encourages reflection on how surrogacy should be conducted to ensure respect and safety for all involved. Every voice and viewpoint are valid and ultimately, diverse views fuel important debates that contribute to the evolution of the industry.
Journey Babies
Journey Babies are the children and adults born through surrogacy or donor IVF. They are the heart of this journey, the living proof of hope, perseverance, and the power of collective effort. Their very existence illuminates the importance of every role in this community.
Journey babies grow up surrounded by stories of love, intention, and resilience. Many of them carry a unique awareness of how wanted they are and how many people worked together to help them arrive. They help to create and, in many cases, redefine the meaning of family. Some incredible Journey Babies are already finding their voices, and their presence shapes how we talk about family, identity, and belonging.
Our community is complex and ever-changing. But no matter your role in the surrogacy and donor IVF journey, you’re part of something extraordinary.
So which one are you?
Join us and help bring hope to life. Together, we can realise dreams, inspire change, and make complex family building easier for all.
