OUR STORY

Founder: Samantha Kandah’s Journey
Samantha’s introduction to mental health advocacy began alongside Aidan, the Hugging Doodle. Together, they witnessed the transformative power of emotional support—bringing comfort to children, veterans, and hospice patients. Those moments of connection left a lasting imprint on Samantha’s heart, igniting her purpose to create spaces where love and compassion could become a bridge to healing.

Co-Founder: Brenda Moragne’s Path
For Brenda, collective impact has always been the driving force. With years of experience in the nonprofit sector—supporting causes from mental health to domestic violence and homelessness—she has seen firsthand how compassion-driven communities can change lives. Her belief in the power of collaboration and care helped shape the foundation’s mission and approach.

Our Shared Dedication
United by their mutual commitment to enhancing mental well-being, Samantha and Brenda came together to establish the Love and Hugs Mental Health Foundation. The foundation stands as a testament to their belief that everyone deserves understanding, support, and the chance to experience the healing power of love. Together, they are carrying forward Aidan’s legacy and ensuring his spirit of kindness continues to touch the world.

Our Vision

We envision a world where the stigma surrounding mental health is erased—where open conversations replace silence and compassion replaces judgment. Our goal is to ensure that support, resources, and funding are readily available to those working to promote positive mental health outcomes.

Through this vision, we remain dedicated to empowering families, children, and communities to navigate challenges with resilience, hope, and the knowledge that they are never alone.

Our Mission

The Love and Hugs Mental Health Foundation exists to empower underserved communities by providing the resources and support necessary for mental well-being.

Through our initiatives in veteran partnerships, youth and teen mental health, workplace advocacy, therapy dog programs, and funding support, we are committed to making mental health care accessible, compassionate, and effective for all.

By fostering awareness, reducing stigma, and expanding access to care, Love and Hugs is dedicated to building a more inclusive and compassionate society where no one suffers in silence.

Our Board of Directors

Samantha Kandah

President

Samantha Kandah is a seasoned Marketing Executive with a rich and diverse background in the technology industry, spanning various domains including field marketing, brand development, demand generation, sales enablement, and direct sales. With a career trajectory that showcases her strategic prowess and ability to drive tangible results.

Samantha’s experience also includes roles at renowned technology giants such as IBM, Cisco Systems, Adobe Systems, Saba Software, Oracle Corporation, and Apple where she consistently delivered results by developing and executing robust marketing strategies, driving sales enablement initiatives, and building strong partnerships with sales teams and channel partners.

Samantha has a proven track record of success in driving revenue growth, building brand presence, and fostering collaborative partnerships. She is poised to continue making significant contributions to the Love and Hugs Mental Health Foundation as a dynamic Marketing Leader.

Brenda Moragne

Vice President

Brenda has worked closely with and for many non-profit organizations in the areas of mental health, domestic violence and homelessness. She has done extensive work in mental health— working with professionals who are committed to erasing the stigma associated with mental health. She served as the administrator of a national mental health conference dedicated to the fair and equitable psychological assessment of people of color. Brenda was also the producer of a monthly radio show – Good Mental Health on the Radio One Network. In addition to her contributions to the mental health field she continues to be an advocate for the underserved and least prioritized communities.

Brenda has an extensive background in Human Resource Management; giving her a profound understanding of people, behaviors, and basic human needs and desires. She has a solid background in research, marketing and event management, which will serve her well as a leader of the Love and Hugs Mental Health Foundation.

She is the past president and vice president of the Detroit Association of University of Michigan Women and a member of the University of Michigan Alumnae Association. Brenda is a native Detroiter and a graduate of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Dr. Linda McGhee

PsyD, JD, BBA

Board Member

Dr. McGhee is a clinical psychologist and founder of McGhee & Associates (Bethesda, MD). McGhee received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and doctorate in psychology and law degree from George Washington University.

As a psychologist, speaker, and writer, McGhee has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, Huffington Post, and Grown and Flown. She hosted “Good Mental Health” on Radio One, which raised awareness around mental health and she is a regular contributor to the Son Rise Project, a movement to support families of teenagers with mental illness.

McGhee speaks nationally on race, and mental health disparities. She has recently led seminars at national parenting groups, mental health associations and major corporations, and provided media commentary on the intersection of racial trauma, COVID-19, and the mass protests.

Dr. McGhee is a Mental Health expert for the Steve Fund, a foundation devoted to improving the mental health of college students of color. She is a past president of the Maryland Psychological Association.

She is currently the host of The Multicultural Psychologist podcast which explores various aspects of culture as it relates to the field of psychology.

 

Jeff Immel

Board Member

Jeff Immel brings over 35 years of leadership experience in business, sales, and marketing within the IT industry. He has held key roles at Juniper, IBM, Compaq Global Services, and Westinghouse, as well as in healthcare and value-added reseller organizations.

Known for his collaborative leadership and passion for team-building, Jeff combines creativity and business insight to help teams thrive and achieve meaningful results.

A Florida State University graduate with a degree in International Marketing, Jeff began his career in the U.S. Navy, serving as a Surface Warfare Officer. He continues his lifelong dedication to service through active involvement supporting Veterans and First Responders. His guiding motto: Smooth Seas and Following Winds.

 

Jason Santillano

Board Member

Jason brings over 15 years of marketing leadership experience to the Love and Hugs Mental Health Foundation. An energetic and results-driven professional, he has led successful B2B campaigns, built brand awareness, and driven revenue growth for innovative companies including Remote, Vungle, ironSource, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). His expertise spans product-led marketing strategies across email, social media, and events, always with a focus on aligning marketing and sales to achieve business goals.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jason is deeply passionate about advancing mental health awareness. He is dedicated to fostering open dialogue, reducing stigma, and supporting initiatives that make emotional well-being accessible to all. A lifelong dog lover, Jason is also the proud pet parent of two rescue Korean Jindo dogs, who inspire his commitment to both mental health and animal welfare.

In his role as a board member, Jason combines his marketing expertise with his personal passion to help amplify the Foundation’s mission and extend its impact to communities in need.

 

Tony Huang

Board Member

Founder of TechExecs Network – Leading Technology Leadership Events Creator with over 25 years of successful track record in maximizing returns on field & partner marketing investments.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award Recipient.

Serial Entrepreneur that started and sold four successful businesses.

Expert in Growth Acceleration, Opportunities Identification, Value Realization and Revenue Generation.

Shirley Strawberry

Board Member

Shirley Strawberry is a prominent American radio personality, author and actress, best known as the co-host of “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” where she has been a key figure since its inception in 2000.

Shirley Strawberry’s career spans decades, marked by her ability to connect with audiences and her dedication to addressing important social issues. Her journey from a radio jockey to a celebrated media personality exemplifies her talent and resilience in the entertainment industry.

Ben Bradley

Board Member

Ben Bradley is the managing director of Macon Raine (www.maconraine.com) – an account-based marketing agency. His primary interests include CRM, enterprise search, subscription business models, lean marketing, customer development, data hygiene, marketing automation, change management, military public affairs, self-organizing networks, and network and physical security. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa and was a member of the undergraduate Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He drives a minivan, enjoys gluten, and most soups. He can prepare 5-minute rice in 4 minutes. He lives at the intersection of sales, technology, and marketing with his wife and two dogs (a Latvian Otterhound and a Westphalian Loef Pinscher).

Dr. Nikole Scott

DSW, LMSW, CAGCS, C.B.T.

Board Secretary

Dr. Scott is a dedicated professional with a multifaceted career spanning social work, counseling, and academia. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wayne State University (2014), a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Michigan (2015), and a Doctorate in Social Work from Capella University (2020), Dr. Scott’s educational journey reflects her commitment to advancing her expertise in the field.

As a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Michigan, Dr. Scott brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her practice. She holds advanced certifications in grief counseling and bereavement trauma, along with specialized training in perinatal mental health.

Dr. Scott is an active member of esteemed professional organizations including the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and the National Center for Crisis Management. Her dedication to her profession is evident in her ongoing pursuit of excellence and professional development.

 

Together, let’s make a difference.

Spreading love, as we come together to support those in need.