Million Dollar Smiles: The Day I Met Zayn

Some experiences change you quietly. You don't realize it happened until you're sitting with your morning coffee a few days later, and you notice that something has shifted, permanently, in how you see your purpose.

Meeting Zayn was one of those experiences.

I’m Indi, founder of Zulah, a Canadian incense company in Markham, Ontario. In August 2026, I helped build a backyard playground for Zayn through the charity Million Dollar Smiles. Since September 1, 2026, $1 from every Zulah order goes toward sponsoring a playground of our own in 2027.

Building a playground for Zayn with Million Dollar Smiles

In August 2026, I had the privilege of being part of something I will never forget.

Through Million Dollar Smiles, a charity that builds playgrounds for children living with life-altering illnesses and in collaboration with FemCity Stouffville, a business networking community I belong to, we built a playground for a little boy named Zayn and his family.

Zayn is 18 months old. He is living with liver cancer.

A group of us showed up that morning in our Million Dollar Smiles t-shirts, ready to build. There was laughter. There was effort. There was that particular kind of joy that comes from doing something with your hands for a little being. I had no idea how to build a slide or hold tools, but the team leads were right there to lend us some guidance. There was so much laughter and pure fun. The family members were overwhelmed that strangers would take time from their Saturday to build a playground.

And when the playground was done, we waited for little Zayn and big sister Laila to come.

The moment Zayn saw his playground

Little Zayn walked into his backyard with big sister Laila and saw it for the first time.

I don't have the words for what happened on that little face. I just know that I sat in the grass, in the middle of a group of near-strangers who had come together for this one moment, and I thought: this is what life is for.

Not the business. Not the to-do list. Not any of it.

This is my purpose for Zulah.

A child who is fighting something no child should ever have to fight — overwhelmed with pure, uncomplicated joy.

Why Zulah is sponsoring a playground in 2027

The next day, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

About how one act of showing up — a group of people choosing to give their time and their hearts — could completely transform a family's world.

I thought about Zulah. About you, the women who buy our incense not just because it smells beautiful, but because you believe that the way you move through your home matters. That intention matters. That the small sacred rituals of daily life are worth honouring.

I thought: these are exactly the people who would want to be part of something like this.

So on Sunday, August 30th, 2026, I committed.

Zulah will sponsor a playground build for Million Dollar Smiles in 2027.

A playground costs $5,000 to build. I knew I couldn't write that cheque alone, not yet. But I also knew I didn't have to.

Starting September 1st, 2026, $1 from every single Zulah order goes toward this goal.

$1 from every Zulah order goes to the playground fund

Here is what I want you to know.

If you have placed a Zulah order since September 2026, you have already contributed to the 2027 playground fund. You didn't know it yet. But you were part of it.

In September alone, this community raised $94 toward our $5,000 goal.

$94 of $5,000. One order at a time.

Every month, I'll share our progress with you. Every milestone will be celebrated. And when we reach $5,000 and that playground is built — I will take you with me to see it.

How you can help

If you'd like to learn more about Million Dollar Smiles and the extraordinary work Anna Lopes and her team of angels do for children and families across Canada, visit milliondollarsmiles.ca.

And if you'd like to be part of building this playground, every Zulah order you place brings us one dollar closer.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for choosing intention. And thank you for being the kind of community that makes something like this possible.

What is Million Dollar Smiles?

Million Dollar Smiles is a Canadian charity that builds playgrounds for children living with life-altering illnesses.

How does Zulah support Million Dollar Smiles?

Since September 1, 2026, $1 from every Zulah order goes toward sponsoring a playground build in 2027.

How much does a playground cost?

A playground costs $5,000 to build.

How much has Zulah raised so far?

As of September 30, 2026, $94 of our $5,000 goal.

With so much love and gratitude,

Indi 💜

$1 from every Zulah order goes toward our 2027 Million Dollar Smiles playground build. Current total as of September 30, 2026: $94 of $5,000, and this will be updated monthly.