40 Under 40: Elana Frank

After dealing with the stress of infertility, Elana Frank is helping other couples through the process of bringing Jewish children into the world. Her nonprofit organization, founded in late 2015, serves the community by offering support groups, peer-to-peer mentoring and financial help for in-vitro fertilization.

Frank went through two rounds of IVF in Israel before becoming pregnant. Now she and husband Jason, who live in Toco Hills, are the parents of Levi, 5, and Avidan, 4. IVF is only $200 in Israel, but couples in the United States experience infertility differently, Frank said, including a financial strain.

“It’s a burden in the U.S. When you go through this, you feel isolated.”

She left her communications position with the Weber School to become the first employee of the nonprofit, and, as the executive director, Frank is using Atlanta as a pilot city before national expansion.

In 20 years she hopes her work includes helping families find alternative ways of growing their tribes.

“I hope to see more colorful families and figure out how we make children who don’t look like us feel welcome.”

Atlanta is changing, and the old guard is finally ready to support the doers and movers under 40, Frank said.

“They’re open and not intimidated to meeting the needs of those who don’t necessarily work for big organizations.”