Under my yellow umbrella

In March 2017, Andrea Rea Philipsen ’00 read an article in The New York Times she couldn’t get out of her head.

The article, “You May Want to Marry My Husband,” was penned by children’s book author Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It was a heartbreaking essay in the Times’ popular ‘Modern Love’ section about her loving husband of 26 years as she was dying of ovarian cancer. She died 10 days later.

“I read it and just couldn't stop thinking about it,” Philipsen said. “I had never been moved by anything, at that level, ever before in my life.”

Philipsen spent the next several weeks learning more about Rosenthal’s life — and realized she had been brought her story for a reason.

“Her passion was bringing people together — turning strangers into friends,” she said. “I wanted her spirit and desire to connect humanity to carry on.”

Philipsen most connected with a trademark of Rosenthal’s — a yellow umbrella — a “bright and cheery way to know you were in the right place, at the right time.”

“[Amy] used it to bring people together,” she said. “So, I wanted to do that in my own little piece of the world here in Westerville, Ohio.”

Philipsen started a social group to bring the people of her community, from all backgrounds and neighborhoods, together — the Westerville Social Networking Group. The group has hosted nearly 300 events to date and at each one, Philipsen includes a yellow umbrella on the table.

Seeing the group’s success and how it has impacted their local community, a group member approached Philipsen with an idea.

“He told me, ‘Everything you’ve learned about gathering people together socially, you can apply to the business world — build a community of friends and clients.’”

Just over a year later, in 2021, Philipsen was leading a team of real estate agents buying and selling homes with her own company, Yellow Umbrella Homes at Home Central Realty. Not only has the new venture driven Philipsen to grow the message of the yellow umbrella, but it also brought her an unexpected connection to a fellow Flyer, Josh Multhauf ’11.

“We have a real story; a reason, a purpose and we live it each day.”

“Josh and I crossed paths, and we just started shooting the breeze and realized we were both Flyers.” Philipsen brought Multhauf, a relatively new realtor, onto her team immediately and showed him the ropes. Multhauf also connected with Rosenthal’s story and has been part of the Yellow Umbrella team for just over a year.

“Almost daily we get messages from clients and friends saying, ‘I was in the airport and this lady in front of me had yellow shoes on and I thought of you!’” she said. “We have a real story; a reason, a purpose and we live it each day.”

With Multhauf and her team by her side, Philipsen said she feels as if they can bring the world just little bit closer together. And they’ll always be ready in case they get caught in the rain.

Photography courtesy Andrea Rea Philipsen