Zoe Winkler’s College Played Happy Days Song During Parents Weekend (Exclusive)

Zoe Winkler Reinis‘ life is all about family.

The This Is About Humanity co-founder grew up in a close-knit family that was also in the limelight. With dad Henry Winkler known and beloved for his role as Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli in Happy Days, her upbringing wasn’t typical, but it was full of a lot of quality time together.

Zoe tells PEOPLE that she often fields questions about what her childhood was like on her new podcast, What in the Winkler, but it wasn’t until college that she really understood the magnitude of her dad’s fame.

“I went to the big football game during parents’ weekend, and my parents came my freshman year. They played the Happy Days theme song, and I wanted to die,” she says with a laugh.

“I wanted to go to this huge school because I wanted to be anonymous, almost. And it didn’t happen.”

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Growing up, Zoe says, “I remember people would stop us constantly. We couldn’t walk anywhere. To this day, it’s the same.”

While she could find herself “a little bit frustrated” by the constant interruptions, Zoe says the actor was always adamant that they should meet fans with gratitude, because their devotion helped him ascertain his fame and success.

“My dad always said to me, ‘All of these things, all of these people, all of these amazing opportunities that you have in your life, are because of these people that come up and ask to talk to me,’ ” she says.

“So, really quickly, I understood the assignment. I understood that my dad was able to provide for us in a way … not only financially, but emotionally, we got all these amazing experiences because of all the people who loved him so much and still do.”

In many ways, the customs of the Winkler family did make Zoe feel a sense of normalcy growing up.

“When people would ask me what it’s like having a famous father, my response would always be, ‘Probably the same as having your dad,’ because to me, he’s just such a dad. I wasn’t allowed to leave the house with wet hair. He drove me to school every single morning. We had family dinner Monday through Thursday at 6:00,” she says.

“But I realize now as an adult, it’s actually not the same at all — but it was such a normal life for me. Also, growing up in LA with all my friends, it wasn’t odd or weird. It wasn’t until I went to college at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, then I was like, ‘Oh wait, this is not the same.’ “

Today, Zoe is a mom of three who has pivoted from a career in education to co-founding This Is About Humanity with Elsa Marie Collins and Yolanda Selene Walther-Meade. The three moms found themselves horrified as they saw the hardship facing families being separated at the US-Mexico border.

The work appealed to her on a deep level and is also rooted in her family’s tradition of giving back. “My mom and my dad started so many organizations when I was growing up. I was able to see firsthand what that looked like. They started United Friends of the Children, and they started the Children’s Action Network.”

She continues, “My whole childhood is deeply rooted in philanthropy. My dad jokes that it lay dormant until I found my own calling.”

Her calling came with that gnawing feeling, realizing the more she saw of what was happening at the border, the more she found, “I couldn’t let it go.”

“It was just ingrained in my mind. In those kids, I saw my own kids, and in those moms, I saw myself. I knew that I would do whatever I could to keep my kids safe. I think that often, when you see something happening and it feels so big, you just compartmentalize. I was unable to compartmentalize.”

After connecting with Elsa, who had posted about her own thoughts on what was playing out across the news, they started to discuss what could be done.

“I reached out and I was like, ‘Hey, I know we don’t know each other that well, but whatever you’re doing, I’m in,’ ” she says. “Because this wasn’t my lane, but I was like, ‘I don’t care. I don’t need to know anything other than just a human level of a mom and a child, and I’m in.’ ”

This Is About Humanity recently enjoyed the annual This Is About Humanity Soiree, hosted by Henry and his wife, Stacey, at their home.

“When it started seven years ago, there were 30 people. It was a sit-down dinner for 30 people, and now it’s 300 people,” Zoe says, crediting her “lifers” for cheering her on along the way.

Zoe is grateful that her entire family is “such a big part of This Is About Humanity.”

“I believe being a mom is the reason that This Is About Humanity even began. I think it’s the great equalizer,” she says.