Cancer doesn't discriminate against anybody," says Lauren Keefe, founder of Happy Tomato Fresh Salsa. Keefe knows this well; one of her best friend's daughters, Maddie, 6, was just diagnosed with brain cancer last year. Keefe's salsa business was actually born from a fundraiser for Maddie last January. Keefe had been making salsa for five or six years for friends and family, and she brought some to the fundraiser. It was such a hit that her husband convinced her to make a business out of it. She now sells between 3,000 and 4,500 jars a month in the DFW area.
But with Pediatric Awareness Month taking place in September, Lauren decided to use her business as a platform. Jars of Happy Tomato will have gold labeling and lids to help raise awareness for childhood cancer, and 10 percent of her profits will be donated to St. Baldrick's Pediatric Oncology Group. Her desire to help obviously stems from her relationship with Maddie, but it's deeper than that.
"If people don't pay attention to and take care of children, there's really not much left. I think it's our job to take care of all kids, not just your own."
