Meet the family and Sugar Angel who inspired this year’s design.

We are so excited to share with you our third annual limited-edition Icing Smiles ornament and the family and Sugar Angel who inspired this year’s design.

Whether you’re looking for a new tree ornament to add the final touch to your holiday setup, a gift to give a cake-lover or Sugar Angel in your life, or a way to support a nonprofit near and dear to your heart, your purchase helps us to provide custom celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by the critical illness of a child. 

How? The cost of this ornament covers the cost of a cake so that a child can receive smiles and happy memories, even in the darkest of times.

Meet Kylie

This year’s ornament is a replica of a cake delivered to Kylie on her second birthday.

Kylie came into the world three weeks early, but her mom knew right away that she was strong. “She was very spunky and very independent, and she had this way about her that she was just wise beyond her years,” says her mom, Bree Rowand.

But at 19 months, Kylie was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. She spent over 200 days in the pediatric ICU, where she was also diagnosed with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). “It took two months for them to figure out what was wrong with her,” Bree says. At the time, Kylie was the only child ever seen with VIP in stage 4 neuroblastoma.

While Kylie was fighting for her life — there was a tumor in her abdomen and attached to her left adrenal gland, a dozen small tumors on her liver, over two dozen on her lungs, and lesions that spanned from the top of her skull all the way to her ankles — her parents started a Facebook page to update family and friends. Over 275,000 people would come to follow Kylie’s story.

“She brought so many people together,” Bree says. “It was more of a movement. This powerful movement of love and togetherness.”

Bree heard about Icing Smiles through Barbara Zobian with Candlelighters NYC and thought it would be a beautiful way to celebrate. “We always tried to bring joy and laughter into her hospital room,” she says.

A Power-ful Cake

The cake wouldn’t only be Kylie’s second birthday cake — it would also be Icing Smiles’ 5,000th cake delivered. We reached out to one of the top cake artists in the industry: Kate Sullivan of Cake Power. 

Brought into the Icing Smiles orbit through her friend and fellow baker (and now Icing Smiles board member) Elisa Strauss, Kate is one of our original vision carriers. A blog post she wrote about her first call to action went viral. She knew she wanted to do something special for Kylie.

The week before Kylie’s birthday party, while walking in New York City, Kate was hit by a car. “It happened in slow motion,” Kate recalls. “My first thought was, ‘What am I going to do about this cake?’”

Despite breaking her leg in two places (“It wasn’t a big deal,” she swears), Kate, with the help of her assistant, finished the cake, which incorporated all of Kylie’s favorite stuffed animals, and delivered it to the hospital — via her wheelchair. “It was so beautiful,” Bree recalls. “I didn’t even want to cut into it.”

Although Kylie was in and out of sleep during the party, it was meaningful for her family, especially her parents. “Those memories of that day are something that we will always remember,” Bree says. “In the midst of our world spinning and darkness around us, Icing Smiles bringing us together was such a special moment.”

Kylie passed away on Feb. 7, 2015, but her legacy lives on. Her parents started the Kylie Rowand Foundation, which provides support for children and their families directly affected by childhood cancer. It funds research, provides financial assistance to families through its Kylie Cares program, and takes kids on field trips through its Love Like Kylie program. 

Today, Bree and Luke live in Arizona with their four children.

Picking the 2023 Ornament

Last year’s ornament featured a replica of Super Sibling Christopher’s cake. Sales helped us raise over $3,000, which has helped make the over 2,011 cakes delivered so far in 2023 possible. 

“Our leadership team brought to the table many incredible cakes as ideas for this year’s ornament,” says Icing Smiles’ Development Coordinator Chelsea Boog. “It is always hard to pick just one. Kylie’s cake was chosen for its fun colors, incredible story, and the impact the cake made on all who were a part of it. We are honored to use this ornament as another way to honor Kylie and her fight and to carry on her legacy.”

Bree says she’s grateful for Icing Smiles:

Give the Gift of Smiles

The beautifully designed ornament is 2.3 wide and 2.5 inches tall and is available for purchase online. Yes, we know the form says tickets, but we can’t change it. One “ticket” equals one ornament. The price includes shipping, and all ornaments will be shipped beginning of December.

As an Icing Smiles cake makes its way through the hospital corridors, nurses and doctors can’t help but stop and admire the intricate design and the thoughtful gesture behind it. In the midst of the demanding and often emotionally draining work they do, the sight of a cake brought in for a child’s special occasion or to uplift a family’s spirits touches their hearts in unexpected ways.

The nurses, who tirelessly care for their patients day in and day out, find themselves smiling as they witness the happiness the cake brings to the child and their family. This brief but powerful moment of joy reminds them of the impact they have on the lives of their patients and encourages them to continue their compassionate and empathetic care. In a profession where the focus is on medical procedures and treatments, the cake serves as a beautiful reminder of the human connection that lies at the core of health care.

Similarly, doctors, who are often focused on diagnosis and treatment plans, pause to appreciate the cake’s beauty and the compassion behind the gift. It serves as a reminder that medicine is not just about curing ailments but also about healing with kindness and understanding. The cake becomes a symbol of hope, reminding them why they chose their noble profession in the first place — to make a positive difference in the lives of their patients.

Healing Smiles

As the cake’s ripple effect continues, it goes beyond the immediate recipients and spreads to other patients and their families. The family who received the cake may share their gratitude and happiness with others in the hospital, sparking hope and optimism in those facing their own battles. The positive energy created by the cake’s presence resonates throughout the hospital, fostering a sense of community and support among patients and health care providers alike.

In the pediatric wards, where children face formidable health challenges, the cake’s arrival becomes a source of excitement and joy. The child who receives the cake is momentarily transported to a world of imagination and delight. For a little while, they can forget about their illness and treatments and focus on the magic and wonder of the cake.

From Hospital Halls to Hearts

Beyond the hospital walls, the ripple effect extends to the child’s family and friends. Parents, who carry the weight of their child’s illness on their shoulders, experience a moment of respite when they see the joy the cake brings to their little one. They witness their child’s face light up with happiness, and in that moment, they find hope and strength to face the challenges ahead.

The extended family and close friends of the child also feel the warmth of the cake’s impact. They see how something as simple as a cake can create a positive and unforgettable memory during a time that might otherwise be filled with fear and worry. These memories become cherished treasures for a lifetime.

The Icing on the Cake

But the ripple effect doesn’t stop there. As news of the cake’s arrival spreads through the hospital and beyond, it reaches the hearts of the hospital staff who might not have been directly involved in the child’s care. Administrative staff, maintenance workers, and volunteers are all touched by the sweet gesture, and their belief in the goodness of humanity is reaffirmed.

Outside the hospital, the ripple effect touches the hearts of the volunteers and Sugar Angels from Icing Smiles who put their time, effort, and love into creating the cakes. Knowing that their creations have the power to bring smiles to so many faces fuels their passion for their volunteer work and motivates them to continue baking a difference, one cake at a time.

The ripple effect goes on, inspiring acts of kindness and generosity in others who hear about the cake’s journey. Some may be inspired to volunteer their time or talents to similar charitable causes, while others may decide to support organizations like Icing Smiles through donations or fundraising efforts.

Give a Smile

In this way, the ripple effect of a cake from Icing Smiles goes far beyond the physical presence of the cake itself. It extends into the realm of human connection, empathy, and compassion. It teaches us that even in the face of challenges and uncertainties, the power of a single act of kindness can create a wave of healing and happiness that touches hearts and changes lives.

So, the next time you see a cake being brought into a hospital by Icing Smiles or any other charitable organization, remember the remarkable ripple effect it has. It’s not just about the cake; it’s about the love, care, and compassion that accompany it, making the world a little brighter, one smile at a time. And as we witness the ripple effect, may we be reminded of our capacity to bring joy and comfort to those in need, spreading kindness wherever we go.

In a world where fundraising events are commonly held to support various causes, the concept of friendraisers is gaining momentum. Friendraisers offer a unique opportunity to not only raise funds for Icing Smiles but also spread awareness and engage with your community in a more personal and meaningful way. 

Understanding the Difference: Fundraiser vs. Friendraiser

While fundraisers and friendraisers share a common goal of raising funds, they differ in their approach and purpose. Fundraisers primarily focus on generating financial support for an organization, often through large-scale events or campaigns. 

On the other hand, friendraisers emphasize building connections, fostering relationships, and spreading awareness about Icing Smiles. Friendraisers aim to engage friends, family, and community members on a more personal level, inviting them to participate actively and become ambassadors for the cause they care about.

Everyone Knows Someone We Can Serve

The beauty of friendraisers is their ability to leverage existing relationships and networks. Everyone knows someone — an acquaintance, a friend, or a family member — who could benefit from Icing Smiles. By engaging our personal circles through friendraisers, we expand our reach and create a ripple effect of awareness and support.

“It is incredible through word of mouth who this organization can reach,” says Icing Smiles Founder Tracy Quisenberry. 

In this blog post, we will explore three friendraisers that can help support Icing Smiles.

1. Cake and Cookie Sponsorships

A cake or cookie sponsorship is when a Sugar Angel hosts a personal campaign to collect donations from their friends, family, and colleagues to not only help offset supply costs but also to raise funds for Icing Smiles. 

Icing Smiles provides all the tools you’ll need to get sponsors for your cake or cookies. In just a few short steps, you’re able to set up your personal fundraising page. We’ve made it easy by providing a template to help you get started, but you know your connections best. It can help to tweak the suggested messages or write your own to promote your fundraiser in your own style. After your page is up and running, we also provide templates you can use to reach out to your friends and family about your fundraising efforts and to thank those who donate.

This type of fundraising not only raises money for Icing Smiles. It also increases exposure for our organization and helps us expand our reach to new, previously unexplored networks of supporters. “People don’t realize it’s not just about money,” says Icing Smiles Founder Tracy Quisenberry. “It’s about telling our story.”

Cake and cookie sponsorships are important for Icing Smiles. In 2022, Sugar Angels helped bring in over $6,000 for the organization through their sponsorship pages. However, the true magic of these fundraisers is that they’re also “friendraisers.”

“By sharing about Icing Smiles and the cakes they’re making, more people are learning of our cause and mission, helping us to grow toward our organization’s goal of becoming a household name,” says Development Coordinator Chelsea Boog.

2. Violet’s Bake Sale

Violet’s Bake Sale is a classic and accessible friendraiser that taps into the power of community support. The beauty of it is that a virtual bake sale requires no physical venue. Instead, you use your phone, email, and social media to promote a personalized bake sale event page featuring different dessert packages. Then your local friends, family, and neighbors preorder which delicious desserts they would like from you, and you — or a Sugar Angel in the area who is willing to provide baked goods for your bake sale — can then bake and deliver the treats. The great part about a virtual bake sale is you receive the orders in advance. 

By involving the community in this tangible way, participants not only raise funds but also create opportunities for conversations about Icing Smiles’ mission and the impact it has on the lives of children and their families.

Whether you volunteer all the time or are still waiting for that call to action, you can host a virtual bake sale anytime, anywhere, and we’ve got all the stuff to get you started!

3. Best Cake Ever

Best Cake Ever is a peer-to-peer friendraiser that encourages individuals to showcase their baking skills and offer their favorite cake creations to raise funds for Icing Smiles. Every October, participants enter their cakes and then engage with their community to promote it, get votes, and raise donations for the Icing Smiles’ mission. 

We provide you with marketing tools for social media and email to get the word out to family and friends to vote for your cake in the form of donations! Each dollar made to each cake’s’ fundraising page counts as one vote for that cake ($1 = 1 vote, $20 = 20 votes, etc.) with all of the proceeds benefiting Icing Smiles. The cakes that receive the most votes win prizes like one-on-one cake-decorating lessons with famous pastry chefs, Icing Images edible printers, and other cake-decorating supplies from our sponsors. 

By sharing their passion for baking and Icing Smiles’ mission, participants can spread awareness while collecting donations to help us continue delivering smiles. 

Gather Your Friends to Bake a Difference

Friendraisers are an innovative and impactful way to make a difference while spreading awareness about Icing Smiles. By participating in peer-to-peer fundraisers such as Best Cake Ever, cake and cookie sponsorships, and Violet’s Bake Sale, we can actively engage our communities, involve friends and family, and contribute to the mission of Icing Smiles. 

Plus, when you volunteer to host a cake or cookie sponsorship, participate in the Best Cake Ever Contest, or host a bake sale with Icing Smiles, you will have a team of supporters behind you to ensure its success. We are here to help you and make this fun and easy for you while supporting our mission. 

Icing Smiles has served cakes to children in every state, but we know there are deserving kids and families who don’t know about us yet. 

“I am in Rhode Island, and I have noticed not very many people know about Icing Smiles,” says Sugar Angel Brittany Spitznagel. Adds Sugar Angel Leslie O’Donnell: “I’m in Rhode Island as well, and most people have never heard of it until I say something about it.”

This year, we’re focused on building awareness of Icing Smiles among families impacted by the critical illness of a child. We like to call the people who help tell our story our vision carriers.

“It is incredible through word of mouth who this organization can reach,” says Icing Smiles Founder Tracy Quisenberry. 

Here’s a look at seven ways you can spread the Icing Smiles message and help us become a household name.

1. Connect with Nonprofits

There are so many nonprofits that serve kids with chronic illnesses, from national groups like Dream Factory and Hopekids to organizations local to your area. Connect with other nonprofits that serve the same population as Icing Smiles and let them know about what we do.

That’s how Kris Koehler learned about Icing Smiles. Her 14-year-old son was granted a dream trip through the nonprofit, and someone at the organization asked if she’d heard of Icing Smiles. For Ian’s 16th birthday, he received a Harry Potter-themed cake. 

By building relationships with other organizations that share similar goals and values, Icing Smiles can leverage their existing networks to reach more families and children in need and we can work together to amplify one another’s impact.

2. Contact Hospitals and Hospices

Some Sugar Angels have reached out to local hospitals and hospice organizations to let them know about Icing Smiles. 

Sugar Angel Lisa Velesbir recommends contacting your area hospitals’ NICU or specific health centers and asking to speak to whoever is in charge of family outreach. Sugar Angel Tammy Anne says she asked her Icing Smiles rep to send her some postcards that she could pass on to her local hospitals. Sugar Angel Derry Wade also took postcards to her local Ronald McDonald House, pediatrician offices, and the children’s hospital patient services team. 

“Keep in mind that health care organizations have a lot of rules to mitigate risk,” Tracy says. “So this is not always the easiest path to families.

3. Attend Local Events

Sugar Angel Julie Fox spreads awareness of Icing Smiles by setting up tables at local events. She’s recently tabled for us at a HopeKids HopeWalk, a 5K to raise money and support for families who have a child with cancer or other life-threatening medical conditions.

“Not enough people know about Icing Smiles,” Julie says. “This is such a good way to get the word out. I really believe in Icing Smiles — and if I believe in something that somebody does, then I could talk about it forever.”

If you want to represent Icing Smiles at a local event, join our Local Outreach Team. We will ensure you are prepped and ready with the knowledge of what we are, how we work, and why we are needed.

4. Peer-to-peer Fundraise

Fundraising is great — we always need more donations. But one of the most valuable aspects of peer-to-peer fundraising is that they’re also “friendraisers.”

“By sharing about Icing Smiles and the cakes they’re making, more people are learning of our cause and mission, helping us to grow toward our organization’s goal of becoming a household name,” says Development Coordinator Chelsea Boog. 

Some common ways to fundraise for Icing Smiles are through cake and cookie sponsorships and virtual bake sales. There are lots of ways to peer-to-peer fundraise, though. For example, this past holiday season Sugar Angel Linda Cloutier donated to her local Festival of Trees, which is part of a silent auction that raises money for the charity of the donor’s choice. “I, of course, chose Icing Smiles,” she says. By participating, Linda not only raised funds for Icings Smiles but also raised awareness for our organization.

5. Pay It Forward

For all of our bakers out there, a simple way to introduce people to Icing Smiles and get them excited about supporting the cause is by baking a batch of cookies, attaching some information about us, and handing them out at work, church, your kids’ sporting events, and beyond. 

You might try adding the Icing Smiles logo or tagline — Baking a Difference — to the cookies using edible icing or frosting. Or you can print out small cards or flyers that contain information about Icing Smiles, such as a brief description of our mission, along with contact information and our website. You can attach these cards to the cookies using a ribbon or string. This can be a great opportunity to engage with people, answer any questions they may have, and get them excited about supporting us.

6. Share on Social

Of course, one of the easiest and most effective ways to get our name out there is on social media. Just one post, tweet, or Instagram story can dramatically increase awareness of Icing Smiles and our impact. 

You can write a post explaining why you care about Icing Smiles or how we’ve made an impact on your life. You can share about when you volunteer or are just thinking about the nonprofit. 

You can also follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn and sign up to receive our newsletters and blog posts. If one of our Facebook or Instagram posts or blogs catches your eye and makes you feel inspired, take the extra step and share it. The simple act of sharing could allow someone who might be eligible to receive a cake to discover us for the first time. Don’t underestimate the power of the post!

7. Wear Icing Smiles Gear

Another way to help increase awareness in your local area and show your personal support for Icing Smiles is to wear Icing Smiles gear. We have an Icing Smiles bracelet with our logo on the front and “Baking a Difference” on the back. We also offer a Sugar Angel Smile Pack, which includes a purple T-shirt, a logo patch, and a window cling. 

Sugar Angel Tiffany Michelle Stuart recently wore her pin to work and then posted about it on Facebook!

Share the Icing Smiles Story

“We’re never going to turn down a monetary donation,” Tracy says. “But there are so many other things you can do that are just as valuable. We rely on so much more than donations to provide smiles to our medical families.”

Lena Nguyen was bored, stuck at home during COVID, so the high schooler started experimenting in the kitchen. She found success with macarons. Initially, she gave away her creations to family and friends, but then they started asking her to bake for parties and events. 

“I like how you can be really experimental,” says Lena of why she enjoys baking. “You don’t have to follow a recipe. When I try following a recipe, I always end up changing it up a bit. Then the end product is unique to you. No one else will do the same thing.”

When her school reopened and she attended “club rush,” where students learn about each of the school’s clubs, she looked for a baking club. But there wasn’t one. So Lena decided to create one. As volunteer at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Lena loves helping children. She learned about Icing Smiles through a Google search, and the mission immediately resonated with her. 

The next year at club rush, the Icing Smiles Club at Fountain Valley High School in California had its own table, and over 200 students expressed interest. “Icing Smiles brought a new experience or new view in volunteering and helping out the community,” Lena says. Seven people joined the board, with Lena, now a junior, as co-president. Their goal is to raise $1,000 for Icing Smiles. 

So far, the club has hosted a few bake sales at the school. To prep for the bake sale, Lena and her classmates gather in someone’s kitchen, turn on some music — usually Taylor Swift or Gracie Abrahms — and get baking. “We’re all having fun and seeing the joy in baking while raising money for a good cause,” she says. 

Through sales of Rice Krispies treats, brownies, mochi, and pizookies (a chocolate chip cookie baked in a skillet and then served with ice cream on top), the students have raised over $600. The club also takes orders for students’ upcoming birthdays, and the money from the cake sales is donated, too. “We’re trying to raise as much as we can for Icing Smiles,” Lena says. 

The club has had a positive impact on everyone involved. Some members have discovered a newfound love for baking, and Lena hopes to recruit more members who are interested in learning how to bake. 

Starting and running the club has been a learning experience for Lena as well. “It’s a huge responsibility,” she says. “I found it a really good experience in terms of leadership and event planning. It brought me more confidence.” 

Spreading Sweetness and Awareness

On the other side of the country, in Briarcliff Manor, New York, high schooler Maya Siegel was also using the pandemic to bake. “A lot of people didn’t want to go out, so I started selling from my house,” Maya says. But Maya wanted to do more than just bake, she wanted to bake a difference. 

Maya learned about Icing Smiles through her mom, who works at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, and signed up to be a Sugar Angel. She’s created one Fun Cake for a medical family. Maya also donates 10% of the profits from her business, Maya Bakes, to Icing Smiles. 

“It’s amazing how much impact making cakes can have,” Maya says.

Inspired by the mission, Maya wanted to raise awareness of Icing Smiles among her peers. In February 2023, she officially formed an Icing Smiles club at Briarcliff High School. So far the students have created greeting cards for children in the organization and hosted a bake sale, raising about $150 for Icing Smiles. 

“It’s cool seeing a lot of people from my school coming together and being interested in something I am and something that’s important,” Maya says. “There are so many other people that seem passionate about it, too.”

Calling All High Schoolers

Student Smiles is the official high school volunteer program for Icing Smiles. We offer many ways for high schoolers to volunteer and gain valuable experience. 

Like Lena and Maya, students can plan fundraisers for Icing Smiles and create greeting cards for the children we serve. They can also spread the mission of Icing Smiles on social media and other online platforms. For example, Lena’s high school newspaper, the Baron News, wrote two stories about the Icing Smiles club at the high school. 

“We’ve seen the impact that high school clubs can have on students,” says Icing Smiles Assistant Director Karen Griffiths. “Not only do they provide an opportunity to pursue interests and passions, but they also allow for the development of important skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication. The success of our Icing Smiles high school clubs is a testament to the power of student-driven initiatives and the incredible impact they can have on the community.”

Learn more about how you can help create more smiles today.

Icing Smiles Founder and Executive Director Tracy Quisenberry was in middle school when she knew she wanted to be an accountant. Her mom had struggled to make ends meet after her parents divorced, and Tracy had heard that accountants always had jobs. She was attracted to the stability. 

“Which is kind of ironic,” Tracy says with a laugh. “Because starting a nonprofit is the farthest thing from stability that you could possibly think of.”

But Tracy knows what it’s like to sit with the fear of the unknown, to have life turned upside down by childhood illness, and to struggle with feeling like there’s nothing you can do. This led her to an idea for how to give an ounce of control, a pinch of stability, and a heaping tablespoon of joy back to families who were in the midst of difficult situations. 

The Seeds of Inspiration

Ronnie, Tracy’s first Make-A-Wish kid

Tracy was an accounting undergraduate when she was exposed to the world of childhood illness. Home to the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, THON, Penn State University hosts an annual dance marathon that raises money for children and families impacted by childhood cancer. 

“Little did I know that the children who came to encourage us would capture my heart with their courage and positive attitude,” she says. 

After college, while working at an accounting firm in Philadelphia, Tracy volunteered for Make-A-Wish. Ronnie, her first Make-A-Wish kid, left a deep impression.

“I remember wanting to scoop that kid up and bear hug him so tight that his brain tumor would be the least of his worries,” Tracy says. “I remember thinking that this kid who is going through so much is so ‘normal.’ I remember thinking that his mom was a rock star for her ability to raise such a great kid under impossible circumstances. I remember that his gratitude and humility was a rush to which I could easily become addicted. I remember that I knew instantly that he had impacted me for a lifetime.”

Childhood Illness Changes Everything

Tracy with her children, Justin and Emily

When Tracy got pregnant with her first child, she was working as a high-powered international tax director at Marriott International. Like many soon-to-be moms, she had imagined many precious newborn moments soon after the birth, like introducing her daughter to friends and family and the idyllic drive home from the hospital.

Instead, her daughter’s first few days were anything but. Emily was born prematurely, and after each feeding, she would turn “dusky.” On her second day, she had to be rushed to the NICU. Tracy was discharged while her daughter remained in the hospital. Although her daughter was only diagnosed with severe infant acid reflux and released a week later, Tracy says she’ll “never forget the fear of the unknown while we waited to find out what was wrong. I just wanted to protect my baby, and I sat helpless on the postpartum floor.”

Three years later, her infant son — also premature — started experiencing significant chronic health concerns. She traded meetings on tax strategy for doctor appointments and eventually took a leave of absence from her job to focus on her son’s care and attempt to maintain a “normal” life for her healthy daughter. 

“Justin’s illness turned our lives completely upside down,” Tracy says. “You don’t know what’s wrong, you don’t have a diagnosis, you just know you’re at the whim of whatever is going on with his body, and your life is not yours.”

Although both of her kids are healthy today — Tracy is quick to say that she realizes how blessed she is — she can still easily recall the panic and fear she felt while dealing with her childrens’ illnesses. 

“My experience with my kids, while it wasn’t significant, certainly played into why I wanted to give back to families with sick kids,” she says.

The Power of Cake

While on leave, Tracy needed something positive to focus on — and what is more positive than cake? 

“I threw myself into baking,” says Tracy, who created cakes for her children, family, and friends. For Tracy, the allure of baking wasn’t so much the process itself but rather in the response the cakes elicited. She delighted in the way a well-executed cake could surprise and impress people, transforming their demeanor and imbuing any occasion with a more positive atmosphere. “People are just not sad around a cake,” Tracy says. “It changes the tone, no matter the event.”

Tracy quickly recognized the power of cake to uplift people’s spirits and create a memorable experience. “But there weren’t enough reasons to bake.”

Then a neighbor told Tracy about a little girl named Violet. She had battled undiagnosed illness for several months before learning that she had a brain tumor. For Violet’s seventh birthday, Tracy baked Icing Smiles’ first cake.

Violet’s mom Robin remembers the day of the delivery: “Violet had never had a fancy cake like that before. Not only was it beautiful — it was delicious. Tracy did such a great job capturing Violet’s personality without even meeting her in person before making the cake! It was the best cake ever!”

Accounting for Joy

Tracy officially incorporated Icing Smiles in October 2009. Thanks to her accounting background, she was able to do all of the paperwork herself. 

“Icing Smiles would not exist if it wasn’t for what I do for a living,” she says. “I prepared our incorporation documents. I prepared our 501c3 charitable status filing with the IRS. Professional fees to start a nonprofit will average $5,000 to $15,000. There’s no way I could have made that investment. I just did it on my own.”

Through her experience with Make-A-Wish, Tracy knew she wanted bakers to work directly with the families, rather than through social workers. “I wanted volunteers to have the same experience I had granting Ronnie’s wish,” she says. “I wanted our Sugar Angels to meet these kids who give us more than we give them. I wanted them to connect with parents who are living a life they never expected or wanted.”

For the first six months, Tracy had trouble finding kids to serve. Then, through the power of social media, a request was made for Ben, who was receiving treatment for neuroblastoma at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City. Tracy cold-called several of the best bakers in the country, and Kate Sullivan of Cake Power answered the call to action.

“Kate blogged about her experience doing this cake for us and Parents magazine picked it up — and my phone started blowing up,” Tracy recalls. “She was our original vision carrier. In one day, I had 300 volunteer applications. From that day on, it was a runaway train.” 

Icing on the Cake

Icing Smiles has since grown from one baker to over 13,000. Sugar Angels have created over 27,786 cakes and 4,766 dozen cookies. The executive team has graduated from an Excel spreadsheet to a customer relationship management system, which helped cut the average application processing time from 30 minutes to 10 minutes. And each year, they need to raise over $175,000 to make it all happen. 

“As a CPA, I know how to be fiscally responsible for an organization, and that is a big factor in our success,” says Tracy, who rejoined the corporate world in 2014 and is now the international tax lead at EchoStar Corp. “I know how to manage funds. I treat our donations as if they are my money. We’re very fiscally conservative. But the stress that comes with ensuring we can pay our bills — this is unbelievable. We are often asked why we need cash when our cakes are donated. It is hard for people to understand that we can’t pay our bills in cake.” 

When things get stressful, Tracy thinks about Felicia and Chelsea and Teresa and Kristen.

“A lot of people think Icing Smiles is about the kids,” Tracy says. “For me, it’s not. It’s about the moms. It’s about giving them the ability to do something for their child in a time when everything is spinning out of control for them. It gives them some control back.”

Give a Smile

A cake is so much more than a cake. It is a way to show someone they are not alone. It is a memory during difficult times. It is a temporary escape and a sense of normalcy for families rocked by childhood illness. To quote one of our medical moms, “It is the gasp of air just when you think you are going to drown.”

Help us tell them they are not alone. Help us give them a small escape and glimpse at normal. Sometimes feeling normal is enough to keep you going. Tracy will ensure your donation goes a long way!