K-LOVE – Monika Kelly (complete podcast available)-- It's been a little more a year since Kelli Ridenour decided to turn her successful for-profit cookie business into a non-profit called Kelli's Cookies, For Goodness Bakes.
Her inspiration? Kelli wanted to make a difference in the lives of foster youth who often end up homeless or addicted after "aging-out" of the foster care system at age 18. She also wanted to help at-risk youth in the Placer and Sacramento County regions of Northern California.
Kelli says her mission at For Goodness Bakes goes beyond just training young people how to bake and sell cookies. She truly wants to see vulnerable youth--both "aged-out" foster kids as well as "at-risk"--become successful in all areas of their lives.
Kelli first learned to bake cookies in her grandmother's kitchen and she knows how powerful and life-changing it is when someone cares. When she decided to re-open her business as a non-profit, Kelli knew that mentorship would be a big part of the process. Not only does Kelli teach the basics of cookie-baking, but how to package and ship the cookies, the fine points of customer service, cash handling and sales and marketing. Kelli says she's all about life enrichment. She career coaches, helps with resume writing, budgeting and even shares her knowledge of self-defense and safety. Her goal is to see at-risk young people have an incredible future.
Community service is also important to Kelli's Cookies. Kelli has started a Random Acts of Kindness Program, delivering fresh cookies to various organizations, including local senior citizen's retirement homes. She also makes it a regular practice to drop off fresh, delicious cookies to the homeless, underprivileged schools, and other non-profit agencies in the region.
Kelli Ridenour is bringing fresh-baked cookies and self-confidence to an otherwise disenfranchised generation, making a difference through Kelli's Cookies For Goodness Bakes, one young life a time.
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