Meet Collette Divitto
This young lady is on a mission to change the world — one cookie at a time!
Collette Divitto was born in 1990 with Down syndrome. She grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut where she developed a passion for baking after taking home economic classes in high school.
After high school, Collette attended Clemson University, and finished a three-year LIFE program in just two years. Ms. Divitto, was totally inexperienced as a business owner but made the bold move (with help from her mom and sister ) after receiving a number of job interview rejections, often via an email saying that she wasn’t “a good fit” for their company.
Ms. Divitto was just 26, when she decided to transform her baking hobby into a cookie business called Collettey’s . Combining passion and perseverance, she said “You have to really focus on your abilities and not the disadvantages.” There was no stopping her determination. Driven by her desire to earn a steady income and eventually live independently, Divitto decided to go to a local grocery store in 2016 to ask if they would sell her baked goods. After tasting some of her samples, they immediately agreed. This was the start on her path to a successful business.
“My cookies are like ridiculously yummy cookies,” Divitto, told ABC News of her signature “amazing cookie,” adding that she includes “100 percent love” as an ingredient.” Can’t go wrong with that!
In late 2016, the Boston CBS TV affiliate featured Collette and her company on their nightly news program. Soon, she was flooded with orders. The national news picked up her story, and Collettey’s Cookies went viral. She has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Inside Edition, BBC, and many other print and television media outlets around the world.
Collettey’s employs 17 people and two interns, (along with her mother); everyone has varying abilities proving that Collettey’s really is a forward thinking business celebrating diversity. It is really important to her to be able to give others job opportunities!
She states, “My favorite part of my company is creating more jobs for people with all types of disabilities.”
Collettey’s, is based in Boston and ships thousands of cookies and dog treats each week to people and companies nationwide. That number often increases around the holidays, with Divitto noting she has produced 30,000 cookies in a two-week period. Doggone it! That’s a lot of cookies and dog treats!
Ms Divitto hopes to partner with Ben & Jerry’s one day and make an ice cream with her cookie in it! Browse her delicious baked goods at colletteys.com.
When she is not baking cookies, Divitto also runs a nonprofit, Collettey’s Leadership Program, colletteysleadership.org, which was launched in 2018. Her organization offers workshops on independence and entrepreneurship. She’s inspiring others!
She is also the author of “Collette in Kindergarten.” Stay tuned for her next book, “Collette in Third Grade,” that will be coming out soon. Check out Collette’s books here: linktr.ee/collettedivitto.
“Do not let people bring you down and do not give up on your careers and dreams because when one door closes, another door opens.” This is Collette’s great advice for anyone and everyone!
When the Coronavirus hit, it devastated Ms. Divitto’s cookie company. She had to let go of 10 of her employees and business came to a halt. But that didn’t stop her from doing something great. During the pandemic her team of bakers got together and boxed up their cookies to give out to those in nursing homes, as well as frontline workers. She stated her motivation as “They are amazing people and I love sending them cookies. They are an inspiration…They are heroes that are protecting everyone.”
What’s next for Collette Divitto? Her ultimate goal is to work with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to create policies that would increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities!
For more info on Collette, visit linktr.ee/collettedivitto.
