The 2017 Ad Club ADmiration Award Winner
Presented by

Collette Divitto

Founder of Collettey’s Cookies

Since 2011, Collette, a young woman with Down Syndrome, has been creating her own recipe for cookies for fun! But after rejection over and over again when applying for a job and being told she had great skills but was not “a good fit” she was determined to own her own business, despite any disability, and show people how able she is. Collette was not only determined to show everyone how capable people with (dis) abilities are, but her mission is to open production facilities across the country and employ thousands of different abilities !  ONLY 17.5% of the population of people with disabilities were employed in 2015.

Collette’s story was picked up by CBS local Boston, and aired as a “feel good” story for the holidays.  Well it became more than that!! Within 10 days, she had over 9.5m views of FB, and over 50,000 cookies ordered. She received over 65,000 letters from people all over the world within 10 days, admiring her determination and ambition and finding her inspirational offering them hope. The letters are such incredible stories and shared personal experiences. She also received over 100 letters from people from all over offering their skills and services as a gift to help her.

Collette is being featured on CBS Nightly News and Good Morning America. She has been interviewed by Self Magazine, Boston Food Journal, local Universities, Canadian Radio Station, Pop Sugar, and the list continues daily. Collette has been told she is causing a Global Movement for people with different abilities! Collette now has over 17m viewers, a HUGE fan club cheering her for success, has been written up in newspapers in Germany, Australia, Nigeria, China, Japan, France, Argentina, England, Spain, and of course all over the US.

Collette’s plan moving forward, is to increase production and build her professional team in Boston as Phase I. Which she has started!  Collette is already in discussion to replicate this first phase across the country in different states, so she can offer employment to thousands of people with different abilities.  This is one strong, young lady!