Making Things Better on the Path to a Cure

Big change can come from seemingly small choices.

When you're working for a "cure" - whether to health, social, or environmental problems - it may seem like small choices aren't enough.

Like they might not matter.

But making things better while we search for cures has an undeniable impact.

2024 marks 10 years since the Teal Pumpkin Project became a national - and international - movement.

That's 10 years of a safer, happier Halloween for kids with food allergies - and other kids for whom candy can present a problem.

10 years of children who spend every day being vigilant about their meals and snacks feeling more included, welcomed by their communities, and knowing they belong.

10 years of kids getting to be kids.

We still need cures and the big, sweeping changes they bring.

But let's not forget the big impact that small choices - and the power of community - can create.

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From its community origins with Becky Basalone and the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee to the mighty work of our small communications team at FARE and our broader food allergy community who brought this beautiful idea to a national stage to the retail partners, online communities, and White House appearances that helped increase impact, the Teal Pumpkin Project remains a model of how we can make things better when we work together.

My gratitude, always, to Anna Luke, Nancy Gregory, and Brendan Coakley for being an amazing team that poured so much care and energy into making this moment into a movement that would affect children and their families for years to come.

And if you're a social impact leader in a "cure" organization who's wondering how you can support your community and mobilize a movement that makes things better along the way, here's an article I wrote a few years back about some of our key learnings: https://bit.ly/481hmEk.

If you want to learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, support food allergy families nationwide, or donate to the cause, visit FARE's website: https://bit.ly/3Yityxo.