When 13 - twelvemonth - old Michael Platt was diagnosed with epilepsy in the sixth form , he had to throw in a few of his favorite matter — diving , climb trees , and doing gymnastics . But it was n’t enough to stop him from bake , a hobby born from many an afternoon spent watch bakers function their culinary legerdemain across YouTube , The Washington Postreports .
So the then-11 - year - old determine to open a bakery of his own , take to the woods from his kitchen in Bowie , Maryland , with the avail of his female parent . Inspired by the TOMS one - for - one model , Michael foundedMichaels Dessertswith a missionary post to donate one baked honorable for each one buy . He sells about 100 items each calendar month ( 75 cupcake , plus a couple twelve shortbread cookie cooky and other " chef ’s selection " items ) , and mete out the free raft to domestic violence shelters , transitional lodging , or in McPherson Square in Washington , D.C.
Michael calls his cupcakes " freedom fighter cupcakes , " and theme each calendar month ’s flavor around a shape with a strong impingement on the landscape of polite rights and societal activism . Harriet Tubman’sOctober cupcake is great deal burnt umber chip , because her family often shorten her birth name Araminta to " Minty . " This calendar month ’s cupcake is banana pudding , a flavor thatMaya Angelouloved . January and February belong to Michael ’s personal heroMartin Luther King Jr. , whose sapidity is sweet white potato vine pie .
The young do - gooder is in particular warm of passing out his treats to child , because he feels that cupcakes are a quintessential childhood experience . He even taught a baking division at an Williams - Sonoma in Annapolis , Maryland , for a suggested price of $ 30 per individual , and gave the take toNo Kid Hungry .
For Michael , the driving force behind his dessert line of work transcends his passion for baking . " It ’s all about helping people , " he toldThe Washington Post , " Not just have a purpose for yourself , but thinking about , ' How does this touch other things ? ' "
[ h / tThe Washington Post ]
