The Calliope Joy Foundation

Calliope Joy Carr, nicknamed Cal, is the youngest child of founders Pat Carr and Maria Kefalas. Cal was diagnosed with late-infantile onset metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) at the age of 2. Leukodystrophies are a family of 50 degenerative, neurological disorders (including Tay-Sachs disease) that affect 1 in 7,000 live births. “Leuko” means white, and “dystrophy” means imperfect growth, meaning leukodystrophies are characterized by imperfect development of the brain’s white matter. In 2013, Cal’s brother, PJ, had the idea to sell cupcakes to raise money and help the doctors find a cure for "Cal's disease." Since then, we have sold 45,000 cupcakes and raised more than $750,000 through Cal's Cupcake Challenge, The Cupcake 5k, and The Cupcake Gala. Cal's Cupcakes helped establish the nation's first Leukodystrophy Center of Excellence at the world-renowned Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Cal is now 10 years old and receives hospice care at home. Because of her amazing nurses and doctors, she laughs and smiles every day. We believe cupcakes can change the world. Venmo: CalliopeJoy