The holiday season is right around the corner, and what better way to spread cheer than by supporting your fellow Spartans while finding amazing gifts and causes for everyone on your list? Since 2020, the Broad College of Business and the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation have teamed up to create the ultimate holiday gift and giving guide, supporting Spartan-led organizations. This year, get ready to discover incredible businesses and nonprofits founded or led by Michigan State University alumni and students.
Let’s make this holiday unforgettable by giving back and celebrating Spartan spirit together!
Capital City Sweets: Edible cookie dough and sweet treats
Get ready for a sweet treat from Capital City Sweets, Lansing’s specialty dessert shop! This delightful spot is serving up ready-to-eat cookie dough that you can conveniently order online and have delivered right to your door.
Founded by Patrick Kayser (B.A. Urban and Regional Planning ’22) in May 2022, Capital City Sweets began in an incubator space in Downtown Lansing. By February 2023, Patrick and co-founder Daniel Mooney had their sights set on a dedicated storefront, expanding their delicious offerings to include ice cream, homemade pies and other irresistible baked goods. They even launched a fundraising campaign through Honeycomb Credit to turn their dream into reality!
While they work on their new space, you can still satisfy your cravings by ordering their delectable edible cookie dough for local delivery or gifting. Choose from a tempting variety of flavors, including birthday cake, M&Ms, cookies and cream and peanut butter cup.
OG’s Bakery: Custom cake pops and cookies
Try OG’s Bakery, your new go-to spot in Grand Rapids for custom cake pops and cookies! Founded by the talented Olivia Gargett (B.A. Marketing ’24), OG’s Bakery is all about spreading sweetness across the nation with delightful, customizable treats.
Gargett’s baking journey began at just 13 years old, inspired by the show Cake Boss. What started as baking for her family soon blossomed into fulfilling orders for friends and eventually launching OG’s Bakery eight years ago. Now, she’s on a mission to bring people together through her delicious creations.
Whether you’re planning a holiday party, looking for the perfect sweet gift or want a tasty treat “just because,” place your order and celebrate with some scrumptious goodies.
Chateau Coffee Co.: Mediterranean & French-inspired coffee and pastries
If you’re on the hunt for your new favorite coffee shop, look no further than Chateau Coffee Co. in Lansing!
Owner Tarek Chawich (B.A. Supply Chain Management ’20) grew up in the Beqqa Valleys of Lebanon, savoring Arabic coffee and French pastries. After settling in Lansing and working at Apple, he followed his passion to open Chateau Coffee Co., where you’ll find delicious Mediterranean and French-inspired drinks and treats.
Swing by for a flavorful espresso, a buttery croissant or some irresistible Lebanese baklava. And don’t forget to grab a gift card for someone special on your holiday shopping list! Plus, keep an eye out — Chateau Coffee Co. is opening a second location in Okemos soon.
Leelanau Cheese Co.: Artisanal cheeses
Located in northern Michigan, Leelanau Cheese Co. has been delighting cheese lovers since 1995 with its cave-aged, award-winning European-style cheeses that have earned a fantastic reputation both locally and internationally.
In 2021, Gary Smith (B.S. Food Science ’15, M.S. Food Science ’17) and Joshua Hall took the reins, continuing the company’s tradition of crafting high-quality dairy products that showcase Michigan’s rich agricultural bounty. Hall previously directed the dairy manufacturing efforts at the MSU Dairy Foods Complex and holds a distinguished recognition within the American Cheese Society as a Certified Cheese Professional. Together, Smith and Hall develop incredible flavors in their cheeses as the wheels age in a specially designed cave, which mimics the traditional aging caves found in Europe.
Can’t make it to the creamery? No worries! You can order online and have delicious gifts shipped right to your door. We’ve got our eyes on the Leelanau Peninsula Cheese Holiday Box and the irresistible raclette!
Detroit Salsa Company: Tortilla chips and salsas
What began as a middle school project has blossomed into a thriving business that pays tribute to journalism junior and founder Finn Gomez’s great-grandmother Lupe. The Detroit Salsa Company is a family-run, fourth-generation salsa sensation based in Lincoln Park, with roots in Corktown and Southwest Detroit. If you stop by their storefront, you’ll discover a fun array of products, from apparel and gifts to, of course, their delicious salsas! You can also find Detroit Salsa Company products in local markets and grocery stores throughout Michigan. Come taste the love in every jar!
Bros ’n Dough: Stuffed bagels
Bros ’n Dough is a fun, family-owned business based in Oxford, and they’re all about hand-making delicious stuffed bagels! With three mouthwatering flavors — bacon cheddar, jalapeño cheddar, and apple cinnamon — you’re in for a treat.
Marketing junior Gavin Green and his family started this tasty venture in their hometown but quickly realized they needed to share the goodness with a wider audience. Now, you can find Bros ’n Dough at markets and grocery stores all over the United States! Here’s a hot tip for Spartans on campus: they’re also available at Sparty’s locations and at the MSU Dairy Store. Hurry and grab some before they sell out!
ZolliCandy: Allergen-friendly, sugar-free candies and sweet treats
ZolliCandy is on a mission to make sweet treats that are good for your teeth! The idea for Zollipops® was sparked when 7-year-old Alina Morse (sophomore, finance) asked her dad, “Why can’t we make a lollipop that’s good for your teeth?”
Inspired by her curiosity, Alina and her dad set out to create delicious lollipops that are both tasty and tooth-friendly. In 2014, they launched the first Zollipops: vegan, all-natural, and sugar-free!
ZolliCandy has grown to include not only Zollipops but also Zolli® Drops and Zaffi® Taffy.
Today, ZolliCandy is a best-selling brand of sugar-free, healthy candy found in retailers across the United States. In addition, it sparked the ZolliCandy’s Million Smiles Initiative, promoting oral health year-round for kids of all ages.
Read more about Alina and ZolliCandy in MSUToday.
Dream Recovery: Sleep and recovery tools
Get ready to enjoy the ultimate long winter’s nap! Dream Recovery, founded by Todd Anderson (B.A. Health Studies ’11), is on a mission to create the best recovery products backed by science. Their lineup includes everything from mouth tape to sleep masks and silk pillowcases, all made in the USA. These goodies are your ticket to deep, restful, rejuvenating sleep — perfect for those cozy winter naps by the fire.
Rested Pillow Mattress: Michigan-made customizable mattresses and pillows
Rested Pillow Mattress was born out of years of sleepless nights on cheap mattresses. Co-owners Nick and Allison Gillespie (B.A. Marketing ’04) are continuing a three-generation legacy by partnering with Michigan artisans to handcraft high-quality, customizable mattresses. Made with the finest materials, these mattresses promise your best night’s sleep. Hosting guests for the holidays? Check out the Signature Pillow, designed with a unique U-shape for neck pain relief and spinal alignment. Like the mattresses, it’s customizable in firmness to ensure the perfect fit for every sleeper.
FÜL Beverage: Nonalcoholic brews and hydration drinks
FÜL Beverage, founded by Mark Rieth (B.A. Marketing ’89), brings you a fun line of functional drinks that are healthier alternatives to sports drinks and alcoholic beverages. With six tasty options to choose from — two nonalcoholic brews, three energizing drinks and two recovery beverages — there’s something for everyone.
FÜL Beverage is all about incredible flavor without refined sugars or preservatives, making it the perfect addition to your holiday drink rotation. Cheers to that!
CocoMar: Coconut water–based protein drink
Keep an eye out for CocoMar, the first coconut water–based protein drink, coming soon! Founded by MSU students Breno Tepedino, an economics senior, Valentina Sgrillo, a dietetics junior, and Mahhav Aggarwal, an applied engineering sciences junior, CocoMar was most recently featured in the third annual Venture Summit, hosted by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
BRCÉ: Sneaker accessories
A second startup, BRCÉ was born from the creativity of Aggarwal and Tanvi Gadasmetti, who set out to revolutionize sneaker accessories. Their innovative athletic gear is designed for various sports and activities, featuring cutting-edge proprietary composite materials to boost performance and safety. Don’t miss their amazing products, including shoelaces that never come undone!
Camp Casey: Accessible horseback riding programs for children undergoing serious healthcare treatments
Camp Casey is all about creating safe and joyful experiences for children and families dealing with childhood cancer, sickle cell disease and other serious illnesses by providing accessible horseback riding programs. Founded by Molly Reeser (B.A. Journalism ’05) while she was still a student at MSU, this Farmington Hills–based nonprofit has a heartwarming origin story.
At just 19 years old in 2002, Molly spotted an ad in the State News for a job cleaning horse stalls at a local farm. While working at the farm, Molly met Casey Foote, a 10-year-old girl undergoing chemotherapy for bone and brain cancer and a dedicated rider. She and Molly quickly became friends. Casey passed away shortly after her 12th birthday, which inspired Molly to start hosting other children from Sparrow Hospital for fun-filled days on the farm in Casey’s memory.
What began as a small gesture has blossomed into an incredible organization that serves more than 1,600 participants each season, offering a range of programs designed to uplift and support families in need. Camp Casey relies entirely on fundraising and donations to keep its mission alive.
As we enter the giving season, consider remembering Camp Casey and the joy they bring to so many. Your support can help create more magical moments for children and families during challenging times.
Read more about Camp Casey at ComArtSci.
The Cleanup Club: Keeping Michigan beautiful and litter-free
The Cleanup Club is a fun-loving Michigan-based nonprofit founded by Hannah Tizedes (B.S. Advertising, Environmental & Sustainability Studies ’17), who’s on a mission to protect our communities and the Great Lakes from plastic pollution! Before launching the Cleanup Club, Hannah, an artist, collected thousands of pieces of debris from the shorelines and transformed them into eye-catching art installations that spark important conversations.
Throughout the year, the Cleanup Club organizes exciting events in parks, city centers, shorelines and beaches across Michigan. Local businesses can team up with the club to host cleanup events, helping to remove hundreds, even thousands, of pounds of trash from their neighborhoods. If you’re passionate about keeping Michigan beautiful and litter-free, consider making a holiday donation to the Cleanup Club!
Half Days: Fashion-forward winter gear
Planning to hit the slopes this season? You’ll need high-performance outerwear that looks great too! Check out Half Days, a women-first outerwear company based in Colorado, specializing in stylish and technical ski wear. Co-founded by Ariana Ferwerda (B.A. Marketing ’17, M.S. Marketing Research ’18), Half Days delivers mountain-ready fashion made from recycled technical materials.
Ferwerda has made waves in the industry, landing a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and receiving the Young Alum of the Year Award from the Broad College of Business in 2024. Browse Half Days’ selection of coats, pants, accessories, and more — perfect for holiday gifts or a little festive treat for yourself (we promise to keep it a secret!).
GiantMouse Knives: High-quality knives
GiantMouse Knives was co-founded by Jim Wirth (B.A. Professional Accounting ’89) with a mission to create a knife brand that combines fantastic design and top-notch quality at a fair price. The talented designers at GiantMouse craft high-quality production knives and put them through rigorous testing, ensuring that every finished product is one they’d be proud to carry. Check out their fantastic selection, including a line of kitchen knives perfect for all your holiday mealtime gatherings!
Storehouse in a Box: Merchandising to help your brand shine
Storehouse in a Box, founded by Tamira Chapman (B.A. Logistics, Materials and Supply Chain Management ’01), is an award-winning tech company that specializes in helping brands shine through merchandising. They offer a complete range of services, from product design and prototyping to manufacturing and fundraising. Catering to corporations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, educational institutions and influencers, Storehouse in a Box is your go-to destination for all your merchandising needs!
BrickShield: Adhesive spray for your build projects
Tired of glue ruining your awesome builds? Meet BrickShield brick glue adhesive spray, created by Paul Jaques and Sean Fochtman from the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation! This fun, nontoxic aerosol makes bonding your creations a breeze — no more permanent mess or ugly white residue. Simply spray, stick, and when you’re ready for a change, wash it off with warm water. Perfect for holiday gifting or your own creative projects, BrickShield gives you control over your masterpieces. Check it out on their website or Amazon — your builds will thank you!
Student-Made at MSU: Support Spartan student entrepreneurs
Have you checked out Student-Made at MSU? This marketplace platform, launched in fall 2023, connects you with the innovative products of Spartan student entrepreneurs, whom Student-Made proudly calls creators. With an array of goods, the marketplace currently showcases creators in many different mediums, including sweet treats, fashion, jewelry, fiber/visual/digital arts and more. Whether you’re looking for gifts for college students or anyone else in your life, Student-Made is a great way to support student artists and find some amazing products!
In collaboration with the Burgess Institute, Student-Made is more than just a marketplace — it’s a springboard for student ventures. The Institute provides a rich tapestry of programs, courses and resources, all aimed at cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset through experiential learning. It prepares students to navigate challenges with resilience, embrace learning opportunities in failure and acquire distinctive skills that shine in the professional world.
Make sure to check out the talented creators at Student-Made for your holiday shopping needs!
These are just a small collection of organizations founded and led by our talented MSU alumni, students, faculty and staff. We hope this guide, along with our previous guides, inspires you to seek out Spartan businesses this holiday season!
This story originally appeared on the Eli Broad College of Business website.