How Partake’s founder turned her daughter’s allergies into an allergy-friendly Girl Scout cookie

Denise Woodard left a corporate food job and built Partake after her daughter Vivienne experienced a severe reaction to food and was diagnosed with food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) to eggs and other typical food allergies. The company makes cookies and snacks free of common allergens so children with restrictions can eat the same treats as their peers.

Vivienne's diagnosis revealed the social as well as nutritional consequences of severe food allergies. Families often have to substitute or pack separate foods for school events and parties. Woodard says that realization pushed her to create snacks that are both safe and appealing so children with allergies can "take part" without being identified as different.

Woodard tested recipes with a nanny and a product developer, prioritized clean ingredient lists that avoid the top allergens, and funded early operations by tapping personal savings, including her 401(k) and selling an engagement ring. Her pitch attracted investors, including Marcy Venture Partners. In 2019 she reached a fundraising milestone noted in coverage: she became the first Black woman to raise more than $1 million for a packaged food company.

Partake's lineup includes graham-style cookies, wafers and crunchy "Teeny-Tiny" chocolate chip cookies — a favorite of Vivienne. The brand reports that about half of its customers do not have severe food allergies, indicating broader appeal beyond the allergy community.

Partake collaborated with the Girl Scouts of the USA to create Sparkables, described as the organization's first allergy-friendly cookie. Sparkables feature chocolate chips and colored sprinkles and were developed to look and taste like mainstream options so kids with allergies can sell and enjoy them without feeling excluded.

Sparkables will be sold through the Girl Scouts' digital ordering system and shipped, not sold in-person at traditional cookie booths. The cookie is scheduled to be available for online orders beginning January 2027.

For families managing food allergies, Sparkables expands choices during cookie season and offers a way for children with allergies to participate in a common social and fundraising activity. For non-allergic consumers, Partake products are positioned as mainstream-tasting treats rather than substitutes.

Look for how widely Sparkables are promoted through Girl Scouts' digital channels, how inventory and shipping are handled during peak cookie season, and whether other organizations form similar partnerships to offer allergy-friendly versions of traditional treats.