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Gretchen Holt Witt

Gretchen Holt Witt is an award-winning cookbook author and leading activist for children’s cancer research. 

A powerhouse in the food industry, Witt has overseen public relations and marketing for some of the biggest brands, including KitchenAid Cookware, OXO, Hamilton Beech/Proctor-Silex, Curculon and Chicago Cutlery.  But nearly five years ago, her career took a back seat when her then two-and-a-half-year-old son Liam was diagnosed with stage IV pediatric cancer. Discovering a lack of research funding for the disease, she held a bake sale to try and raise money for the cause. In December of 2007, Witt sold an astonishing 96,000 cookies and raised $400,000 for cancer research. Since then, her foundation, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, has held over 2,000 bake sales in 49 states and raised millions of dollars for cancer research.

Witt was named by Women’s Day magazine in January 2010 as of 50 “Women Who Are Changing the World.”, and was honored by Traditional Home magazine at the 2010 Classic Woman Awards. She has appeared on the Oprah show, and been featured in “O” Magazine and many other publications. 

In September 2011, she released her new cookbook, “The Bake Sale Cookbook”, which has been described as “the only cookbook that will make you cry.”  Included are not only numerous recipes for cookies, biscotti, etc., but stories of bake sales around the country. 

Witt was a part of the National Writers Series in collaboration the Epicurean Classic, one of the country’s premier culinary events.  Guided by interviewer Megan Raphael, Executive Director of the National Writers, Witt gave an inspiring talk about her new book, and how she created a national movement. The event concluded with a reception, booksigning, and a Cookies for Kids’ Cancer bake sale, featuring baked goodies donated by area individuals and bakeries.  The National Writers Series donated all proceeds from the bake sale to the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Foundation.