Originally featured by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on MSK Giving. We're honored to share the Granny-O-La story as they told it.
Read the full story on MSK Giving →
Highlights
- Inspired by her own experience as an MSK patient, Jennifer Deutsch created Granny-O-La to give back by donating proceeds to MSK.
- A chance encounter connected Jennifer with fellow MSK patient Richard Maxwell, who found not just a product, but a mission to support in Granny-O-La.
- Together, they're helping build a community of supporters dedicated to turning everyday purchases into meaningful impact.
Turning experience into purpose
For Jennifer Deutsch, healing didn't end in the clinic. It became the inspiration behind Granny-O-La, her Naples, Florida-based granola company that makes a simple but powerful promise: to give back with every bag. Half of Granny-O-La's profits are donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), where Jennifer continues to receive care for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The brand also raises funds through pop-ups and events, and was an in-kind sponsor of NYC for MSK in 2026.
After navigating her diagnosis and treatment, Jennifer decided to leave her 43-year corporate career and build something meaningful from the ground up. A passionate baker, Jennifer perfected her granola recipe over the years to rave reviews, and so Granny-O-La was born from her desire to create comfort, nourishment, and connection, all while giving back to the place that supported her when she needed it most.
"Granny-O-La is more than just granola — it's my way of giving back and turning something simple into something extraordinary by supporting lifesaving work at MSK."
–Jennifer Deutsch, Granny-O-La founder
An unexpected connection
For professional arborist Richard Maxwell, discovering Granny-O-La felt more like an opportunity than a coincidence. He was gifted a bag from a fellow arborist who picked it up at a local tree-climbing competition that Granny-O-La had sponsored. Richard was instantly a fan of the granola, but what truly moved him was when he turned the package around and read that the product supports MSK with its proceeds.
Nearly a decade prior, Richard was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he underwent a complex Whipple procedure at MSK. Thanks to that lifesaving surgery, Richard continues to thrive today and enjoys spending time with his family and finding peace paddling his canoe at his river retreat in Florida.
Eager to learn more about "Granny" and her MSK mission-driven granola, Richard picked up the phone and gave Jennifer a call, marking the beginning of a powerful connection rooted in shared experience and a shared gratitude for MSK. Now one of Granny-O-La's most passionate supporters, Richard purchases and shares the granola generously with friends, family, and neighbors.
"I buy as much Granny-O-La as I can and give it away. It's my way of giving back — by raising awareness for MSK and supporting something that's making a real difference."
–Richard Maxwell
The impact of community, creativity, and care
Jennifer, Richard, and the growing community around Granny-O-La are a reminder that generosity can begin in the simplest places and transform into something that touches lives in unexpected ways. Every batch of Granny-O-La carries a deeper purpose, connecting patients, neighbors, and advocates through a shared mission — all while fueling hope and progress by supporting MSK.