On November 15th, my phone rang and the caller asked, “May I speak with Granny?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.

The caller was Richard. He had received a bag of Granny-O-La as a gift from his arborist, who had been given several packages while participating in the ITCA Tree Climbing Event in Tampa, Florida.

Richard took one bite and thought the granola was delicious. But what truly moved him was what he read when he turned the package over … that 50% of Granny-O-La’s profits are donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Without hesitation, Richard picked up the phone and called Granny.

As it turns out, Richard’s connection to MSK runs deep.

In 2016, Richard was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Determined to receive the very best care possible, he went to Memorial Sloan Kettering, where he became one of the early recipients of the Whipple Procedure — a complex surgery that, until relatively recently, offered little hope for long-term survival. At the time, the average survival rate for pancreatic cancer was approximately 12 months.

Today, Richard is alive and well nearly 10 years later.

Richard is enjoying life, spending time with his family, and soaking up moments at his happy place — paddling his canoe at his river retreat in Florida. His story is nothing short of extraordinary.

Richard has since become one of Granny-O-La’s biggest customers and most passionate supporters. He buys “tons” of Granny-O-La and gives it generously to friends, family, and neighbors. When asked why, Richard says it’s his way of giving back — to help raise awareness for Memorial Sloan Kettering and to support the Granny-O-La mission.

For Richard, Granny-O-La is more than granola. It’s a way to say thank you to the institution that saved his life.

I am deeply grateful to Richard for his unwavering support of Granny-O-La and MSK, and for his willingness to share such a powerful and hopeful story.

Here’s to Richard — to resilience, gratitude, generosity, and paying it forward. 💙