Thank you. You're welcome.
Hi Rachael, my name is Pat Fogarty.
I'm Allison's mom, and her Doggy Delights are a hit.
Allison was born with Down syndrome,
and tracheoesophageal fistula.
Basically, her eating tube was connected
to her breathing tube.
She had surgery when she was four days old,
but this condition has affected her whole life.
We tried to hide her food from her,
because we thought seeing food would be torture.
But (voice cracking)...
But she had other ideas.
She discovered you Rachel,
and she talked about you,
and watched your show all the time.
Rachel, you are my hero!
You inspired me to be a chef.
Thank you!
Doggy Delights by Allison came about
after our move to Florida in 2017.
The Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida
happened to be starting their first Entrepreneur
Academy for adults with Down syndrome.
So, we joined right away.
I make peanut butter delights,
and chicken and rice, and grain-free sweet potato.
I also make pumpkin.
Making dog treats is such a perfect job for her,
because it keeps her busy doing what she loves. Cooking!
I'm very proud of doing this job,
because it's a lot of fun.
I put them in the bones and paws.
Selling the treats gets her out meeting people,
and their dogs.
She gets to talk about being a chef,
how she makes the treats,
and best of all, she sees how dogs love her treats.
A lot people say "Allison, you did great job,
a wonderful amazing chef. I love you Allison."
I could not be any prouder of Allison,
despite her continued medical challenges,
she shows us time and time again that she's a fighter.
(audience applause)
Hopefully, we're gonna join them, Allison and Pat,
via FaceTime.
Hi girls!
(audience cheering)
Hi mom, you must be so proud of your amazing chef.
I am, I couldn't be prouder of her!
She's just wonderful.
Chef Allison, I have to say you're my new hero.
And I wanted to know if I invited you here,
would you come cook some dog treats with me?
Oh my gosh, I'm so thrilled!
(audience applause)
Three thousand times, yes!
But, I know it is a lot warmer in Florida,
but it's always hot in a kitchen.
So, if you make the trip I pinky swear
we'll cook together here, okay?
Pinky swear.
(audience applause)
(Allison laughs)
Allison, what do you love most about making food,
and making your treats?
Oh, okay, well I love to cook and make the batter,
that's my favorite part.
And I put all the ingredients, like an assembly line,
like you do. Aww!
And I...
Do you like seeing them being eaten, by your friends?
The dogs, yeah Yes, I do!
I got the treats already made.
Beautiful! And it's very healthy
and good for dogs.
And I also see a lot of dogs
in our neighborhoods. That's wonderful.
And that's what gives me an idea.
We're starting to have dogs stop outside
our lanai smelling the treats!
They know, they know!
That's amazing, they know you're a celebrity
in your community!
We also wanted you to know that
we contacted out friends at BJ's Wholesale Club,
because that's where you shop I think,
for some of your ingredients? Yep.
They're sending you a $500 gift card with them,
to stock up on ingredients! (gasping and laughing)
(audience applause)
That'll help make a whole lot of treats!
Oh, yeah! Okay!
Well I thank our friends at BJ's,
I thank you for all the good work you do,
and I thank your mom for doing a great job on you.
And I'll see you girls here in the city,
and we'll cook together soon, okay?
Okay (mumbles) Much love!
(audience applause)
Much love!
Thanks for joining us everyone today,
and we'll see you when we see you.
Bye bye.
(audience cheering and applause)