Collette DiVitto, born on October 4, 1990, is an American entrepreneur, disability rights activist, author, and public speaker based in Boston, Massachusetts.
She is the founder and CEO of Collettey’s Cookies, a thriving bakery business she built from the ground up after facing repeated rejection in the job market.
Her story has inspired millions around the world and earned her a place on national and international stages.
Who is Collette DiVitto?
Collette DiVitto is one of America’s most recognized disability advocates and self-made business owners. She built her cookie company into a million-dollar brand while championing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Born with Down syndrome, Collette refused to let rejection define her future. She turned a passion for baking into a platform for real change.
Her company, Collettey’s Cookies, has sold over one million cookies and ships across the United States and Canada. Beyond the bakery, she runs a nonprofit, has written a children’s book, and stars in her own streaming docuseries. Collette is a living example of what determination looks like in action.
She has been featured by major outlets including CNN, Good Morning America, BBC, People Magazine, Forbes, and ABC World News. The world took notice, and she has not slowed down since.
Early Life of Collette DiVitto
Collette DiVitto grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut, in a family with strong entrepreneurial roots. Her maternal grandfather owned a small landscaping business, and her mother Rosemary Alfredo and her siblings each went on to own businesses of their own.
From an early age, Collette showed a love for baking. She first discovered the kitchen at around four years old, and that passion only grew stronger over the years.
In high school, she took home economics and baking classes that helped sharpen her skills. She experimented with several cookie recipes during those years and eventually landed on one that her family and friends couldn’t stop raving about. That recipe would later become the foundation of her entire company.
Collette DiVitto Age
Collette DiVitto is 35 years old as of 2026, born on October 4, 1990. She remains highly active as a business owner, speaker, and advocate.
Collette DiVitto Ethnicity and Nationality
Collette DiVitto is American. She was born and raised in the United States and is currently based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Collette DiVitto Education
After high school, Collette attended Clemson University in South Carolina. She enrolled in the LIFE program, a three-year post-secondary education initiative designed for students with intellectual disabilities.
Collette completed the program in just two years, graduating in 2013. The program had a concentration in food and nutrition, which aligned directly with her love of baking.
Her time at Clemson was a turning point. She managed her own schedule, paid her own bills, and lived independently. That experience gave her the confidence to believe she could build a career on her own terms.
Collette DiVitto Career
Early Struggles and the Birth of Collettey’s Cookies
After graduating from Clemson, Collette moved to Boston, certain that a job would be waiting for her there. Instead, she faced rejection after rejection. Employers repeatedly told her she was “not a good fit,” a phrase she quickly recognized as a barrier tied to her disability.
She went on interview after interview without success. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities in the U.S. is more than double that of the general population, and Collette experienced that reality firsthand.
Rather than give up, she returned to what she loved. With guidance from her mother Rosemary and her sister Blake, she launched Collettey’s Cookies in 2015. Her first retail account was Golden Goose Market, a local grocery store in Boston’s North End neighborhood, which sold 100 bags of her cookies in the very first week.
Going Viral and Rapid Growth
In the winter of 2016, a local CBS affiliate in Boston ran a news segment about Collettey’s Cookies. The story spread rapidly across social media, and orders poured in overnight. That moment changed everything for Collette.
National news networks picked up the story. She appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Inside Edition, the BBC, CBS Evening News, and ABC World News. Collettey’s Cookies became a household name across the country, and Collette became a recognized face in the disability rights movement.
Expanding the Mission
As the business grew, Collette made a deliberate decision to hire employees with disabilities. Today, her team of around 15 staff members includes many individuals with varying abilities, and Collette personally trains each one. Her signature product, the cinnamon chocolate chip cookie she calls “The Amazing Cookie,” remains the company’s most popular item.
She also expanded into retail locations beyond her original grocery store. Collettey’s Cookies are available at 7-Eleven convenience stores and at TD Garden, the sports arena in Boston. The company has reportedly generated over $1.2 million in sales and has sold more than one million cookies in total.
In 2018, Collette co-launched Collettey’s Leadership Programs, a nonprofit organization that provides workshops, mentorship, and empowerment training for adults with and without disabilities. She also served on the Governor’s Board for Diverse Small Businesses in Massachusetts, and she has advocated for employment reform on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Television, Publishing, and Speaking
In August 2021, Collette starred in the Peacock docuseries “Born for Business,” which followed four entrepreneurs with disabilities. The series is also available on Crave in Canada and was produced by Shopify Studios.
Collette later launched a YouTube web series called “Underestimated” and also started a podcast. Additionally, she is a published children’s book author. Her debut book, “Collette in Kindergarten,” was published by Brandylane Publishers and is based on her own childhood experiences navigating inclusion as a young girl with Down syndrome.
She travels the country as a keynote speaker, with speaking fees ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per live event, according to speaker bureaus that represent her. Her TEDx Talk has also expanded her reach to a global audience.
Collette DiVitto Awards and Recognition
Collette DiVitto has received significant recognition for her work in entrepreneurship and disability advocacy.
- 2025 Specialty Food Association Leadership Award for Citizenship — Specialty Food Association
- 2025 Boston Chamber Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (TOYL) Honoree — Boston Chamber of Commerce
- Named New Englander of the Year following the viral spread of her story in 2016
- Represented the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress as a star ambassador at the United Nations in 2018
- Easter Seals Community Leadership Award recipient
- Appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts to the Diverse Business Advisory Board
The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress has also been a consistent partner in amplifying her advocacy work.
Collette DiVitto Books and Publications
Collette published her children’s book “Collette in Kindergarten” through Brandylane Publishers. The book is based on her true experiences as a young girl with Down syndrome who navigated her first year of school.
The story follows a child who quickly makes friends but notices she is not being included in playdates. It encourages inclusion and illustrates how acceptance can transform a community.
Educators, parents, and disability advocates have praised the book widely. It has been described as a must-read for families, teachers, and anyone who wants to understand inclusion from a child’s perspective.
Collette DiVitto Net Worth
Collette DiVitto’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. However, her company has reported over $1.2 million in sales, and her business continues to grow through retail expansion, online orders, and corporate partnerships.
Her income sources span several areas. These include Collettey’s Cookies sales, keynote speaking engagements at fees between $10,000 and $20,000, and her nonprofit Collettey’s Leadership Programs. Additionally, she earns from her children’s book, her YouTube channel, and her television work on Peacock.
As her brand expands into more retail chains and her media presence grows, her financial profile is likely to continue rising.
Collette DiVitto Social Media
Collette DiVitto is active across multiple social media platforms and uses them to promote her business, share her advocacy work, and connect with her community.
On Instagram, she has over 54,000 followers under the handle @colletteyscookies. She also runs a YouTube channel where she hosts her web series “Underestimated” and shares updates from her baking world.
Her official personal website is collettedivitto.com, and her nonprofit can be found at colletteysleadership.org.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Collette DiVitto famous for?
Collette DiVitto is famous for founding Collettey’s Cookies after facing repeated job rejections due to her Down syndrome, and for building a million-dollar cookie business that employs people with disabilities.
How old is Collette DiVitto?
Collette DiVitto is 35 years old as of 2026, born on October 4, 1990.
Where was Collette DiVitto born?
Collette DiVitto was born in 1990 and grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut. She is currently based in Boston, Massachusetts.
What is Collette DiVitto’s net worth?
Collette DiVitto’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed, though her company has generated over $1.2 million in sales.
What is Collettey’s Cookies?
Collettey’s Cookies is a bakery company founded by Collette DiVitto in 2015. It is best known for “The Amazing Cookie,” a cinnamon chocolate chip recipe, and for its mission to employ people with disabilities.
What is Collette DiVitto’s nonprofit?
Collette DiVitto founded Collettey’s Leadership Programs in 2018. It offers workshops, mentorship, and empowerment training for adults with and without disabilities.
Has Collette DiVitto won any awards?
Yes. She won the 2025 Specialty Food Association Leadership Award for Citizenship and was named a 2025 Boston Chamber Ten Outstanding Young Leaders honoree, among other awards.
What TV show did Collette DiVitto appear in?
Collette DiVitto starred in the Peacock docuseries “Born for Business”, which premiered in August 2021 and chronicles the journeys of entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The Bottom Line
Collette DiVitto is a remarkable entrepreneur and disability rights activist who turned repeated rejection into a movement. From her signature Amazing Cookie to her nonprofit, her book, and her television presence, she has built an inspiring legacy that continues to grow.
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