Carmel Magazine

Carmel Magazine, Winter-Spring 2019

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A year ago, local public relations whiz Suzanne Summers star ted a flower company out of her garage, equipped with no formal training but an enormous motivator. Summers' oldest son Barron, then age 5, had recently suffered from a rare and dangerous infection that resulted in a terrifying stay at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. At night, while husband Steve watched over Barron and little brother Max, Summers would take short breaks from the hospital and walk over to Nordstrom at the nearby Stanford Shopping Center, where the staff comforted her. A friend sent flowers to Barron's room, with a note encouraging the family to not give up. Summers was struck by "the little messages of hope" she received, and after Barron's full recovery, became determined to find a way to help cheer up other families with sick children and to raise funds for recovery. Summers created Bloom and Birch, a compa- ny that uses non-toxic ingredients to preserve elegant rose arrangements for a year or more, which soon launched in Nordstrom Palo Alto. A percentage of the profits from flower sales goes to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and donations are made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). "The world needs more joy and gratitude," Summers says. "Flowers make you happy, and what drives me is that in a small, impactful way, I'm helping others." For more information on Bloom and Birch, please visit www.bloomandbirch.co.com. SHORTCUTS BUSINESS Suzanne Summers (with husband Steve and sons Max and Barron) launched Bloom & Birch, which sells long-lasting flower arrangements and raises funds for sick children. 68 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 Photo: Kelli Uldall Bloom and Birch Brings Lasting Cheer B Y B R E T T W I L B U R

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