Knowledge Center
WSFS Loves Small Businesses: Shane & Pepper Candle Company Spreads Love and Acceptance Through Candles That Serve a Purpose
running-a-business | Read Time: 3 minutes
By Eric Springer | Published: November 2021
Through December 16, WSFS Bank and FOX 29 are teaming up each week to honor a small business in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region that lifts the spirits of others by going above and beyond to serve their customers and communities. WSFS Bank is proud to provide Shane & Pepper Candle Company with a $1,000 award, a live segment on FOX 29’s Good Day Philadelphia and Random Acts of Kindness for their customers as part of the WSFS Bank Loves Small Businesses Holiday Program.
What started as a fundraiser for a service dog for their son has turned into so much more for Brett and Marie Popiny.
They first began making soy candles in 2016 to help pay for their son, Shane’s, mobility service dog and were able to raise $17,000. Shane is a pediatric stroke survivor who has cerebral palsy and working with non-profit 4 Paws for Ability in Ohio, the family was able to bring Pepper into their family.
They chose candles for the fundraiser because when he was a baby and toddler, Shane loved to watch the glow of candles to help him feel calm when he was having a bad day. Shane wanted others to have that same feeling of calmness within their own homes.
These days, Pepper and Shane are inseparable. Pepper helps Shane up and down steps, opens doors for him, turns on lights, and even helps Shane take his sweatshirt off.
During the fundraiser, the candles we so popular that Shane had an idea—turn their candle making into a business that also gave back. The family set out to not only start up the business, but to provide a safe space for children with disabilities, somewhere they could go with no judgment but plenty of love, understanding and acceptance.
And in 2020, Shane & Pepper Candle Company was born. Their mission as a company is to educate the community about individuals who face the challenges of a disability and keeps moving forward. Each candle sold generates a $1.00 donation to 4 Paws for Ability to help children and adults with disabilities welcome their own service dog into their families.
On many days, Pepper can be seen at the store helping to provide comfort and joy for anyone who walks through Shane & Pepper Candle Company’s doors. Meanwhile, Shane is the first class president with a disability at his school with aspirations of attending Harvard Business School—a young entrepreneur with plenty of spirit!
Check out Shane & Pepper’s Candle Company on Good Day Philadelphia!
About the Author – Eric Springer
Eric Springer is Assistant Vice President, Integrated Communications Manager at WSFS Bank. He brings more than 15 years’ experience in corporate communications and marketing for banking, professional services and nonprofit organizations.
Related Articles
WSFS Loves Small Businesses: Dolly’s Boutique & Consignment Keeps Up on Fashion Trends for Clients While Giving Back to Their Community
In the 12 years since opening Dolly’s Boutique & Consignment in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia, Shani Newton has strived to accomplish two things that are important to her success. Provide affordable designer clothes and accessories for her clients and give back to her community in any way she can.
Read More
WSFS Loves Small Businesses: The Crab Cake Company Continues Late Co-Owner’s Legacy By Supporting Families, Friends and Frontline Workers in Their Community
Every Saturday for 11 months during the pandemic, Tish Ambrosine made sure 25-30 staffers at Christiana Hospital were well fed with free cuisine from The Crab Cake Company, which she co-owned with her husband, John, in Middletown, Delaware. They didn’t take photos or post deliveries on social media, as Tish wanted to help these frontline workers out of the kindness of her heart, not for publicity. They kept providing meals until Tish was diagnosed with breast cancer and in February 2021, she unfortunately lost her fight.
Read More
WSFS Loves Small Businesses: Pride Paws Delivers on Their Mission to Provide Meaningful Employment and Life Skills for People with Developmental Disabilities
Founded in 2009 by the Ritzel family Pride Paws started as a nonprofit organization in a church basement making dog treats, with the goal of offering transitional employment experiences for people with developmental disabilities. The Ritzels wanted their son, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and others to have an opportunity to gain meaningful employment in their lives, participating in running the day-to-day operations of a business and teaching life skills with the help volunteer “job coaches.”
Read More
Celebrating Small Businesses That Inspired and Thrived During the Pandemic
Endure. Persevere. Adapt. Pivot. These four words, and many more, describe thousands of small businesses in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region and what they did to survive when the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts were felt.
Read More
Celebrating Small Businesses: Annamarie’s Place Stays Open, Helps Fellow Local Restaurants Stay Afloat and Feed Families in Need During Pandemic
After being in business for 26 years, Annamarie Chestnut knew she had to prioritize two things when the pandemic hit: her team and her community. Her team wanted to work, so Annamarie’s Place quickly switched from a breakfast and lunch establishment to serving all meals as a takeout restaurant. Having never served dinner before, Annamarie’s purchased food and supplies from other restaurants who could not stay open, helping them recover some of their money.
Read More