"Biggest Cookie West of Mississippi" To Benefit Local Children's Museum

October 18, 2003
San Francisco, CA

Immaculate Baking Company of North Carolina, bakers of the "World's Biggest Cookie," has announced plans to bake the "Biggest Cookie West of the Mississippi" to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Zeum, a children's museum located here in Yerba Buena Gardens.  Pieces of this all-natural, chocolate chip cookie, measuring 10 feet in diameter and weighing about 480 pounds, will be sold, and proceeds will benefit Zeum and the Folk Artist's Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Flat Rock, NC.

"We're excited about traveling across the country to help our friends at Zeum celebrate their fifth anniversary with a giant cookie," says Scott Blackwell, founder and CEO of Immaculate. "The kids at the museum that day are actually going to play an important role in the baking of this cookie. They will help in everything from constructing the oven and laying the dough to cutting the fully-baked cookie and, the greatest part, tasting their very own piece of the ‘Biggest Cookie West of the Mississippi.'" Blackwell will be aided by Immaculate's chief oven engineer, Tom McCartney, who helped construct the original 7,850 square foot oven for the World's Biggest Cookie. 

Scott Blackwell began Immaculate Baking Company in his garage nine years ago with a couple thousand dollars, some used ovens, and one simple goal in mind: to create top-quality baked goods with fun and unique combinations while establishing a fun place to work and celebrating the creativity of American Folk Artists. Since those days, Immaculate has rapidly expanded to produce not only its award-winning cookies, but also the Mojo (chocolate-covered, bite-sized pieces of handmade biscotti), various gift sets and handmade biscotti. On May 17, 2003, Immaculate successfully baked the World's Biggest Cookie to fund a permanent home and museum for the Folk Artist's Foundation. For more information about Immaculate Baking Company, please visit www.immaculatebaking.com.

About the Folk Artist's Foundation:

The Folk Artist's Foundation provides encouragement, support (financial and other) and exposure for artists working in the folk-art tradition. The foundation's efforts are based on the recognition of – and profound respect for – the inherent talent and determination of the self-taught artist, as well as appreciation for the heartfelt beauty, simplicity and integrity of this magnificent art form. For more information, please visit www.helpfaf.org.

About Zeum:
Zeum began as part of an innovative project of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency to develop an entire city block as an urban destination for youth. Since opening its doors five years ago, Zeum has gained recognition as a unique venue where children and families can use arts and technology tools to create movies, music, art and more. Today, under the leadership of Zeum's Chief Executive Officer, Adrienne Pon, Zeum continues to fulfill its mission to foster creativity in young people of all ages, backgrounds and learning styles by providing a hands-on environment for self-expression.