On Friday, December 21st of 2018, as a long holiday weekend and new year approached, the President, after publicly stating that he would sign a stop-gap measure to fund the Government for another two months, abruptly changed his mind. What ensued thereafter was the lengthiest stoppage of the US Federal Government. Not until 35 days later, on January 25th, was an agreement reached to send 800,000 federal employees back to work.
Two of those affected government workers were sisters, Nikki Howard and Jaqi Wright. While they were enjoying the New Years’ holiday and trying not to let stress interfere, Nikki made a cheesecake. When her sibling took a bite- the troubles from the furlough momentarily vanished with deliciousness. Their mother jokingly suggested they sell cheesecakes. Well, with available time and monetary needs to fulfill, Nikki and Jaqi had a business up and running by January 8th, 2019. With the assistance of friends and family (and social media)- they sold hundreds of cheesecakes that first week.
The feel-good story about the shutdown quickly gained traction. Articles about the sisters, who worked for the FDA and DOJ respectively, were featured in O: the Oprah Magazine, Money, Forbes, Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, & Essence publications. Also, in addition to local coverage on the Fox 5 and NBC 4 broadcasts, “The Furlough Cheesecake” founders were invited to CNN and Ellen, which is when Ms. Degeneres interviewed them and proceeded to purchase a single cheesecake (currently priced at $34.95) for $20,000.00.
Later in 2019, Serving Those Who Serve’s staff were treated not just to cheesecake, but also to a visit from Howard and Wright themselves, who are here to add some sweetness to the STWS mission to Reach, Teach, & Serve Federal Employees.
In 2020, STWS took a moment away from serving Feds to serve cheesecake to frontline health workers. Nikki and Jaqi joined STWS founder, Dan Sipe, and his wife Mary at a presentation of 330 Lemonade Cheesecake slices to the dedicated team at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.
Serving Those Who Serve Proudly Sponsored this awesome gift.
The FedLife Podcast is your in-depth, biweekly deep dive into the world of federal benefits and retirement planning. Hosted by federal benefits expert Ed Zurndorfer and Dan Sipe of Serving Those Who Serve, each 30-minute episode unpacks the complexities of FERS and CSRS retirement, FEHB and Medicare, survivor benefits, tax planning, and more. Designed for federal employees and retirees who want more than just the basics, FedLife goes beyond the headlines to explore the rules, nuances, and strategies that can make a meaningful difference in your retirement. Remember: it’s your Fed life, make it a great one.
The Fed15 Podcast is your weekly 15(ish)-minute briefing on federal benefits and financial planning, built specifically for federal employees and retirees. Hosted by Dan Sipe and Katelyn Murray of Serving Those Who Serve, each episode delivers clear, actionable guidance on topics like FERS and CSRS retirement, TSP strategies, FEHB, survivor benefits, tax planning, and more! Whether you’re five years from retirement or already there, The Fed15 helps you cut through the noise, avoid costly mistakes, and make confident decisions about your federal benefits.
