Tony and Susan Gross purchased the candle company A Cheerful Giver in 2008, located in the rural town of Elmer, New Jersey. Taking its name from the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 9:7 — “God loves a cheerful giver” — Mark knew all too well that the company was more than a name to his family. Mark asked his parents, realizing how devastating it would be for their long-term employees and the 200 CODI special-needs wickers who would be out of work. Today, A Cheerful Giver sells candles in more than 7,000 retail locations across the U.S. and in 14 countries around the globe. They show up with more joy than anyone I know, and they remind me what actually matters: to be a cheerful giver no matter what.”