Where it all began…
Cake4Kids started in the San Francisco Bay Area and has been growing steadily across the nation thanks to thousands of amazing volunteer bakers!
Launched: September 2010
Number of Cakes Baked in 1st Year: 13
Most Popular Themes: Frozen, Superheroes, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Soccer
Help Cake4Kids deliver more smiles!
About
Sharon Koay and Emily Mattison-Earls, Cake4Kids SF Bay Area Co-Ambassadors
Sharon Koay
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I grew up in the Bay Area but am a wanderer by heart. I have lived on three different continents and am always excited to explore new places, cultures and cuisines. My love of baking and cooking leads me to spend way too much time researching new recipes to test out. Then in an effort to work off all those calories, I like to take a hike, play badminton or go for a run.
What’s your favorite thing to bake?
My favorite thing to bake is French macaron. They are known to be super finicky but I appreciate that to succeed with macaron you should be persistent, consistent and above all, lucky! I also enjoy the challenge of experimenting with unique flavor combinations (pistachio blue cheese macaron anyone?) while taking into account different factors such as humidity, temperature and batter viscosity.
What was your biggest #bakingfail?
There are too many fails to list here, but one time I created a cake based on the movie “Up” as a surprise for a friend’s baby shower. I was so proud of it. Or at least I was up until I tripped on the way to the car. I watched the cake fly into the air, as if suspended by a dozen balloons, before landing upside down with a loud plop!
Emily Mattison-Earls
Tell us a little about yourself!
Besides lots of baking, I love when I get to travel and enjoy taking in new sights. I always have to order at least one macaron wherever I go as those are a favorite of mine. I have a group of friends that I'll go to concerts with and this year we have seen Dua Lipa, Journey and soon going to Bottlerock. I used to teach a zumba style kickboxing class and even though I stopped in 2025, anytime I hear one of the 30+ songs I choreographed, it's a guarantee that I will start dancing and calling out the moves.
What or who inspired your love of baking?
My grandma used to always make us cupcakes and giant cookie cakes for birthdays and dance recitals. When I first started baking, I would think about those occasions a lot. Over the years, my joy of baking is really for the occasions I get to be a part of. Numerous friends' weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, the random Tuesdays, etc. I love the joy it brings and that is especially true with Cake4Kids. Baking for Cake4Kids brings me SO much joy!
What’s your favorite thing to bake?
Macarons. As finicky as they can be, when a batch comes out perfect, I am thrilled. Cake4Kids is helping me to love making cakes more which has been exciting. Especially being able to work on my cake decorating skills!
If you’re interested in baking, please visit the Volunteer page!
If you are a caseworker who is receiving free cakes for your youth clients, please visit Who We Help to request our services!
If you still have questions, please contact us at sfbayambassadors@cake4kids.org
Upcoming Events
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Photos from Past Events
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Cake4Kids In the News
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