In this heartfelt episode of Kunes Car Convos, Evan Ferguson is behind the wheel with a very special guest riding shotgun—his mom, Tina Ferguson, founder of Cora’s Cookies. More than just a business, Cora’s Cookies is a labor of love and resilience, driven by Tina’s personal journey through cancer and her mission to give back—one cookie at a time.
A Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Tina’s journey began in 2017, just as Evan was about to graduate high school. Feeling unusually fatigued and noticing unexplained weight gain, Tina visited the ER. That’s when she received the call—the kind you only see in movies. Doctors had found a large mass. It turned out to be a rare form of cancer: appendix cancer, affecting just a handful of people in the entire state of Wisconsin.
With the shock of the diagnosis came an avalanche of medical bills, co-payments, and prescription costs. Despite working full-time and juggling side hustles, Tina needed a creative way to help offset those expenses. That’s when the idea for cookies—a family recipe from her mother, Cora—became something more.
A Mission Is Born: Fighting Cancer One Cookie at a Time
What began as a joke—“I guess I’ll sell cookies like the Girl Scouts”—quickly turned into a meaningful movement. “I woke up one Saturday morning and the slogan just hit me: Fighting cancer one cookie at a time,” Tina said. And from that moment, Cora’s Cookies was born.
Named in honor of her mother, Cora, the business is as much about legacy as it is about flavor. Every cookie is crafted with care, using a simple, cost-effective crumble cookie recipe that Tina says had been sitting unnoticed in the family recipe box for years.
But what truly sets Cora’s Cookies apart is its purpose. Ten percent of every sale goes directly to support other cancer warriors. Tina has donated to individuals and families battling various cancers—including a four-year-old boy undergoing treatment at Mayo Clinic, and the hospital staff and families at Ronald McDonald House.
A Family Affair
Cora’s Cookies is more than a one-woman show. It’s a family-run mission. Tina’s daughter, Jourdan, designed the logo. Evan helps with photos and marketing. Cookie names are inspired by her children and grandchildren—like the best-seller “Jadyn,” a chocolate fudge cookie loaded with Reese’s Pieces and peanut butter cups. Other fan favorites include “Daylan’s Snickerdoodle,” “Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk,” “Ginger Snap” in honor of Cora herself, and fun seasonal or custom-request flavors like lavender white chocolate and banana-peanut-butter Ritz, an ode to Elvis.
Even local businesses are getting in on the sweetness. When Delavan Holdings celebrated its one-year anniversary, they commissioned 150 Cora’s Cookies—and not a single one was left behind.
Cookies with a Cause—and Community
Tina’s impact stretches beyond her kitchen. She recently partnered with the Living for Lindsay Foundation—a nonprofit founded in memory of a fellow appendix cancer warrior. Cora’s Cookies is proud to be a hole sponsor at their annual golf outing, helping raise awareness and funds for cancer research.
Tina says that giving back isn’t just good business—it’s “good medicine.” Helping others shifts her focus away from her own health challenges and brings her strength in her own battle. “It just makes me feel better when I can help somebody else,” she says.
Life Is Short—Live It Sweetly
As the pink Bronco (yes, Tina’s driving her dream car, a stunning pink Ford Bronco from Kunes!) rolls down the road, Tina reflects on life, love, and gratitude. “Life is short. Hug your loved ones. Take the trip. Eat the cookie,” she says with a smile.
And if you’re in the area, she adds, “Stop by Kunes and buy your dream car, too.”
How You Can Help
Cora’s Cookies is currently operating on Facebook (@CorasCookies). You can browse their rotating flavors, place an order, or even request a custom flavor. Whether you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth or support someone in the fight of their life, each cookie sold brings a little more hope into the world.
From everyone at Kunes Auto Group, we’re proud to spotlight incredible community members like Tina Ferguson—driven by purpose, powered by compassion, and sweetening the world one batch at a time.
