East Cobb cookie artist donates $5K to Piedmont Healthcare

Submitted information and photo:

Sam Opdenbosch, owner of Sam’s Cookie Company, won the Food Network’s “Christmas Cookie Challenge” on December 23rd, 2021. The competition, which invites five cookie artists from around the country, challenges bakers to create holiday themed desserts for a $10,000 prize.

Opdenbosch, a licensed home baker and owner of Sam’s Cookie Company, has decided to donate all $10,000 to organizations that have been hit hardest by this unprecedented COVID crisis.

The Piedmont Healthcare Staff Support Fund will receive $5,000. Angels Among Us Pet Rescue and Furkids will each receive $2,500.

In Christmas Cookie Challenge, five confident and daring bakers compete to prove their holiday cookie-making skills. Tough-love judges are on hand to crown the holiday cookie master, who will go home with a $10,000 prize! In Season 5, Episode 8 Reindeer Auditions Santa’s recruiting new animals for his team, and it’s up to five of the best cookie makers around to come up with the candidates! After hosts Ree Drummond and Eddie Jackson select which reindeer replacements will make the squad, it’s time for fun with a frosty friend as the cookiers craft one-of-a-kind 3-D snowmen. To infuse their cookie snowmen with a chilly flavor, the competitors incorporate frozen fruits like blueberry, strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. With $10,000 on the line, only one can be “Best in Snow.”

Samantha made it to the second round by using strong animals to replace the reindeer. She created a llama and polar bear to help Santa deliver presents. “For the final challenge of the season, the bakers were tasked with crafting one-of-a-kind 3-D snowmen made entirely of cookies. Eddie loved the detail on Samantha’s chocolate espresso blackberry cookie, noting that she did an excellent job on the piping.”

“Being on Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge season 5, episode 8 “Reindeer Auditions” was one of the most amazing experiences I have had! Not only to be on the show but to take home $10,000 is still unbelievable!!!!! Being able to donate the winnings to incredible organizations like these has made this one of the most memorable moments of my life.”

The Piedmont staff support fund provides funding for initiatives that raise employee morale, aid staff in their self-care, or help employees as they care for their loved ones at home. Examples for these initiatives include but are not limited to staff celebrations, daycare expenses, meal support, technology and tutoring needed by children for at home learning, mental and emotional support services and more.

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