With over 37 years of experience in the bakery business in the Phoenix Valley, owner Vanessa Jarnagan opened her own shop, Sugar and Lace Bakery, in 2020. Launching in the midst of a global pandemic was a challenge, but Sugar and Lace Bakery was able to survive and thrive largely due to the support of local educators and customers in the community. The shop offers pastries and custom, specialty cakes for weddings, birthdays, and nearly any occasion you can think of.
The cakes and pastries are gorgeous and delicious – but that’s not all. Giving back to the community is deep in Jarnagan’s soul. After running away from home when she was only 13 years old, she lived mainly on the streets. It was her teachers at Thunderbird High School who made all the difference in supporting her and helping her graduate. Every teacher appreciation week, Sugar and Lace Bakery donates as many as 160,000 free cupcakes to teachers, in gratitude for the enormous impact local educators had in her own life. Last year, she delivered 140,000 free cupcakes to teachers across our district in the northwest valley, and beyond. This big-hearted business woman is the epitome of what it means to give back, making Jarnagan and Sugar and Lace Bakery treasured members of the community.
