Spreading Happiness Like Sweet Crabapple Jelly

The Don’t Be a Crabapple™ movement originated with Frank Kruppe, Jr. of Downers Grove, Illinois. Frank could be anyone’s father or grandfather. He’s 86 years old, happily married, loves his family.

Frank is grateful for his health and longevity. he wanted to use his life experiences to do something good, something to help people feel good about themselves- No matter the challenges of life they may be facing.

Why Crabapples?

When their children were small, the Kruppes had a crabapple tree in their yard. Frank’s wife Maryan turned the bitter fruit into delicious crabapple jelly. Remembering how much everyone enjoyed her jelly, Frank wanted to capture that emotion and spread it. He came up with the saying, “Don’t be a crabapple.”

The Don't Be a Crabapple™ Movement

Together with his daughter and son-in-law, they developed the Don't be a crabapple™ logo and put it on hats, t-shirts, mugs, etc. Visit our store now.

The Kruppe family’s goal is to sell the logo’d products to raise awareness and help fight colon cancer. Seeing the concept come together has given Frank a real lift. Knowing that he's helping others feel good about themselves makes him feel good.

Don’t Be a Crabapple™ will donate 5%

of annual profits to the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA) co-founded by Katie Couric, anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. Katie Couric’s husband Jay Monahan died of colon cancer.

About Our Cause, Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer, otherwise known as colon cancer, is one of the most deadly forms of cancer in the U.S. - but it doesn't have to be. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths for men and women combined. Every year, nearly 150,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with the disease, and more than 50,000 die. That is more lives lost to colorectal cancer than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

The good news is most of these deaths can be prevented using available screening tests and treatments for the disease. This is because colorectal cancer is curable 90% of the time when detected early. In addition, screening tests can be used to detect certain pre-cancerous growths in the colon and rectum allowing them to be removed before they ever develop into cancer.