Baton Rouge Teen Found Jewelry Brand for St. Jude
Bella Cervantes uses her jewelry company to raise funds for the hospital that treated her childhood cancer.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Jewelry Making
Fourteen-year-old Bella Cervantes operates Brave Bella Bead Co. in Baton Rouge, donating a portion of sales to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The business supports the institution that treated her for retinoblastoma as a toddler.
Why it matters
The business serves as a personal mission for Cervantes, who aims to give back to the medical facility that saved her life. By handcrafting jewelry, she provides ongoing financial support for the hospital's specialized pediatric care.
Bella Cervantes, now 14, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at age 2. Her jewelry business, Brave Bella Bead Co., regularly donates proceeds to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The players
Bella Cervantes
She is a 14-year-old entrepreneur and cancer survivor who founded a jewelry company to support pediatric research.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
This facility specializes in the treatment and research of pediatric diseases including retinoblastoma.
Robin Caronna
She is the mother of Bella Cervantes and a collaborator in the creation of handmade jewelry pieces.
The details
Cervantes and her mother, Robin Caronna, handmake bracelets and various jewelry pieces together. The teen entrepreneur often sells her designs at Live After 5 community events held in downtown Baton Rouge.
Timeline
Robin Caronna first identified potential cancer symptoms in 2012.
Culture Shift
This venture aligns with the broader societal trend of patients using personal health narratives to drive charitable support for medical institutions. It reflects a shift toward mission-driven entrepreneurship where small businesses prioritize direct philanthropic impact.
Residents can support this charitable mission by purchasing handmade items from Brave Bella Bead Co. at downtown events. These purchases directly contribute to the ongoing care and research efforts at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The takeaway
Small-scale entrepreneurship can create significant philanthropic avenues for those wishing to support medical causes. Readers inspired by this story might consider how their own hobbies can be leveraged to assist local or national charitable organizations.
Further reading
Discover more local artisans and creative projects on the Baton Rouge Jewelry Making page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wafb.
