Ginger and Tom Hahn, owners of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates in Sacramento know they have a sweet gig. “We make French-inspired chocolates, confections, pastries, ice cream, and other treats with a focus on using locally-sourced and seasonal Northern California ingredients, says Ginger. “We believe we make the best sweets around and we are very proud to be a woman-owned business with a 70% female team.”

That team was put to the test during the height of the pandemic, and they’ve responded by being innovative and flexible, “One of the major impacts of COVID for our business was that it forced us to adapt our mostly brick-and-mortar retail model to more of a hybrid model,” says Tom. “We were able to quickly figure out a way to get all our products online and offer a robust digital experience.”

The key for the Hahn’s business has been the community support they continued to receive during the pandemic. So, when asked to be a part of Columbia Bank’s Pass It On Project, they saw it as a great opportunity to give back and show their appreciation. Through the Pass It on Project, Ginger Elizabeth Chocolate’s is providing chocolate boxes and other goodies to a local organization supporting women in crisis, and Columbia Bank is paying the bill. “For us, Pass It On is a way to express gratitude,” says Ginger. We are grateful for the success we have had in the Sacramento community, and with Columbia Bank’s generous gift, we are going to pass it on to WEAVE, a local organization which helps women in crisis. I’ve seen the work they do, and we are honored to be able to help them continue their mission.”