Wally Amos

Today, Famous Wally Amos' name is a household word. His most recent venture is Chip & Cookie, with retail stores in Waikiki and in Kailua Town, Hawaii, and an e-commerce business (ChipandCookie.com), featuring five flavors of cookies and two chocolate chip cookie plush character dolls, "Chip" and "Cookie," plus other gift and apparel items created by his wife, Christine Harris-Amos.

Together, Wally and Christine Amos founded the Read It LOUD! Foundation (ReadItLoud.org) in 2005, urging parents and caregivers to read aloud to children for at least ten minutes each day. Ten percent of the net profits realized by Chip & Cookie will benefit the foundation to support its efforts to promote children's literacy. In August 2006, using Savannah as their pilot city, they launched Read It LOUD! Savannah. Read It LOUD! recently partnered with the Library of Congress and the United States Postal Service to launch a national campaign.

In 1994, Amos co-founded the Uncle Wally's Muffin Company which produces a full line of muffins. As founder of Famous Amos Cookies in 1975 and father of the gourmet chocolate chip cookie industry, he has used his fame to support educational causes. Amos was National Spokesman for Literacy Volunteers of America from 1979 until 2002 when they merged with Laubach Literacy Council to create ProLiteracy Worldwide. He now refers to himself as a literacy advocate. He is a former Board Member of the National Center for Family Literacy and Communities in Schools. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the Read It LOUD! Foundation.

Amos has been the recipient of many honors and awards. He gave the shirt off his back and his battered Panama hat to the Smithsonian Institution's Business Americana Collection. He has been inducted into the Babson College Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs, and he received the Horatio Alger Award, The President's Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence, and The National Literacy Honors Award.

Amos is also an author who has written eight books: his autobiography, The Famous Amos Story: The Face That Launched a Thousand Chips; The Power in You: Ten Secret Ingredients to Inner Strength; Man With No Name: Turn Lemons Into Lemonade; Watermelon Magic: Seeds of Wisdom, Slices of Life; The Cookie Never Crumbles: Inspirational Recipes for Everyday Living; Be Positive; The Power in Self-Esteem: How to Discover and Fulfill Your Life Dreams; Live an Inspiring Life: Ten Secret Ingredients for Inner Strength; and The Path to Success is Paved with Positive Thinking.

Over the years, Amos has acted in a number of network sitcoms and appeared on hundreds of interview shows, news programs, educational programs, and commercials. On the lecture circuit, he addresses audiences at corporations, industry associations, and universities with his inspiring "do it" positive attitude.

Amos' favorite fruit is watermelon. He wears it on his head, feet, and body; he even has watermelons painted on his truck and luggage.

Over 150 million Americans know Wally Amos. His fame is grounded in quality, substance, and a positive attitude.