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Tampa siblings start a colorful crayon business to help out kids with allergies

JL Fun Colorz also donates to foster children
JL Fun Colorz crayons
Posted at 4:09 AM, Sep 30, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-30 10:01:29-04

TAMPA, Fla. — Brothers Jordan and Joshua Liburd are allergic to a lot of foods.

A lot of other stuff, too. They often feel left out of a lot of fun.

The Liburds wanted to fix that feeling of loneliness for themselves and other kids like them.

“We wanted to make a product that all kids can enjoy,” says 12-year-old Jordan.

The kid entrepreneurs started JL Fun Colorz, a business making custom-made hypoallergenic crayon toys.

All the crayons come in funky shapes and sizes for kids just like them.

“Usually the girls like the unicorns and the hearts, the boys like the dinosaurs and Star Wars,” says Jordan.

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Joshua, who is 10, and Jordan oven-melt crayons in all sorts of fun molds. Sets go for between $10 and $12.

The brothers do it all, including bookkeeping and advertising on social media.

“They honestly had no idea how much time is involved in running a business, but that hasn’t deterred them,” says mom Tiana, also an entrepreneur. “They’ve been involved in every aspect.”

The siblings sold their wares at such places as the Kid Market at WestShore Plaza. But Joshua and Jordan aren’t in it for the money. They are also started donating sets of their creations to foster children.

“My favorite part is seeing the smiles on people’s faces,” says Joshua.