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N.J. Bake Shop To Honor Steve Jobs With Apple Cupcake, Cancer Donations

RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- As people across the world express sadness over the death of Steve Jobs, a New Jersey bake shop has found their own way to show their appreciation for everything the entrepreneur and inventor contributed to society.

And they're doing it with cupcakes.

Sweet Avenue, the vegan bake shop in Rutherford, is selling their Apple Pie Cupcakes and donating portions of the proceeds to cancer research in Jobs' name. The American innovator battled pancreatic cancer since 2004.

The store's owners, Jake and Danielle Vance, told CBSNewYork that they're moved to honor Jobs out of gratitude.

"Apple has always been an integral part of our personal and professional lives," they said. "From the iPhones and the Macbooks we use to run our business, to the Apple TV that plays our movies, to the fact that Jake worked for Apple prior to us opening Sweet Avenue."

Sweet Avenue has built their cupcake empire by both capitalizing on pop culture happenings and doing good. Their Charlie Sheen Tiger Blood cupcake was a big moneymaker for the bake shop earlier this year, but they've also devoted time, money and effort to supporting animal adoption charities.

For the Vances, the passing of Steve Jobs was a saddening, yet motivating event.

"Steve Jobs started Apple the same way we started Sweet Avenue – from home, with little money and even less experience," said Jake and Danielle Vance. "We don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Sweet Avenue might not be the same without the company and devices that Steve Jobs built."

They've chosen to donate the cupcake cash to the Gateway Center For Cancer Research, an organization which keeps with the bakery's vegan values.

"The organization is a certified human charity," the Vances told CBSNewYork. "This means that they do not directly fund or contribute to any organizations that perform animal research."

Meanwhile, in New York City, a makeshift tribute appeared at the flagship Apple store on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue quickly after the announcement of Jobs' death Wednesday evening.

Fans have also been posting their reactions on CBSNewYork.com's Facebook page.

What's your reaction to the death of Steve Jobs? Sound off in our comments section below…

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