Teen's business pays tribute to dad

It's not every day that a 15-year-old decides to start a business, never mind a nonprofit organization. But that's exactly what Phoebe Steinfeld did to honor her father, Ned, who died of cancer in 2009.

"After my dad died, I felt strongly about doing something to honor his legacy of being a businessman and inventor," said the New Jersey sophomore, who is now 16.

An optometrist with several practices, Steinfeld also held patents in polarized light technology.

Phoebe drew on her love of fashion to create Color Me Cured, a line of nontoxic nail polish and T-shirts. Nearly 100 percent of sales will benefit research for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

"I wanted an easy way to get people involved and make small contributions," she said.

With an assist from her mother, Nancy, and sister Hallie, Phoebe hit the ground running.

"I am incredibly proud of her," said her mother, who volunteers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. "She has taken a situation that is unfathomable and was able to make some sense of it and make a difference."

In sticking to her cancer-fighting campaign -- "inspiration, hope and support, one bottle at a time" -- Phoebe secured a manufacturer to deliver nail polish free of common chemical culprits such as toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthlate and camphor.

"I thought it was important to have a healthier product," she said. "There is so much to be aware of in terms of harmful ingredients."

With names such as "Walking on Sunshine," "Banish the Blues" and "Orange You Glad," the colors not only brighten one's nails but one's spirits, as well.

A work in progress since last summer, Color Me Cured debuted officially May 12 at an invitation-only party in New York. The gathering raised $10,000 from product sales and individual donations, she said.

Individual bottles sell for $9 each, with $7 going toward Memorial Sloan-Kettering.

The T-shirt line includes a hot pink tank ($12), a white and black baseball T ($22) and a black American Apparel T ($18).

Color Me Cured products are available online as well as at the gift shop at Memorial Sloan-Kettering.

Aside from the nonprofit, Phoebe is also active in her school's chapter of DECA, a student leadership and entrepreneurial organization.