Greatitude in Action: How One Man Turned Grief Into Giving — and Coconut Water With a Purpose

Hey guys, it’s Debbie Nigro — and today, I want to introduce you to someone whose spirit will stick with you long after you finish reading this.

Meet John Chiorando — a brilliant businessman, devoted family man, and philanthropist — and yes, the self-proclaimed “Coconut Commander” behind the fast-growing beverage brand Once Upon a Coconut.

But it’s not just about the coconuts.

It’s about "Greatitude." Not a typo. It’s the name of John’s new book — a powerful message born from unimaginable heartbreak: the loss of his beautiful daughter, Nina, to a rare form of terminal cancer called Leptomeningeal Disease.

 

A Book Born From Heartache — and Healing

John didn’t plan to write a book. But when his young son once complained about not getting enough Christmas presents, something clicked. He realized how much of today’s culture is focused on what we lack, rather than what we have.

So he wrote Greatitude, a message-driven book that gently shifts our lens toward appreciation, especially for life’s simplest joys — like a cup of coffee, a walk on the beach, or time with someone we love.

Then Nina got sick.

And suddenly, what started as a lesson in thankfulness became a tribute to her courage — and a platform for purpose.

 

As John shared on the show:

“My colleague told me, ‘You didn’t write this book. Your daughter did.’”

And you know what? She did.

 

100% of Book Proceeds Go to Charity

Every single dollar from the purchase of Greatitude goes to one of two causes close to John’s heart:

Nina Strong Foundation for rare cancer research
Down Syndrome Foundation (another personal connection in his family)

 

And as a thank-you?

You get a free case of Once Upon a Coconut when you buy the book.

(Love that part!)

Grab it at Greatitude.org

 

Once Upon a Coconut: Coconut Water With a Cause

You’ve probably seen the bright, playful cans of Once Upon a Coconut on shelves — I spotted it in a DeCicco's here in New York and literally stopped in my tracks.

It’s more than delicious (hello, coconut + chocolate?!), it’s also doing good:

Plant-based, non-GMO, full of electrolytes
Ethically sourced from Vietnam
And here’s the biggie: 10% of all profits go to charity.

 

As John says:

“Giving is our best ingredient.”

Even Shark Tank’s Daymond John and NFL stars like Rob Gronkowski and Ronnie Stanley are investors. But it’s the mission that’s the real magnet.

 

Fastest-Growing Coconut Water Brand in America

From Whole Foods to Walmart to Target — Once Upon a Coconut is popping up everywhere. And it’s not just good business — it’s good energy.

 

As John says:

“We call it nature’s Gatorade.”

Cheers to that!

 

Final Sips of Inspiration

Talking with John was a reminder that life is fragile, beautiful, and worthy of deep appreciation — even in the face of heartbreak... in spite of it all.

If you want to feel better, do better, and drink something better…
Pick up a copy of Greatitude. Sip some coconut water with purpose. And maybe, just maybe, start seeing the world through a lens of Greatitude too.

With heart,
Debbie

BUY THE BOOK + GET YOUR FREE CASE OF COCONUT WATER!

GO TO GREATITUDE.org

Enjoy meeting John Choriando and enjoy the podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show