Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Event

A couple of years ago I went to my son’s daycare to take part in bring your parent to school day. As I work on at cancer research organization, I brought an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) book to his pre-kindergarten class and read to them about Alex’s dream of raising money to help sick kids with cancer. Afterward his teacher came to me and asked if I wanted to help run an Alex’s Lemonade stand so that we could help raise money for the foundation. I thought it was a great idea. Time passed, and as what happens sometimes with good ideas, it never took shape as I was busy and the teachers were busy too. I wanted to help out but I didn’t make an effort to pick up the phone to try and follow up on helping to organize the event. However, through my work, an opportunity came up last summer to volunteer for the day to sell lemonade on the corner manning an Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Philadelphia (see the picture above to the left). For a couple of hours, I carried a tray with large glasses of lemonade and my colleagues and I walked up to strangers on the street and did our best to sell or accept donations. There were a good many of us who had volunteered to help and at the end of the event Alex’s parents, Liz and Jay Scott, stopped by to thank us for our help. Although Alex had lost her fight against cancer several years ago, the Scotts still fought on and had expanded their Foundation to be nationally known. After that day of volunteering to help raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, I really enjoyed working to make a difference in a very grassroots way. I knew that I would help again in the future but I didn’t know how or when.

A few weeks ago one of the teachers at my daughter’s daycare (formerly my son’s school) called me and asked if I would help them man their first Alex’s Lemonade Stand. I jumped at the opportunity. Not only would this allow me to fulfill the promise I made to help out the school but I wanted to show my kids the importance of volunteering and helping out. Yesterday was the big day. Parents had baked all sorts of yummy cookies and cupcakes, the kids had made fresh lemonade and the teachers had made signs, set up the tent and provided all the other necessary items we needed for the day.

Once outside several of the teachers, another parent and I, separated the kids and stood on opposite corners trying our best to convince motorists to pull into the parking lot to make a donation. We all fought the 90 plus degree weather and didn’t give up hope as car after car passed by without stopping. But seeing the kids’ faces as they kept screaming in unison: “Come on over. Lemonade. LemonADE! Get your lemonade” I wanted to see these kids succeed so I started waving the sign, jumping up and down trying my best to get people to stop. Our plan was simple: The kids would start the lemonade chant, one of the kids’ mom held a container filled with glasses of lemonade and I would jump up and down, waving a lemon shaped sign with “Alex’s lemonade” on it. We worked together and every time we had someone stop we’d cheer and jump up and down. A dollar here, five dollars there and even a few 10 dollar bills started to add up. Midway through one of the teachers pulled her car up on the lawn and turned on some music and cranked up the fun. The kids started dancing (one little boy even started break dancing on the grass!) and we adults all started to shake our thang, having fun and doing our best to raise money.

Toward the end of my shift, a mom and her daughter came over with a large envelope. Their family had recently held an Alex’s Lemonade Stand and they took all the money they had collected and gave it to our efforts so that we could combine all of the money and send it in to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. How wonderful to others come out to help! Before I left, one of the teachers brought my daughter outside and I was able to get down on my knees and give her a great big hug as she ran into my open arms. I squeezed her tight against me and kissed her. Pediatric cancer has affected many families worldwide. Many kids are fighting cancer today and some will lose their battle. I am honored and happy to have been able to help out at yesterday’s fundraising event. We learned a lot as to what works and what we could all do better for next time. But I remembered an important lesson yesterday: Get up, make a difference and try. Don’t give up. Seriously, don’t give up ever. Remember: “When life gives you lemons make lemonade.” I pray I can remember that mantra in my daily life.