National Lemonade Days is a three day event held every June encouraging individuals from all over the country to hold lemonade stands in solidarity for finding a cure for all childhood cancers. The annual event raises more than $1 million for childhood cancer research. We were happy to be a part of this annual June tradition with our first annual Alex’s Lemonade Stand during National Lemonade Days 2013.
We held our Lemonade Stand event in the lobby of our office building in Dallas. We emailed and talked to our friends, family and neighbors in the building. We posted signs in the elevators and reminded everyone as they walked by. Several members of the Wigs.com team manned our station, and Carliz's children even showed up to pitch in. Every single member of our staff either donated their time or money.
Let's just say you couldn't miss our lemonade stand. We had three dozen blue and yellow balloons, Carliz in her yellow shirt, the kids in yellow shirts and bandanas, and a very enthusiastic group of employees offering free lemonade, as well as cookies. We also gave out information about the organization and played the video on an iPad with the story of Alex and how she started this amazing foundation.
We had a modest goal of $200 as we really didn't know what to expect. In only a few short afternoon hours, we raised over $400. We're already looking forward to doubling that amount next year. The best part is that we raised not only money, but awareness about this organization and their cause. It was a great feeling and a perfect example of the power of teamwork.
About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
Their slogan is "Fighting childhood cancer, one cup at a time." And their story is truly inspirational. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott, who was born in 1996. Shortly before her first birthday, Alex was diagnosed with a type of childhood cancer. In 2000, Alex received a stem cell transplant. 4-year-old Alex then announced that when she got out of the hospital, she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer.
She said she wanted to give the money to doctors to allow them to ”help other kids, like they helped me.” True to her word, she held her first lemonade stand later that year with the help of her older brother and raised an amazing $2,000 for her hospital.
While bravely battling her own cancer, Alex and her family continued to hold yearly lemonade stands in her front yard to benefit childhood cancer research. News spread of the remarkable sick child dedicated to helping other sick children. People from all over the world, moved by her story, held their own lemonade stands and donated the proceeds to Alex and her cause.
In 2004, Alex passed away at the age of 8, knowing that with the help of others, she had raised more than $1 million to help find a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex’s family and supporters around the world are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered charity, has raised more than $60 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 300 research projects nationally.
How You Can Get Involved
Learn how to hold your own lemonade stand or explore the many other ways to get involved in Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. There are ways for individuals, families, schools, businesses and even kids to get involved. Go to www.alexlemonade.org for more information.
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