An Introduction to Alex's Lemonade Stand

An Introduction to Alex’s Lemonade Stand

Children all across the world are inspiring adults to take action with things that matter the most. Alexandra Scott was one such child who took the matter of cancer into her own hands and because of this her legacy has created a grassroots movement across the country. Today, Alex’s Lemonade Stand is one of the most successful fundraisers for cancer research in America.

The idea for Alex’s Lemonade Stand began in 2000, when four-year-old Alexandra Scott, a cancer patient announced to her friends and family that she wanted to run a lemonade stand. This activity, something children do across the United States, was not just a way to pass the time and earn money for candy or toys, though. Instead, Alex’s profits were all going to go toward helping “her doctors” find a cure for cancer. In July of 2000, Alex, with the help of her brother Patrick, setup a lemonade stand in her neighborhood, calling it “Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer.”

With everyone’s hearts warming in Alex’s community, the project took off. Alex continued to operate her stand, and as word spread, more children and adults set up lemonade stands and sent their profits to Alex for her contribution to cancer research. Although Alex’s health began to deteriorate as the project became extremely popular, she continued to inspire people to run lemonade stands and to hold other fundraising events to benefit pediatric cancer patients. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was created, giving people an easy way to donate to this registered 501c3 charity.

In her battle to fight cancer, sadly, in the summer of 2004, Alex lost that battle. She was eight years old. However, in those eight years, she did more to better the world than most people do in an entire lifetime. Alex raised over $1 million to give toward childhood cancer research. To honor her memory and continue supporting other children fighting cancer, her family continued to run this organization, and as of July 2007, the foundation has contributed over $20 million to childhood cancer research. Alex has proven that no matter how young or old, you can do something to help change the world.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s motto is “no donation is too small,” and today, they are still battling cancer one cup of lemonade at a time. They provide grants cancer researchers and help doctors around the world learn more about this disease. Researchers are getting closer and closer to a cure everyday all because of the money that Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised.

Alex and her foundation have been recognized by a number of organizations over the past eight years. She has personally won many awards during her lifetime and posthumously, which include the Philadelphia Foundation’s Philanthropist of the Year for 2003, the Kellogg’s Child Development Award for 2004, and the Sunshine Foundation’s Impossible Dream Award for 2004. In addition, her foundation has been honored with the PPRA Gold Medal Award for 2005 and the Gilda’s Club Ann Silverman Award for 2006, to name just a few of their many achievements. After Alex’s death in 2004, two awards were also named in her honor. Every year, Volvo Cars gives away the Alex Scott Butterfly Award, which honors a child who is making an extraordinary difference in the world and the Philadelphia 76ers have renamed their community service award to be called the Hometown Hero in the Spirit of Alex Scott Award. Alex has been featured in countless magazines, newspapers, and TV shows, including The Oprah Show, The Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated.

Anyone can easily become involved with Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Helping to honor this girl’s amazing spirit can be quite rewarding. Adults and children alike can run lemonade stands, or you can make a straight donation or hold a different fundraising event. In addition, the foundation’s website allows you to purchase items from the gift shop (items include books, jewelry, coffee, and more), as well as find Alex’s Lemonade Stand events in your area, so you can attend and support the cause. They also hold an annual Lemon Ball to honor those who support their foundation and to raise money for the cause. You can attend this event if you are in the Philadelphia area during the month of January.

The moral of this story is that although the ocean is large, it is only made of drops of water. In other words, when everyone works together, small contributions to good causes add up to make a huge difference. Alex’s Lemonade Stand started out as one child hoping to contribute a few dollars to cancer research. The cure for cancer is closer because of Alex and her foundation. Anybody’s dream can become reality and Alex’s desire to help those with cancer has created one of the most well known charities for Cancer research.