Emmanuel Christian Academy students in fourth through eighth grade participated in the 2015 Northeast Ohio Lemonade Day (sponsored by The Burton D. Morgan Foundation) and donated $1,661.82 to five charities, including the American Diabetes Association; Autism Speaks; Ronald McDonald House of Akron; Sickle Cell Anemia; and St. Jude Children’s Hospital . Students set up stands at various businesses in the Greater Akron and Cleveland areas May 23 and 24 and again on June 13, giving them a taste of entrepreneurship.
Lemonade Day is a free, fun, experiential learning program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business – a lemonade stand. It began in Houston, Texas in 2007. Since then it has grown from 2,700 kids to 200,000 kids in 31 cities across America and Canada in 2013. The foremost objective of Lemonade Day is to empower youth to take ownership of their lives and become productive members of society – the business leaders, social advocates, volunteers, and forward thinking citizens of tomorrow.
Emmanuel’s Lemonade Day program is headed by Joyce Fox (fifth through eighth grade Exceptional Students instructor). “This year’s 5th Annual Lemonade Day was our most successful running of the program to date,” said Fox. “We are very proud of our students’ philanthropic efforts.”
This year, Emmanuel’s fourth graders, participated in the program. The class, led by Dana Baylor, chose to support the Ronald McDonald House of Akron because of the work the organization does for children and their families. In just two weeks, Baylor’s class raised $720 for RMH of Akron, and on May 28, Baylor and her class visited RM of Akron to present the donation check and take a tour of the facility.
Back Row (l-to-r): Stephanie Zelasko (Executive/Development Assistant, Ronald McDonald House); Dana Baylor (Fourth Grade Teacher, Emmanuel Christian Academy)
Front Row (l-to-r): Fourth Grade Lemonade Day Leadership Team- Traniece Lockhart; Marquis Kirk; Wilbert Witherspoon
“I am so proud of our students’ efforts,” said Baylor. “They continue to talk about their experience and how great it was to donate to the Ronald McDonald House of Akron.”
The initial fourth grade Lemonade Day was followed by an encore selling event at The Mustard Seed Market and Café in Highland Square, where they raised an additional $32 for the organization.
While Lemonade Day drives entrepreneurial spirits in youth, it also teaches good customer service skills.
“I learned that you have to have a good attitude to sell anything,” said fourth grader Neva Fuller. “You have to have conversations with every customer, and that was fun!”
Through one event, students learned the value and importance of a strong work ethic, good attitude and entrepreneurial skills needed to be successful business owners. More importantly, they gained insight on what it means to be positive, productive community leaders.
“I am most proud of our students’ desire to give back,” said Emmanuel’s Principal/Chief School Administrator V. Rena Suber. “They are not required to donate what they make, but they are deeply mission-minded and look for ways to help others.”
For information about Lemonade Day visit www.lemonadeday.org.
About Lemonade Day
In 2007, founder Michael Holthouse had a vision to empower today’s youth to become tomorrow’s entrepreneurs through helping them start, own and operate their very own business… a lemonade stand. Lemonade Day is a strategic 14-step process that walks youth from a dream to a business plan, while teaching them the same principles required to start any big company. Inspiring kids to work hard and make a profit, they are also taught to spend some, save some and share some by giving back to their community. Since it’s launch in 2007 in Houston Texas, Lemonade Day has grown from serving 2,700 kids in one city to over 800,000 children across North America.