Support Austin’s Youngest Entrepreneurs on Lemonade Day Austin

Guest article by Kyle Rea

If there’s a greater feeling than drinking cold lemonade on a hot day, maybe it’s drinking cold lemonade that has been crafted by the tiny hands we all love.

Picture this. You’re walking through Pease Park, reminiscing about last weekend’s birthday bash for Eeyore, when you spot three children behind a lemonade stand. One in a Spider-Man costume, one in a Wonder Woman costume and one in a Hulk costume. As you order a glass of their homemade lemonade, you realize you’ve just met three of Austin’s youngest entrepreneurs.

Get ready to find yourself in this situation on May 7, 2016: Lemonade Day Austin. Anywhere you go, you may see a lemonade stand run by a child or group of young friends who are not only looking to make some money for themselves, but also to donate to the charity of their choosing.

Besides the fiscal and philanthropic benefits, this event helps youth learn how to be entrepreneurs, through owning and operating their own lemonade stand. You’ll find stands all over the city, from public parks, to fire stations, to public libraries.

Lemonade Day is an annual event that was launched by the Entrepreneurs Foundation with the help of Joe and Andra Leimandt. Since 2009, event participants have sold almost $2 million worth of lemonade and given more than $800,000 to charity.

Lemonade Day Austin Stands to Look For

You’ll find the more profitable stands in crowded areas, usually targeting joggers, bikers and other thirsting individuals. There is business strategy involved here, after all! With clever names and decorations, these small businesses are easily noticeable.

Be sure to head over to Mueller Lake Park to visit one stand decorated and operated by some of the young patients at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, who will donate all of their proceeds back to the hospital. You can find the stand in front of The Thinkery (1830 Simond Ave.).

You may also run into another great lemonade stand at the Best in Show Fest (Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop, Building A). It will be run from 1-4 p.m. by Finn, 2016’s Best Tasting Lemonade Contest winner. A portion of his proceeds will be donated to Austin Pets Alive!

Wherever you live in Austin, mark down May 7 as the day to break open your jar of change, spending it all on lemonade. Because if there’s one thing kids love more than earning money, it’s the feeling they can conquer the world behind a simple lemonade stand. And by the time they’ve perfected their recipe and own the hottest superhero-themed lemonade bar in downtown Austin, you’ll be on their good side.

Learn more at austin.lemonadeday.org.

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

Will you be looking for a lemonade stand in your neighborhood on Saturday?

 

Kyle Rea is a high school student at Stony Point who enjoys writing, listening to music and talking to people. Know a good album he should listen to? Let him know about it via email.