For the first time, on May 19th, the City of Turlock will participate in Lemonade Day, a free, community-wide program dedicated to teaching children how to start, own and operate their own business through the simple and time-honored act of building and running a lemonade stand.
Lemonade Day was launched by the Houston-based non-profit organization, Prepared 4 Life in 2007. This free program for kids provides K-12 youth with the educational tools they need to start, own, and operate their very own lemonade stands. Youth learn how to create budgets, secure investors, select a site, serve customers, set profit-making goals, repay investors, and give back to the community. The children participating have the opportunity to open their first business and show the community what they’ve learned.
By starting their own business, kids gain valuable entrepreneurial skills infused with life skills such as character development, empowerment, and financial freedom. Lemonade Day sets them on a path of financial learning and goal setting that can continue throughout their lives
“The goal is to have 200 plus new entrepreneurs hit the streets of Turlock and learn a valuable lesson for business success in their youth; don’t wait to find a job, create one,” said Shaun Larsen, Turlock Lemonade Day Assistant. “We know the future is our children. We believe in Lemonade Day and what it means today and tomorrow. Our community needs this and most of all we need to remember our own first taste of business, a lemonade stand.”
The City Champion for all communities for this first year’s event is Dan Costa.
Lemonade Day provides youth with many life lessons, including saving for the future, and is supported by Turlock Mayor John Lazar, Turlock City Manager Roy Wasden, the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, and the entire Lemonhead Committee and Stands on the Map Sponsors.
All sponsorships will benefit United Cerebral Palsy’s Youth & Family Services Program, dedicated to Building Communities One Connection at a Time, which creates programs that are based on self-discovery and adventure, while teaching kids the life skills and character value they need to succeed in both school and the community.
“Through the program, Turlock youth learn real life skills that teach them experiential learning by owning and operating their own business,” said City Director, Tammie Webb. “They also gain the opportunity to ‘spend a little, save a little and share a little’ by donating a portion of their profit to a local charity of their choice.”
After covering expenses and paying back their investors, the children are encouraged to open a youth savings account.
On Lemonade Day, everyone has a job, either buying or selling lemonade. Turlock residents are encouraged to simply purchase a cup of lemonade from one of the youth participating in the program, to demonstrate how our community cares for the future of youth in Turlock, or encourage your own children or a child in your life to participate in this fun and exciting opportunity to start their own business.
The success of Lemonade Day relies on community members to share their time and talents, and volunteers are needed for the event.
There are various ways to become involved in Lemonade Day, including working at county-wide registration events to help register youth for Lemonade Day, becoming an Area Coordinator and supporting 10-15 stands in your designated area, using the Caring Adult Guide to help a child begin the rewarding experience of setting up their own business, or signing up to be become an assigned mentor for a group of children, or an individual child, to help prepare them for the event.
To register for free or to lean about ways that everyone can get involved in Lemonade Day, including becoming an official business partner or sponsor of the event on May 19th, please visit www.modesto.lemonadeday.org or you can contact Shaun Larsen at 209-678-1448 or SHAUNL240@aol.com.
