Project Timeline:

Target Age Group: Grades K-12 (special projects for elementary school students, middle school students and high school students).

Requirements for Participation:
There are two ways to participate:

  • Interactive Videoconference Sites: All participating interactive sites must have H.323 videoconferencing capabilities and be on the Internet2 network.
  • Webstream Participants: Sites without videoconferencing capabilities or Internet2 connectivity can participate by watching the live webstreams and participating in special projects. Just make sure to check the correct level of participation when you register.

Description:

Kids helping Kids Make a Difference! In celebration of Global Youth Services Day, join other schools across the country as they host lemonade stands to raise money for pediatric cancer research and participate in other related projects. Schools will collaborate with each other through a blog, a special "kick off" videoconference spirit rally and closing project collage videoconference event.

During this two week project, each school will hold their own lemonade stands to help raise funds for pediatric cancer. Schools can hold one big lemonade stand day or a series of lemonade stand events throughout the two weeks. After each day of sales, schools will report their totals through the website. Last year we raised more than $17,000. Think we can double it?

Schools will also have an opportunity to participate in a variety of special projects inspired by the idea of kids helping kids. All projects are tied to Pennsylvania and national standards. Most importantly - - they're fun!

Alex's Lemonade Stand is a national organization with Greater Philadelphia roots. The organization grew out of the front yard lemonade stand started by Alexandra “Alex” Scott, a pediatric cancer patient. In 2000, at the age of four, Alex opened her first annual lemonade stand with high hopes of raising money for pediatric cancer causes, specifically research into a cure. At the time, Alex was receiving treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for Neuroblastoma.

Every year thereafter, Alex held an annual lemonade stand in her Pennsylvania front yard and inspired others to donate money to her cause. After fighting her own battle with cancer for over seven years, she died peacefully at home in August of 2004. At the time of her death, she had raised over $900,000 for pediatric cancer research and, amazingly, was only eight years old. As of January 2006, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised more than $10 million for childhood cancer research.

This project is brought to you by Lower Merion School District, Alex's Lemonade Stand and MAGPI.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Heather Weisse, MAGPI Applications Coordinator, at hweisse@magpi.net.

  

 



Need ideas for putting
together your lemonade stand event? Download the GUIDE
for holding your own
lemonade stand!

 
 

What do participating schools need to do?

  • Registration:
    • Determine whether or not you will be a interactive videoconference site or webstream participant
    • Choose which special projects your school would like to take part in and let us know!
  • Testing: Participate in a Videoconference Test OR individually test your ability to connect to the webstream
  • Prepare and Participate in the Kick-Off Videoconference
  • Participate and follow instructions for any of the special projects in which your school would like to be involved
  • Hold your Individual Lemonade Stands
  • Prepare and Participate in the Wrap-Up Videoconference: Instructions for this event will be available after we determine the number of schools

About the Kick-Off Virtual Spirt Festival Videoconference:
April 8, 2008
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. EDT
Featuring Liz Scott, Alex Scott's mother

A multi-site videoconference event! All participating regional sites will partake in this special opportunity. Liz Scott, Alex's mother, will address participants and talk about the importance of making a difference. Hear the "Alex's Lemonade Song" performed by a Pennsylvania High School.

And don't forget the spirit contest! Each school will have 30 seconds to introduce themselves during our virtual rally. Which one of our participating schools has the most spirit??This is your school's time to shine! The school with the most "lemonade" spirit will win the Spirit Award. All schools participating in this project are automatically in the running for the Spirit Award.

Instructions for preparing your school for the spirit contest:

  • Your school will have 30 seconds to introduce yourself - - no more.
  • Make sure to tell us your school's name, where you are located, why you are participating in this project and an interesting fact about your school or community - MAKE THE INTRODUCTIONS CREATIVE
  • Interactive videoconference participants will have an opportunity to share this information as part of the videoconference
  • Webstream participants should email a picture and short paragraph to by April 11, 2008 to be included on the website
  • Remember, the school with the most "lemonade spirit" during their introduction will win the Spirit Award

This event will be streamed live over the Internet for sites without videoconferencing capabilities.

DOWNLOAD THE SCAVENGER HUNT

About Individual School Lemonade Stands
April 8, 2008 - April 24, 2008

Schools participating in this project will have 2 weeks to host an Alex's Lemonade Stand. Sites can have a one-day lemonade stand fundraiser or hold a stand every day for a week - - or some other combination. Need ideas? No idea where to start? Download the guide for setting up events! The guide is in PDF format. In addition to your lemonade stand fundraiser, your site will also be able to accept online donations by setting up your own fundraising webpage!

Each participating school will receive a package of resources from Alex's Lemonade Stand, including: return envelopes, banners, thank you notes, stickers (I support Alex’s Lemonade Stand), newsletter, and brochures.

Don't forget to incorporate your special projects into your Lemonade Stand plans!

Have a specific question about creating an Alex's Lemonade Stand fundraising event for your organization? Contact Lisa at Alex's Lemonade Stand.

Remember to report your sales totals using the web-based form.

Wrap-Up Project Collage Videoconference Event:
April 24, 2007
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. EDT

Hosted by students from Lower Merion School District, this closing videoconference event will celebrate each site's accomplishments - - and EVERYONE will be involved. Each site will have an opportunity to share their projects and fundraising totals. Watch some schools' digital collage projects and listen to the prize-winning poems. Hear from special guest speakers and be the first to hear the songs developed through the "Make a Difference Song Showcase." The format for this event will be determined after we determine the number of schools participating in this project.

This event will be streamed live over the Internet for sites without videoconferencing capabilities.

Special Projects:

Here are the special projects/events that we are planning! Have ideas for other projects! Visit our blog and suggest them!

  • "Make a Difference" Poetry Contest
    Students have an opportunity to reflect on the statement, "How can I make a difference?" through poetry. Each school will have an opportunity to select 2 poems to submit to the national contest. During the Virtual Lemonade Stand Project, parents, teachers, students and others will have an opportunity to vote on their favorite poems. The top 3 poems will be read during the concluding "Project Collage Celebration" videoconference. Find out more.
  • Lemonade Stand Poster Contest
    The best way to sell lots of lemonade is to get the word out! What better way then through posters? Each school that participates in the poster contest project will conduct local 'lemonade sales posters' contests. The winning poster entries at each school will then be submitted to the national contest. National poster entries should be 8.5 x 11 inches and scanned as .jpeg images. All of the poster entries will become part of our virtual mural and the winning entry will be featured on the Alex's Lemonade website! Find out more.
  • "Making a Difference" Song Showcase
    Have you heard the "Alex's Lemonade" song? If not - don't worry - you'll hear it during our kick-off celebration! Schools that participate in our song contest will have an opportunity to write their own "Making a Difference" song! Each school that participates in this project will have an opportunity to perform their song as part of our closing videoconference celebration. All musical formats are appropriate for this project - - can you imagine a "Make a Difference Rap" or "The Lemonade Opera?" CREATIVITY is encouraged! Find out more.

We're BLOGGING!

Curious about what other schools and students are doing as part of their "Alex's Virtual Lemonade Stand" projects - - or want to look at what schools did last year? Take a look at our blog, read comments from others and add your own thoughts: http://alexslemondrop.blogspot.com/. Many thanks to Tom McGee at Lower Merion School District for setting this up!

About Alex's Lemonade Stand

Alex's Lemonade Stand is a national organization with Greater Philadelphia Area roots.

In 2000, a 4 year old cancer patient named Alexandra "Alex" Scott announced a seemingly simple idea -she was holding a lemonade stand to raise money to help "her doctors" find a cure for kids with cancer. The idea was put into action by Alex and her older brother, Patrick, when they set up the first "Alex's Lemonade Stand for pediatric cancer" on their front lawn in July of 2000.

For the next four years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex held an annual lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. Following her inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands have been held across the country by children, schools, businesses, and organizations, all to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand for pediatric cancer. As of December 2006, her national campaign has raised over $10 million for pediatric cancer research.

On August 1, 2004, Alex died peacefully at the age of 8 after battling cancer for 7 ½ years. Alex's spirited determination to raise awareness and money for all childhood cancer while she bravely fought her own deadly battle with cancer has inspired thousands of people, from all walks of life to raise money and give to her cause. Alex's family and supporters are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501c3 charity.

 

  
     
© MAGPI 2007