Lakewood To Host Lemonade Day June 30

Local youth entrepreneurs will fan across the city setting up lemonade stands on June 30, 2012 as part of Lemonade Day Northeast Ohio. Coinciding with the CityWideStreetSale, this innovative, nation-wide program helps teach youth about being an entrepreneur by starting, owning, and operating his or her own business.

Having begun in Houston, Texas in 2007, the program has spread from 2,700 to 120,000 youths in 2011 across 31 cities in America and Canada.

The program is open to Lakewood students currently enrolled in grades four through six. Registration forms are available at LakewoodAlive (14701 Detroit Avenue, #LL10), the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce (16017 Detroit Avenue), and Vision 21 (1495 Warren Road). Registration forms are due to Vision 21 by June 14.

There will be an orientation meeting for parents and their children on June 20 at 6:30 p.m. hosted by the University of Akron Lakewood and Start Up Lakewood to discuss being an entrepreneur and go through the Lemonade Day program. This meeting will also provide the youths with their lemonade stand locations assignments and work hours. Teams of 2 or 3 youths will work each lemonade stand for a two hour shift with an adult chaperone. Teams can be formed ahead of time or at the orientation.

Parents and their children can pick up supplies for the stands from Vision 21 on June 28 and 29 from 4-7 p.m. Stands will cost up to $50 with a portion of the costs being offset by sponsorships. This event is not a fundraiser for any organization; all costs are associated directly with supplies for the stand.

Local sponsoring organizations include the Lakewood City Schools, Start Up Lakewood, the City of Lakewood, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, Vision 21, LakewoodAlive, and the Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance.