Every little thing you do sends ripples through the universe … sometimes the ripples are good and continue beyond your imagination. One such ripple for me started in 2007, in a previous life when I worked for the Houston Parks & Recreation Department. A colleague of mine and I were asked to meet with Michael Holthouse with Prepared 4 Life. He had an idea for a program to empower youth through lemonade stands that he wanted to begin with the parks department’s support. The idea was to recruit young people to set up little “businesses” to sell lemonade. Prepared4Life would provide all the materials and instructions to help these young entrepreneurs learn how to own and run their own business, a lemonade stand. I
n that first year, there were about 2,700 young people setting up their lemonade stand businesses across Houston. Today, the program continues and has grown to over 55,000 young people in Houston alone. The program is now running in 2 countries with over 1.5 plus million young people learning how to own and run their own business. Along the way, they learn how to become future business leaders, volunteers, social advocates, and volunteers for the world they will one day be in charge of.
Lemonade Day will be on May 17th this year, and your child, with your help, can participate. All young people who register receive free materials to teach them the lessons of Lemonade Day (like creating budgets, setting profit-making goals, serving customers, repaying investors, and giving back to the community.) What they learn from the experience is something they can use throughout their life, including goal-setting, problem-solving, and gaining self-esteem critical for future success. Plus, they get to keep the money (though they are encouraged to spend some, save some, and share some as well).
If you and your child are interested in participating in Lemonade Day, you can find out more information and register by visiting https://local.lemonadeday.org/houston. If your child decides to set up a lemonade stand, let us know. We’ll be sure to let the neighborhood know where their stand is so everyone can drop by to help support them.
In that first year, there were about 2,700 young people setting up their lemonade stand businesses across Houston. Today, the program continues and has grown to over 55,000 young people in Houston alone. The program is now running in 2 countries with over 1.5 plus million young people learning how to own and run their own business. Along the way, they learn how to become future business leaders, volunteers, social advocates, and volunteers for the world they will one day be in charge of.
Lemonade Day will be on May 17th this year, and your child, with your help, can participate. All young people who register receive free materials to teach them the lessons of Lemonade Day (like creating budgets, setting profit-making goals, serving customers, repaying investors, and giving back to the community.) What they learn from the experience is something they can use throughout their life, including goal-setting, problem-solving, and gaining self-esteem critical for future success. Plus, they get to keep the money (though they are encouraged to spend some, save some, and share some as well).
If you and your child are interested in participating in Lemonade Day, you can find out more information and register by visiting https://local.lemonadeday.org/houston. If your child decides to set up a lemonade stand, let us know. We’ll be sure to let the neighborhood know where their stand is so everyone can drop by to help support them.
