Students donate money from lemonade sales

QUEEN CREEK, AZ. (May, 12, 2021) – Students from the American Leadership Academy (ALA) Signal Butte campus in Queen Creek took the Banner Health Foundation’s “Lemonade Challenge” and raised more than $1,000 through sales at several student-run lemonade stands during April and May.

The Banner Health Foundation created the “Lemonade Challenge” to encourage people to donate in the spirit of helping others through Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Patient Assistant Fund. Proceeds will help patients in financial need pay for the costs of cancer treatment.

It all started with tiny hands pulling lemons off a fruitful tree in Emily Rosenhan’s backyard in Mesa. Her three kids brought neighborhood friends together to operate their lemonade stand with support from parents. They donated the net proceeds, $10, to the Banner Health Foundation to support cancer patients.

Kori Littler, who is Emily Rosenhan’s sister and a technology teacher at ALA, helped explain the lemonade challenge to students during their "Service Leadership” lesson and said they all wanted to do a stand themselves in their neighborhoods.

Littler said, “Our motto here at the school is ‘learn, lead, change the world.’ Every student on campus has had their hands on this service project. Whether they designed a flyer, a poster, contributed to the lemonade and cups, every kid on the whole campus has been involved in this challenge. And they’re so excited to do it. Each one of them has been able to feel like they’ve had a part in changing the community around them and doing good for other people.”

Second grader Everly Clark and her brother Nathan were joined by friend Josie Pringle at their “organic homemade lemonade stand.” They all agreed it was hard work but learned that hard work pays off. They got to see how generous and kind people in the community are, and are appreciative of the generosity from family, friends and neighbors.

“We are so impressed by the generosity and enterprising spirit of the kids who held the first lemonade sale to benefit Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center,” said Andy Kramer Petersen, Banner Health Foundation President & CEO. “To see that their efforts are now inspiring others to do the same is especially heartwarming. Every dollar donated helps to make life better for those battling cancer in our community, so we are very grateful for this support.”

To take part in the Lemonade Challenge, donations can be made at give.bannerhealth.com/lemonadechallenge.

Established in 2001, the Banner Health Foundation engages the community and stewards charitable contributions to advance Banner Health’s nonprofit mission of making health care easier so life can be better. Contributions are invested locally to support patient care programs and services operated by Banner’s many hospitals and health care facilities across Arizona. For more information, please visit www.bannerhealthfoundation.org.

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