Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (previously known as Alex's Lemonade Stand and currently abbreviated as ALSF) is an American pediatric cancer charity founded by Alexandra "Alex" Scott .^[1]

Founder

Alex Scott

Alexandra "Alex" Flynn Scott was born on January 18, 1996, in Manchester, Connecticut. She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer, two days before her first birthday.

In July 2000, in spite of her own failing health, she decided to open a lemonade stand, aided by her older brother, to raise money to help children with cancer. They held an annual "Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer" on the family's front lawn. Her first lemonade stand in her hometown of West Hartford, Connecticut, raised over $2,000 and turned into an annual tradition. It continued after the Scott family moved to Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, to pursue treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia while she attended Penn Wynne Elementary School. On August 1, 2004, Alex died at the age of eight.

In 2004, when Alex passed away at the age of eight at her house with her parents on her side.— her stand and inspiration had raised more than $1 million toward finding a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by her parents, Liz and Jay Scott, in 2005 to continue the work that Alex began. The mission of the Foundation is: to raise money for and awareness of childhood cancer causes — especially research into new treatments and cures; and to encourage and empower others, especially children, to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer.

Since Alex set up her first lemonade stand in 2000, the Foundation has raised more than $100 million. That money has helped to: fund more than 475 cutting-edge research projects ; create a travel program to help support families of children receiving treatment ; and develop resources to help people everywhere affected by childhood cancer.

Objective

The objective of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is to:

Raise money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, primarily research into new treatments and cures.
Encourage and educate others, especially children.
Expedite the process of finding new cures and treatments.

Media awareness

By 2002 'ALSF' had attracted media attention and children across the United States began to hold their own lemonade stands. By 2004, the foundation was a national campaign, with lemonade stands and events in all fifty states, as well as Canada and France. In 2004 alone, the organization raised over $1 million. Alex and her family were featured on Oprah Winfrey's television program, The John Walsh Show, and The Today Show,^[2] among others.^[3] Alex and her parents also wrote a children's book, Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand.

In 2006, the documentary Alex Scott: A Stand for Hope, written and directed by Larry Mendte, aired in prime time on KYW-TV in Philadelphia,^[4] and was re-aired on 21 CBS stations across the country. The success of the documentary launched a telethon by the same name in 2007.^[5] The original documentary has been re-worked and re-aired every year since, raising over three million dollars for the charity.^[6]

Alex's parents, Jay and Liz Scott, work full-time at ALSF and speak about Alex and the importance of funding and raising awareness for childhood cancer at events, conventions, and seminars.

Funds raised

Since Alex held her first lemonade stand, the Foundation has evolved into a national fundraising movement. It has become a registered 501(c)3 charity and has raised more than $100 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding cures, funding over 475 research projects nationally.

The Foundation raises funds via volunteers who host lemonade stands and other events, corporate sponsors, special Foundation-run events, and individual donations made directly to the Foundation.

Business and other funding

USA Beverages, Inc., which also brews Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer, once marketed Alex's Lemonade under license, with sales proceeds going to the foundation.

Kraft Foods, whose Country Time lemonade drinks are often sold at ALSF stands, is one of the sponsors of the foundation, however, the foundation has no official lemonade.

The race horse "Afleet Alex" competed in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course, and the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in 2005, and his owners subsequently pledged a percentage of his earnings to be donated to the foundation.

Fund allocation

Funds raised by the foundation are allocated to three areas:^[7]

–Pediatric Cancer Research

–Public Awareness and Education

–Travel/Family Support Programs

Most funding is distributed to pediatric cancer research in the form of grants designed to fill gaps in funding, as identified by doctors and researchers.^[8]

Notable Supporters

Bailee Madison - ALSF National Youth Spokesperson
Marc Summers - ALSF Board of Directors^[9]
Peter Facinelli
Alex Gordon ^[10]
Graham Rahal
Cindy Crawford
Jordin Sparks
Celine Dion
Jerry Seinfeld
Jimmy Kimmel^[11]
Alex Guarnaschelli
Melissa d'Arabian^[12]
Jennifer Garner ^[13]

Awards

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) honored Alex with the Alex Scott Day Hospital.
The Philadelphia 76ers renamed their 'Hometown Hero award' to '76ers Hometown Hero: In the Spirit of Alex Scott Award'.^[14]
Volvo has established the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award, which is given to a young person who has demonstrated exceptional courage and determination in helping others.^[15]

In Popular Culture

The 2013 film Walking with Dinosaurs has numerous references to the ALSF, such as the character Alex the Alexornis being named after Alexandra Scott as well as a quote from her (when life gives you lemons, make lemonade) being told by him in the film.

References

External links

Official website