Keiki built, set up and operated this lemonade stand for the 2012 Lemonade Alley, which was designed to teach Hawaii youngsters the fine points of entrepreneurship. This year’s competition will be held on April 12 at Pearlridge Center.
by Jenna Blakely
General Assignment Reporter-
Pacific Business News
Hawaii’s BizGym Foundation is bringing back the annual Lemonade Alley business program for children with a lemonade stand competition in April at Pearlridge Center.
The year-old nonprofit foundation, dedicated to equipping children with basic business skills, is the nonprofit arm ofBizGym, an application for startups, businesses and students that provides business plan and pitch writing tips, among other features, founded by local entrepreneur Steve Sue.
Lemonade Alley, now in its fourth year, teaches kids in kindergarten through 12th grade about business, financial literacy and social skills centered around a fun competition that pits teams against each other to sell lemonade and use profits to benefit local charities of their choice.
Three winning teams, evaluated on their business plans, recipes and on-stage pitches, also earn $1,000 each. This year’s event will be held on April 12.
“As entrepreneurial skills become increasingly important in our society, Lemonade Alley looks forward to providing Hawaii’s next generation with a positive experience that encourages them to make our state – and the world – a better place through sustainable business practices,” Sue, the self-proclaimed “Chief Lemon Head”, said in a statement.
The nonprofit is currently accepting ‘kidpreneur’ applications, due March 7, as well as corporate sponsors, donors and volunteers needed to support the competition. The program accepts a maximum of 150 kids, with five kids per team, accepted on a first come first serve basis.
BizGym Foundation also runs the new Camp BizGym program, a week-long camp for kids that teaches students how to create a video about a business while rallying online support through crowdfunding platforms.
Last year’s winning teams from Lemonade Alley raised money for Hawaii Youth for Christ, Ronald McDonald House of Hawaii and Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Program. All participants raised a total of $6,000 for various charities.
“That may not seem like a lot, but for kids from 10 lemonade stands, it is a lot of money that they generously shared with worthy causes,” Sue added.
Photo Credit: Lemonade Alley
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