Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
The idea of neighborhood kids setting up a lemonade stand on ahot summer day is as American as apple pie. For many people,it's their introduction to entrepreneurship. But for thechildren who participate in Car-X's Lemonade-for-Wishes programone weekend each summer, the stands mean much more.
Started at St. Louis Car-X locations in 1997, the annual eventraises money for the local Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter, whichhelps grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.Kids pick up lemonade stand kits at participating Car-X auto repaircenters; each kit includes a lemonade recipe, two posters,background on the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a thank-you letterfrom the organization.
"Lemonade-for-Wishes encourages kids to go out and dosomething for other kids," says Allison J. Bauman, a Car-Xadvertising manager involved in organizing the fund-raiser."When the kids get that concept, when they understand'Wow, I'm raising money for someone my age who issick,' it's really amazing to watch theirresponse."
