When life dealt lemons in the form of pediatric cancer to Alexandra Scott, she summoned up her health and entrepreneurship skills and sold lemonade at the end of her driveway to help defeat the disease. Volvo heard about her amazing campaign in 2002 when she was just four years old. With the might of a giant Swedish corporation her cause went viral.
In 2004, Volvo stepped in to help Alex achieve a remarkable and ambitious fundraising goal, according to Laura Venezia, Volvo spokeswoman. Alex had called upon the nation to raise $1 million to fight pediatric cancer before the year’s end. Her cause was formalized as the Connecticut-based organization, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. But more money was needed.
That summer, funds poured in, but Alex was getting sicker. At that moment, with her goal hovering just out of reach at $700,000, Volvo promised her that they would help her reach $1 million. The automaker even donated a car for a fundraiser. With every car sold in the U.S. Volvo donates $10.
To be sure, the cause was as homespun as lemonade. Children throughout the country were encouraged to host lemonade stand fundraisers. Other corporations stepped in to help, including Applebees, Cheryl’s Cookies, Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill, Florida’s Natural, Old Navy, Red Robin and Toys “R” Us. Volvo remained an active partner, helping the group raise hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Volvo used the media days of the New York Auto Show to have its executive, Bodil Eriksson, executive vice president of Volvo Cars North America, present a $1 million check for dollars it raised in 2015 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand and presented it to her father, Jay Scott. Volvo served a delicious lemonade to the press.
Recipe
We don’t have the recipe, but there is a similar one on Martha Stewart’s page.
- Assemble 1 1/2 cups of sugar, one cup of water, one bunch of fresh thyme plus sprigs for garnish, and 2 cups of fresh lemon juice from about 10 lemons. (You can add a cup of gin if desired.)
- In a medium saucepan, bring sugar, thyme, and water to a boil; stir until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in lemon juice, gin (if using), and 6 cups cold water; strain into a large pitcher.
- Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour (and up to 1 week).
- Serve over ice, garnished with thyme sprigs, if desired.
For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand please visit http://www.alexslemonade.org/
