A Tribute to Alexandra Scott

Alex Scott January 18, 1996 - August 1, 2004

This week marks 6 years since the founder of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, our daughter Alex, passed away after a 7 ½ year battle with cancer. She was 8 years old and we miss her every day. However, we are so grateful for her life and the gift she gave us in being able to continue to help children with cancer through the foundation. We are also extremely fortunate to know that Alex not only inspired us, but so many others in her life. In fact, through the years, we have received thousands of beautiful letters to Alex that are truly remarkable to read. So, as we mark another year without Alex, it seems fitting to honor what her life meant and continues to mean, not just to us, but to so many others. The “notes to Alex” below are all taken from letters we have received and we think that they serve as their own inspiring tribute to our amazing daughter!

Alex sketching 2003

Dear Alex, … I thank you for sharing your story. It has enriched my soul and reminded me to truly be grateful for the little things, to enjoy each moment fully and to not let anything hold you back from just enjoying life. There is a lifetime of memories in every breath if one only takes the time to recognize that and cherish the moment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Dear Alex, You are a very inspiring person who has touched my heart. I am getting chemo treatments now as I have breast cancer. I was feeling low and all my bones ached. However, I felt much better after reading the story about you in the Inquirer. You inspired me to sit up, play a game with my children and make them feel happy just like you put a smile on my face.

Dear Alex, We sold lemonade and cookies from 8am to 12 noon and had quite a few customers!... At the end of the yard sale we counted up our earnings and came up with one hundred dollars! We were really excited. This made me realize that even though my friend and I are only two eleven-year-old girls we can help make a difference. I want to thank you for starting your foundation and letting everyone know how to help and for giving those with cancer the courage to survive

Alex selling lemonade Fall 2001

Dear Alex, Thank you for teaching me so much about courage and generosity by the example you set… Most of us in our lifetimes do not manage to accomplish even a fraction of what you have accomplished so far in eight and a half years. You are living your life “large” and making the most of everyday.

Dear Alex, Your story is a heartening, uplifting one – to be able to think of others and want to help other children with cancer demonstrated what a strong determined, selfless, loving girl you are. And you moved me to help. And you are doing a great thing! I thought, even I can put on a lemonade stand! What an easy and fun event to hold.

Dear Alex, Sometimes I get sad because I deal with a lot of bad situations in my work life. So I just wanted to say thank you for helping me to remember just how great people can be. You have an extremely warm heart and I hope you inspire more people (like me!) to lead a better life and to be a better person.

Alex with her kitten Herbert 2003

- Liz and Jay Scott, Alex's parents

Skydiving For Childhood Cancer

On Saturday, July 17th, 2010, a few of our staff members decided to skydive to help fight childhood cancer! We teamed up with The Policemen's Benevolent Association, Local 362 for The 5th Annual C.U.F.F.S. (Cops United Free Falling Spectacular) event! We can't wait for next year and hope that you join us! www.CuffsEvents.com

- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

The Ripple Effect

Liz and I do a lot of public speaking and we were lucky enough to be invited back to speak at a camp called Girls Take Charge (http://girlstakecharge.org). Girls Take Charge is a national award winning leadership development program designed to inspire and empower high school and middle school-aged girls to become self-confident, courageous and compassionate leaders in their communities. Further, with this leadership development it encourages them to become lifelong leaders!

Before the session started we were approached by a college student and their mother. This student had attended a leadership camp we spoke at a few years ago, and told us how much Alex’s story had influenced his life. He then shared that his college entrance essay was about Alex and credited his admission to this essay. It was a very nice moment for us.

For Liz and I, it is exciting to think that we might have a small part in helping these students become leaders in their life.

At these camps we typically speak about Alex, how she started her lemonade stand movement and the lessons we learned from her along the way. Beth Mooney who runs the camp always does a great job (in fact, we are working with her on a Leadership Academy of our own. Click this link for details www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/student-leadership-academy-2010).

While I was in a meeting yesterday an employee came to tell me that someone was in our office and wanted to see me. I went out and introduced myself to a mother, her 7-year-old son Nikolas, and Nikolas’ grandmother. This mother told me that her daughter came home from Girls Take Charge Camp and told the family the story of Alex and her lemonade stands and that the campers set up lemonade stands across the campus of Villanova University for an hour and raised over $1,000! She told her family how inspired she was.

Well, there was one more surprise for me. After hearing his sister talk about Alex’s Lemonade and what she had done at camp, Nikolas went to his room and took a $5 bill from his bank and told his mother he wanted to give it to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. A big thank you to Nikolas, I would say that not only do “girls take charge,” but “kids take charge.” Remember that out of the $30 million dollars plus that ALSF has raised, over $12 million has been raised from lemonade stands, most of them with kids working at them. Pretty cool. What do you think?



- Jay Scott, Alex's dad

p.s.- if you would like to match Nikolas' $5 donation to ALSF, just text the word 'cancer' to 85944 from your cell phone.

A Friday Mash-up

It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks here at Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Here’s a quick recap of just a couple of the happenings!

Most recently we have been thrilled by the continued support of Twilight fans raising funds and awareness for the foundation around the release of Eclipse. As we told you last week, The Fandom Gives Back once again hosted an online auction to raise funds for Alex’s by bidding on autographed merchandise, artisan crafts, stories and more. The group raised a significant amount of money for us last year, and this year has proved to be no different. They surpassed last year’s total and are currently up to $136,401 (and still counting)! It is unbelievable how this community has pulled together to help us on the way to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Thank you to FGB and to all the Twilight fans out there!

Speaking of communities pulling together, families of children who have fought or are currently fighting cancer came together on Saturday, June 26, 2010 in Philadelphia for our 2nd Annual Childhood Cancer Symposium. The event, which is free to those who attend, provided families with the opportunity to learn about issues and topics of treatment and beyond in a group setting. This is always a great event, and one in which everyone comes away having discovered something that they weren’t aware of at the beginning of the day. While their parents were in sessions, the children had their own activities and entertainment. The day was capped off by a special dinner & dance for families to further connect with one another. I know we learned something that day, and we hope that each and every one of the families did as well. In just two years this event has already doubled in size, and we are looking forward to continuing its growth and reach in the years to come.

Above: Helen Jonsen, editor, workingmother.com with Jay and Liz Scott.

We hope everyone has a great weekend, we think the weather is going to call for a few glasses of lemonade!

- Liz and Jay Scott, Alex's parents

Twilight Returns, Continues to Help Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

As you may know, the new Twilight movie, Eclipse, was just released this week and we have been thrilled with the continued support that the cast and fans have shown for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

ALSF staff member Todd Talbott and Bailee Madison behind the Alex's Lemonade Stand at the Twilight Premiere. Photo Courtesy of Michael Williams.

Last week in advance of the premiere, we were asked to set up an Alex’s Lemonade Stand for the fans who were camped out in what was being called “tent city.” The lemonade stand was held for 48 straight hours, and gave one of our new employees, Todd Talbott, the opportunity to meet the fans and hear about their support of the cause. Hundreds of fans visited the stand to purchase lemonade, and we are sure that we garnered new supporters too! On Wednesday everyone in “tent city” was treated to a wonderful surprise when some of the cast members came to visit. Among them was one of our supporters, Peter Facinelli, who not only took time out to meet fans, but also came by the Alex’s Lemonade Stand. He was joined there by another great supporter, young actress Bailee Madison. It was such an honor to be involved with the premiere festivities and we are continually amazed by the support of Peter Facinelli and the Twilight fans everywhere.

Peter Facinelli and Bailee Madison at the Alex's Lemonade Stand. Photo Courtesy of Michael Williams.

Speaking of which, the Fandom Gives Back group is at it again! This group was created to unite the fans of the Twilight Saga and raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. Late last year the worldwide Twilight community banded together to raise more than $87,000 in just 7 days through a Fandom Gives Back auction! They have already compiled more items and are hosting another auction to coincide with the release of Eclipse. Check out their auction here: http://www.thefandomgivesback.com/

We hope that everyone has a wonderful 4th of July weekend, and if you get the chance to see Eclipse, make sure to let us know what you think!

- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation