RIT sponsors Lemonade Day on June 4

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Lemonade Day, a national program that teaches children how to own and operate their own businesses, is coming to Rochester on June 4. Twenty-one lemonade stands will be open at multiple sites throughout the city and Monroe County, with approximately 100 local school children participating.

Founded in Houston in 2007, Lemonade Day is a 14-step process that walks youth from a dream to a business plan and teaches the same principles that are required to start a big company. Paired with adult mentors, the children man lemonade booths and can keep the profits they earn.

“While the program inspires youngsters to work hard and make a profit, they are also taught to spend some, save some, and share some by giving back to their community,” said Ebony Miller, interim director of Rochester Institute of Technology’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship. “RIT’s CUE is proud to offer a helping hand to build self-worth and confidence, which are so important for our young people to succeed. And the looks on their faces are simply priceless when they realize the power they hold to make a difference in their communities.”

According to event organizers, there is an emphasis this year toward recruiting younger children, including those in preschool.

“Our youngest residents have exceptionally open and creative minds, which are the perfect vehicles for innovation and harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit,” added Miller. “By teaching them how to think innovatively while they are very young, they can begin to live their lives with an appreciation for interacting with others in a way that looks to problem solve through the generation of ideas and diplomacy.”
Here are a few lemonade stands that will be open for business:

• PUC Achieve Charter School, 14 Mark St., 2–8 p.m.
• The Strong, 1 Manhattan Square, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Durand Eastman Park, 1353 Lakeshore Blvd., 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Pinnacle School No. 35, 194 Field St., (Friday, June 3, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)

Additional locations with varying times of operation are:

• Mendon Center Elementary School, 10 Mendon Center Road, Pittsford, N.Y.
• Cobbles Elementary School, 140 Gebhardt Road, Penfield, N.Y.
• School of the Arts, 45 Prince St.
• Wilson Foundation Academy, 200 Genesee St.
• George Mather Forbes School No. 4, 198 Samuel McCree Way
• University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men, 1290 Lake Ave.

For more information, contact Yasmin Mattox at 585-475-6199 or yjmvpr@rit.edu.