Alex’s Lemonade Stand Continues the Fight Against Cancer

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is fighting childhood cancer one lemonade stand at a time.

By: Lanae Brody

Often in the summer I drive down a street and see a couple of kids outside with their parents running a lemonade stand on their front lawn. If I have a minute to spare, I pull over and buy a cup of lemonade and a cookie and tell the kids how great it is that they’re learning the importance of work.

But one little girl named Alexandra Scott changed my outlook and perspective of lemonade stands across the country. Alex was was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a very rare form of pediatric cancer the week of her 1st birthday. As she got older and learned of her condition, she wanted to do something to find a cure and to help those who couldn’t get the care they so needed and deserved. So at just four-years-old she set up a lemonade stand in her front yard, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and raised thousands for cancer research in just one day.

Jay Scott and Liz Scott pose as LA Loves Alex's Lemonade Stand presents the 9th Annual Food and Wine Event at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, September 8, 2018 (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

From there her operation grew as others heard about Alex’s Lemonade stand and became inspired to help. People opened their own stands and donated to her cause. Alex’s battle with cancer ended in 2004 when she was just eight. Before her untimely and unfortunate death, Alex raised $1 million for other sick kids all just by selling lemonade. After her passing, her parents took things into their own hands and officially launched ALSF, or the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, in her honor, which has now raised over $150 million to date.

To support their efforts, every year notable chefs from all over the country gather for the LA Love’s Alex’s Lemonade Stand fundraiser to not only remember Alex, but celebrate what a lemonade stand meant to her.

Giada de Laurentiis gives a cheesy smile as LA Loves Alex's Lemonade Stand presents the 9th Annual Food and Wine Event at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, September 8, 2018 (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

“There’s something really special about this event,” Alex’s mother and co-executor of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Liz Scott, said to the crowd after a moment of silence took place. “My spunky 4-year-old daughter Alex had a dream with a lemonade stand. She was just a little girl. She raised $2,000 that day. When I asked her what she thought about that day she said it was the best thing that ever happened to her.”

The Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is the leading childhood cancer charity in the U.S. It gives kids with cancer and their families the gift of hope. Alex’s father Jay Scott told the crowd that since September 2017, the last time L.A Loves Alex’s Lemonade Stand was held in Los Angeles, more than 250,000 children were diagnosed with cancer. The charity gives grants all over the country to doctors for research since various cancers need various treatments at different hospitals. They also fund clinical trials using the building of cells in a lab. In fact, funding came from this event just last year for a successful project to save a child.

LA Loves Alex's Lemonade Stand presents the 9th Annual Food and Wine Event at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, September 8, 2018 (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

“Every patient that were able to save, you guys have a piece of that,” Jay Scott told the hungry and charitable foodies. “We’re trying to make a difference with all these kids and we couldn’t without all of you.”

The event itself is every foodie’s dream. Hundreds of chefs and mixologist are flown in from all over the country in thanks to Delta Airlines who helps sponsor the event. Their generosity cuts down overhead for those traveling to bring their best dishes to life in Los Angeles for everyone to taste in one venue. Famous chefs such as Giada de Laurentiis and her Vegas team were making amazing chicken meatballs as her daughter served the plates with her friends. Host Suzanne Goin was nearby at all times making sure her delicious fried chicken dishes were plated properly. The line for Adam Perry Lang was around the field per usual, just to try a freshly cut rib straight from his large smoker he brought on hand. These are just a very few of the several big names the event brings out every year.

Mixologist Christiaan Rollich participates as LA Loves Alex's Lemonade Stand presents the 9th Annual Food and Wine Event at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, September 8, 2018 (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

But what would an LA event be without someone in the entertainment world? Longtime supporter Jimmy Kimmel and his adorable family were in attendance as they are every year, and Jimmy exclusively told The Voluntourist just why it’s so important for him to be there with wife Molly every year.

Molly McNearney, Jimmy Kimmel, Jason Bateman, Francesca Bateman and Amanda Anka pose as LA Loves Alex's Lemonade Stand presents the 9th Annual Food and Wine Event at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, September 8, 2018 (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

“Because it is a great charity,” Kimmel, who has attended 8 years in a row said. “It’s become this major international charity event that does so much good work and they do so many important things to fight pediatric cancer and on top of it, I love food and this is really the only place where you’ll get 150 of the best chefs in America to each set up a stand and feed everyone.”

Kimmel’s ties run deeper than his love for the charity as he’s also very tight with several chefs who makes it out each year. In fact, he and his large group of chef friends take part in auctioning off a big ticket dinner where he hosts and entertains and they cook. Kimmel even took the stage to get the crowd amped up for bids.

Jimmy Kimmel joins auctioneer Billy Harris in fundraising as LA Loves Alex's Lemonade Stand presents the 9th Annual Food and Wine Event at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, September 8, 2018 (Photo: Benjamin Shmikler/ABImages)

Kimmel wasn’t the only person to push people to open up their checkbooks a little further. Pediatric cancer survivor Cooper Grey, 10, spoke to the crowd about his battle with stage 4 kidney cancer that spread to his lungs. The young boy shared how he took on chemo for 37 weeks like a total champion and his story of survival and how kids really are the future.

“I was in the hospital. To me, it seemed like it lasted forever, but look at me now! Today, you can’t even tell that I’m sick! Today, I am a survivor. I truly believe kids can make a difference.” Cooper alone has raised $100,000 for pediatric cancer but hopes to raise $1M sometime in the near future.

You could feel the warmth in the air at the event, and not just the heat that radiated from the LA sun. In total, this year’s event raised $1.5M according to their official Instagram account, and though little Alex was most likely shining that warmth and light down on the crowd, nobody missed little Alex, who would be 22-years-old today, more than her mom.

“We accept the past but we have a fighter’s determination for the future,” Liz Scott said through tears. “It’s an absolute honor to be Alex’s Mom.”

If you want to learn more about ALSF and how to donate, please visit https://www.alexslemonade.org/.