Lemonade Day Seneca County: A sweet success

TIFFIN — The Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Center, Croghan Colonial Bank, and Nicole Miller - State Farm Insurance Agent, held their first countywide Lemonade Day event on June 8 at the Tiffin Seneca Farmers Market and JAM's Market. Lemonade Day, a hands-on entrepreneurship program, saw 12 stands set up at the markets, along with residences throughout the community. The stands reported nearly $1,400 in sales for the day. Addie Burns and Ceci Elchert, owners of The Cute Chameleon Lemonade Stand, were awarded the Top Achiever Award with the highest sales that day. They spent their hard-earned money paying back their investor, donating a portion to the Humane Society of Seneca County, and splitting the remainder between themselves. The Top Achiever Award was created and produced locally by Plasonite, a 3D design and fused deposition modeling plastic fabrication company. Lemonade Day is a national non-profit organization dedicated to teaching youth important business, financial, character-building and life skills that are the key ingredients of entrepreneurship. Paving a pathway to self-actualization and transformative change, Lemonade Day's experiential entrepreneurship program yields a burst of growth mindsets. Over 16 years, Lemonade Day has served over 1.5 million young children and grown to be licensed in 100+ markets across North America. Chaperoned by one or more caring adults, who serves as youth mentors, these young business owners set up their lemonade stands in schools, parks, neighborhoods, places of worships, retail centers, marketplaces, and other public spaces to maximize their sales opportunities. Kids who participate in Lemonade Day are taught how to set goals, develop a business plan and pitch their plan to seek an investment, be creative through brand and marketing, and put their plan into action to achieve their dreams. They are encouraged to spend some of their hard-earned money on themselves; save some and open a bank account and share some with a charity.