News

July 29, 2009

Alex’s Lemonade Stand to hit PNC Field

CAMILLE FIOTI Times Leader Correspondent

The youth group at SS. Peter & Paul in Plains Township is determined to raise as much money as it can to fight childhood cancer.

“They’re kids helping kids,” youth group director Maryann Quinn said.

For the last four years, the group has sponsored an Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and so far volunteers have raised more than $36,000 for the cause.

On Friday, the youth group will hold an Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the game between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and the Durham Bulls at PNC Field in Moosic.

Last Saturday, the group sold tickets at Schiel’s Family Market on George Avenue in Parsons for the family-oriented event.

“This was their idea,” Quinn said. “I never would have known about it, if it weren’t for them.”

The Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to fighting childhood cancer in honor of Alexandra Scott.

In 2000, 4-year-old “Alex” Scott announced a plan to sell lemonade to raise money to help doctors find a cure for kids with cancer. In the summer of 2000, Alex, along with older brother Patrick, set up the first “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” on their front lawn. They raised more than $2,000.

For the next four years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex continued to hold annual lemonade stands in her front yard to raise money.

Led by her inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands and other fundraising events have been held across the country to benefit the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. On Aug. 1, 2004, Alex died at the age of 8.

In her short lifetime, she had raised more than $1 million for childhood cancer research.

Quinn said the group had to raise $4,000 just to hold the event at PNC Field, and for the tickets, which include a hat, food voucher and program book.

“It’s such a good cause,” she said. “People had a hard time saying ‘no’ to us.” The group is still looking for more sponsors to help offset the cost of the event, Quinn said, adding that the lemonade alone costs $1,800.

This is the first year the youth group has held a lemonade stand at PNC Field. For the past two years, the group sponsored a lemonade stand and carnival at the Schiel’s Parsons location.

To help the group raise money for the cause, the store sold paper lemons for a dollar each at its Parsons and Wilkes-Barre locations for the last three years. The stores raised more than $3,500. For the past two years, Choice One Credit Union helped the group raise money for the foundation by also selling lemons.

Quinn, a CCD teacher, and her husband, Mike, have been the youth group directors at SS. Peter and Paul since the group’s inception five years ago.

“I love these kids like they’re my own,” she said. “I want to help them be the best person they can be.”

She said the group hopes to take a trip to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia this fall so members can meet some of the children they are helping.

“We want to help them (the youth group) find their strengths, work on their weaknesses and teach them there is much joy and fun in helping others.”

The first two pitches at Friday’s game will be tossed out by Alex’s parents, Liz and Jay Scott, and Joey Falzone, a cancer survivor from Mountain Top. Any donation of $1,000 or more can be given directly to the Scotts in support of the drive on the field before the game.

Back Mountain resident Chuck Unice will sing the national anthem. Unice has performed with the Pittsburgh Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and at Carnegie Hall.

Quinn said the youth group will most likely sponsor an Alex’s Lemonade Stand each year. She said she tells them that Alex “always looks over them” on that day.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun,” she said. “It’s something we like to do. It’s become our trademark.”

If you go:

• Tickets are $15 and include a hat, food, voucher and program book.

• The game begins at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Fireworks will conclude the event.

• For more information, call Michael or Maryann Quinn at (570) 821-6121.

• Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation will receive 100 percent of the group’s ticket sales. If the game is moved or postponed, all tickets and vouchers will be honored at the new location or another game of the holder’s choice.

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