Lemonade Day Louisiana, Raising Cane's, St. Rita Catholic School Host Lemonade Stand To Benefit 6-Year-Old LaPlace Girl

NEW ORLEANS – Lemonade Day Louisiana and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers teamed up to host a fundraising event to benefit a special entrepreneur Thursday. The kindergarten class of St. Rita Catholic School in New Orleans hosted a lemonade stand for six-year-old Melody Griffin, who is battling a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. Along with battling cancer, the kindergartner's family was recently affected by the LaPlace tornado that destroyed their family home. Surveillance footage capturing the home being destroyed by the tornado was heavily circulated in the media.

         "To see these little entrepreneurs come together to support their classmate is what Lemonade Day Louisiana is all about," said Jordan Piazza, Executive Director of Lemonade Day Louisiana. "Melody is a beautiful little girl and we are so happy to support her and her family during such a challenging time. We are proud to be a part of the St. Rita family."

         More than 22 kindergartners sold lemonade to the school's 250 students. All products for the event was donated by Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers. Prior to the event, the chicken giant hosted a lemonade demonstration in support of the upcoming Lemonade Day in the school's cafeteria.

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         "When we heard about Melody and everything that her family went through, we immediately wanted to help," said Erin Credo, Marketing Advisor for Raising Cane's. "Melody is such a fighter and we are thrilled to be a part of such an amazing effort. Her smile is why we are all here today."

         More than 20,000 youth across Louisiana are expected to participate in Lemonade Day Louisiana on Saturday, April 30, 2016. On Lemonade Day, the entire community is encouraged to purchase lemonade from the many stands that will be set-up throughout the state on Lemonade Day.

         "Lemonade Day Louisiana is such a testament to our motto, ‘Seek Faith, Gain Knowledge, and Give Service,’” said Karen Henderson, Principal of St. Rita. “We try as a school family to live those values each and every day. Our scholars have been very concerned about Melody and her family. We are thankful to both John Georges and Todd Graves for spearheading the Lemonade Day Louisiana Initiative, which is the perfect vehicle to help our students be of service to others and to ignite their entrepreneurial spirit at a young age."

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         Lemonade Day Louisiana is a free, community-wide program that fosters entrepreneurship and character development among Louisiana's youth ages 4-18 by supporting them in establishing and operating their own lemonade businesses. Young entrepreneurs are provided with a free backpack, which contains detailed support materials including an Entrepreneur Workbook to help them establish their lemonade stand. These entrepreneurs are advised to spend a little, save a little and share a little by donating a portion of their proceeds to a local charity of their choice. After covering their expenses and paying back their investors, children are encouraged to open a youth savings account. Registration and participation is free and all youngsters are encouraged to participate. 

         More than 30 corporate sponsors have teamed up to once again bring Lemonade Day to Louisiana on Saturday, April 30, 2016, including Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, The Advocate Newspapers, CSRS, Inc., Acadian Companies, Boysie Bollinger, First NBC Bank, Ochsner Health System, USAgencies, the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Pelicans, Rouses Markets, and a host of statewide corporate sponsors and partners.

         Since 2010, Lemonade Day Louisiana has provided more than 75,000 youth across Louisiana with the opportunity to become entrepreneurs. This year's program is set to be the largest since entrepreneurs John Georges and Todd Graves introduced the program to Louisiana youth six years ago.

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         View the surveillance footage capturing the home being destroyed by the tornado here.

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