OCM BOCES Deaf Program lemonade stand in 5th year

This past summer, the OCM BOCES Special Education Summer School Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program celebrated their 5th anniversary of holding a lemonade stand to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. The project began all those years ago when teacher Lisa Austin, was working with her students about money and the importance of giving back. Lisa thought a lemonade stand would be a great way to teach students about both concepts.

Upon researching the topic, she came across the book Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand. The book, about giving back and helping others, tells about Alex Scott, a little girl with cancer who set up a lemonade stand to help doctors find a cure for the disease. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national organization, has raised millions of dollars in the fight against childhood cancer...part of that money coming from right here in Central New York!

For the first time, this year’s lemonade stand was turned into more of an event than in the past, expanding to include face painting, bubble activities, games and crafts. Additionally, there was a quiet corner for teachers to utilize and read the story of Alex with their students.

Ms. Austin is especially excited that the students achieved their increased monetary goal, raising $1,000 for the Lemonade Stand Foundation. She said, “This year it was a huge success! We hope to do just as well next summer school!”

Congratulations to Lisa Austin and her students for a job well done! Watch online news coverage of the lemonade stand on WSYR’s Bridge Street program at http://www.9wsyr.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=4177984&navCatId=20640.

For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit their website at https://www.alexslemonade.org/.