Iron Mountain, MI (September 4, 2024)- Lemonade Day in Dickinson County was a huge
success! “Our Lemonade Day was so much fun,” noted Suzanne Larson, Executive
Director of the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce and City Director of Dickinson
County’s Lemonade Day. “We saw over 100 kids enjoying more than 30 lemonade
stands around our community. The local support we received was outstanding. From
our sponsors to the public who came out to support these budding entrepreneurs, it
was a fantastic day in Dickinson County!”
Lemonade Day is committed to instilling the core development assets youth (K-8 th
grade) need to succeed through a unique entrepreneurial and experiential program
infused with life skills, character development, financial literacy, career exploration and
mentorship. The program, which is an innovative hybrid of STEM + social-emotional
learning + project-based education, introduces youth to foundational lessons through
the real-world experience of starting their own business-a lemonade stand-the
quintessential first business for young entrepreneurs.
Over the last 15 years, 1.5 million children have been impacted since inception. The
program has licensed more than 90 cities in the U.S. and Canada and has seen more
than 550 youth-service partnerships. They have seen over 11,000 mentors assisting
these entrepreneurs. Lemonade Day has also raised over $24 million dollars to date.
“The kids that are involved in Lemonade Day learn how to make a goal, set a plan and
achieve their dreams,” noted Larson. “It is proven that children who receive business
education are more willing to seek opportunities, are more persevering, have greater
ability to speak in public and solve problems, and
adapt more easily to overcome challenges. That ‘I can do’ mentality is applied for the
rest of one’s life,” added Larson.
“Children learn to spend some, save some and share some as they learn by going
through the lesson modules. So, not only are we teaching our youth about owning
their first business and financial literacy, but we are also showing them how to give
back to their community through philanthropy,” noted Larson. Their hard work
culminates in a city-wide Lemonade Day.
Larson wishes to thank Lemonade Day sponsors, as everyone knows, events don’t
happen without their support: Iron Mountain Kingsford Community Federal Credit
Union, First National Bank & Trust, Nicolet Bank, Great North Bank, Grede Iron
Mountain Manufacturing Facility and Laborers’ Union Local 1329 signed on as
Signature Sponsors for Lemonade Day 2024. “Fresh Squeeze” sponsors include, IM-K
Kiwanis, Northern Interstate Bank & UP State Credit Union. Other sponsors include
American Legion Post 50, Advanta Print, Radio Results Network, U.P. State Bank,
Dickinson Area Community Foundation and the Pasahow Family Fund, Imagination
Factory Children’s Museum, 41 Lumber, Bay College, Walmart, Frog Country Radio, &
Loyal 2 Local.
The winners of this year’s Lemonade Day for Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by
Loyal 2 Local) are Squeeze the Day. The group consisted of Austin Hayes, Ryder
Mason, Weldon Holder and Ansel Williams. The Lemon Council of Lemonade Day
took time to visit every stand then met to discuss their findings. Many criteria were
discussed to eventually come up with a winner. Each person on the Squeeze the Day
team received a $100 gift card to Walmart. These winners now move on to the
Lemonade Day National contest, where a national Entrepreneur of the Year will be
chosen. That winner then receives a round-trip ticket for them and one parent/mentor
to Houston to attend the national awards.
Watch for the 2025 Lemonade Day to hit our area. Home schooled kids are also
encouraged to join in the fun, said Larson. For more information, please contact
Suzanne Larson at the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce at 906-774-2002 or by
email at slarson@dickinsonchamber.com
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