When life gives you lemons... make lemonade! Inspired by the journey of Philadelphia-area hero Alex Scott, the Alex's Virtual Lemonade Stand Project celebrates the idea that just one kid can make a difference. Join schools from around the world to raise awareness and money for pediatric cancer research, all while participating in standards-based projects that make the process both inspiring and fun. It's all about kids helping kids - - and we want you to get involved!

As part of this two week program, each participating school will hold their own lemonade stands to help raise funds for pediatric cancer. Schools can hold one big lemonade stand day or a series of lemonade stand events throughout the two weeks. They will be able to communicate and interact with one another through a project blog, student-created videos, poster contest and special videoconference events!

Alex's Lemonade Stand is a national organization with Greater Philadelphia roots. The organization grew out of the front yard lemonade stand started by Alexandra “Alex” Scott, a pediatric cancer patient. In 2000, at the age of four, Alex opened her first annual lemonade stand with high hopes of raising money for pediatric cancer causes. Every year thereafter, Alex held an annual lemonade stand in her Pennsylvania front yard and inspired others to donate money to her cause.

Project Timeline

• Online Registration Open: Now through April 12, 2013
• Make a Difference Commercials Due: April 29, 2013*
• Videoconference Testing: April 15 - 30, 2013
• Kick-Off Virtual Pep Rally: May 7, 2013 from 11:00 AM EDT - 12:00 PM EDT via videoconference

• Lemonade Stand Projects: May 7 - May 21, 2013
• Poster Competition Entries Due: May 15, 2013*
• Wrap-Up Celebration Videoconference: May 21, 2013 from 11:00 AM EDT - 12:00 PM EDT via videoconference

Required Project Components:

Create a Lemonade Stand Project:  Schools participating in this project will have 2 weeks to host an Alex's Lemonade Stand. Sites can have a one-day lemonade stand fundraiser or hold a stand every day for a week - - or some other combination. After each day of sales, please head to the MAGPI Alex's Virtual Lemonade Stand webpage and tally your fundraising so we can keep track of how the entire project is doing. Each participating school will receive a package of resources from Alex's Lemonade Stand, including: return envelopes, banners, thank you notes, stickers (I support Alex’s Lemonade Stand), newsletter, brochures and more.

Participate in the Kick-Off Virtual Spirit Rally and Celebration Videoconferences:  These multisite videoconference events are how we bring everyone around the world together to share their projects! During each program, your school will have time to share a brief presentation. The first videoconference is our spirit event, so your school has 30 seconds to show their lemonade spirit, introduce themselves and share why they’re participating in the project. During the celebration wrap-up videoconference, schools will have one minute to share their projects. We encourage creativity in project presentations! Both programs will also involve special guests.

Send us your Video Footage and Photos: We're putting together a
highlights video to show during the final videoconference - - and we
want YOU and YOUR STUDENTS to be included! Send your photos and videos to Jennifer Oxenford at jmacdug@isc.upenn.edu by May 16th for inclusion! 

Special Optional Projects:

Participate in the CHANGE CHILDHOOD CANCER Campaign: Sign up as part of the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's Change Childhood Cancer campaign and receive change collecting cups and lids, lesson plans for teachers, and even a copy of the book Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand. Be sure to mention that you are part of the MAGPI Virtual Lemoande Stand project when you sign up! 

Enter the MAKE A DIFFERENCE Commercial Contest:  Alex made a difference in her community by helping others with the simple idea of a lemonade stand—we want your students to think about what they can do to make a difference in their community. Challenge your students to reflect on the statement: How Can I Make a Difference and then use digital tools to create a 45 second commercial video. We know 45 seconds isn’t long - - but it’s about the time to takes on an elevator and sometimes that’s all the time you have to convince someone! Each school is eligible to submit one commercial entry. Please note that commercials are due on May 3, 2013. Find out more!

Enter the Alex’s Virtual Lemonade Stand Poster Contest:  The best way to sell lots of lemonade is to get the word out! What better way then through posters? Each school that participates in the poster contest project should conduct a school-wide 'lemonade sale poster' contests. The top scoring poster entry at each school should then be submitted to the national contest. National poster entries need to be photographed and scanned as .jpeg images. We’ll post all of the entries on the project blog and the winning entry will be featured on the Alex's Lemonade website! Posters are judged on a rubric system by volunteers from the University of Pennsylvania. Please note that poster entries are due on May 15, 2013. Find out more and check out the judging rubric!

Enter the Lemonade Stand Flair Contest: This NEW optional contest was the suggestion of one of our great VJ team students from Southern Lehigh Middle School who suggested we have a contest for the best decorated Lemonade Stand! Use your imagination and of course make it stand out and attract people to your stand. Stands will be judged based on this Find out more and check out the judging rubric. 

Social Media Contest: Also new for this year, now you can use social media and post photos of your school getting ready for their stand, holding their stand, or participating in the live videoconference events and then be sure to tag them with the hashtag #avls2013 and @alexslemonade. The top 5 photos with the most "likes' or shares on instagram, pinterest, twitter, and facebook will be our winning photos and will be highlighed in a special photo gallery! Spread the good word of your schools' fundraising efforts far and wide using your social media channels! Remember to tag your photos with #avls2013 so we can find them. 

Blog about the Project:  We would love for your students to be project bloggers during the event. Your students can either contribute to the project blog or write for your own school blog and we'll link to it. Simply send an email to Jennifer Oxenford at jmacdoug@magpi.net to let us know you're interested in blogging. Bloggers will be responsible for reaching out to participating schools to get information about their projects as well as chronicling what their own schools are doing throughout the project.