The New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans joined local community members Tuesday morning at Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans to help announce Lemonade Day Louisiana.
This year's fifth annual Lemonade Day will be held on Saturday, May 2. The goal when Lemonade Day first began in Louisiana in 2010 was to surpass 50,000 participatants. The effort had 5,000 lemonade stands the first year and it continues to grow.
Lemonade Day Louisiana is a free, fun, experiential learning program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business using a lemonade stand as well as fundamental lessons about life, success and themselves.
Former Saints running back Deuce McAllister was present at the announcement and spoke on the upcoming Lemonade Day. Also present were Saintsations, members of the Pelicans Dance Team and Saints mascots Gumbo and Sir Saint.
"I think it's just about empowering these youth and making them believe they can do anything they want to do," McAllister said. "This is going to give them the structure and learning ability to be able to start to do that. You're talking about starting as a 5-year-old and being able to learn every year just from something as simple as Lemonade Day until you're 12 years old. That's a lot of structure for you. It's not only going to help you as far as an entrepreneur but hopefully in the classroom as well."
Each child that registers receives a backpack with a workbook to complete with lessons about starting, owning and operating a business. Lemonade Day entrepreneurs are to keep the money they make and are encouraged to spend some, save some and share some.
Speakers at the event included Lemonade Day co-founders John Georges (CEO of Georges Enterprises) and Todd Graves (CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers). Other speakers included Lemonade Day Executive Director Jordan Piazza, Miss Louisiana USA Candace Bennatt, Miss Louisiana Teen USA Katherine Haik, Rouses managing partner Donny Rouse and Noesis Data LLC owner Layne McDaniel among others.
Following the announcement, students had the chance to sell lemonade courtesy of Raising Canes. In honor of the event being on St. Patrick's Day, a pitcher of green lemonade was also available for the kickoff.
The backpack stuffing will take place on Saturday, March 28. To register or for more information, visit the Lemonade Day Louisiana website here or the national website here.
