July 9, 2010
by Susie Pender
Despite the heat, or perhaps, thanks to the heat, the Second Annual Douglas Road Fourth of July Lemonade Stand raised over $1000 to fight childhood cancer. Under the auspices of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a not-for-profit foundation that fights childhood cancer “one cup at a time,” the Raath girls of Douglas Road, Sophie, Ella and Lily, raised $617 at their lemonade stand and the remaining $383 through online donations. Donations can still be made by clicking HERE .
Neighbors and friends lent helping hands
Friends and neighbors contributed much to the success of this endeavor, starting with neighbor Pat, who blew the Raath’s genuine FIFA South African vuvuzela every time a car drove past the stand at the bus stop on Douglas Road where it is intersected by Park Drive. Now, that got their attention, as if the yellow balloons and screaming girls weren’t enough!
“Sophie’s friend, Katie Sternkopf helped us,” noted Kerry Raath, the girls’ mother, “along with the Parente girls, Maddie, Emma and Janie and the Klein girls, Alexis and Megan, and, of course, William Crainer was our accountant for the day!”
Neighbor Casey Chester brought down his grill and cooked hot dogs along with onions and provided all the condiments. “The onion relish for the hot dogs, made by Linda Chester, was amazing!” Russell Raath, the girls’ father gushed. Dawn Crainer, William’s mother, provided homemade brownies. Debbie Klein, mother to Alexis and Megan, also supplied her homemade brownies. Sue Barjak provided homemade cupcakes and Lori Brosnan made her special peanut butter and Snickers cookies.
Customers helped too, by eating, drinking and donating
“With so many friends stopping by, it was like a block party,” recalled Kerry Raath. Approximately 50 customers came to the stand, according to Russell Raath’s unofficial head count, “families, and people driving by, including Chris ‘the biker’ from NYC who was up in Chappaqua for a ride. I will say that, unscientifically, people preferred the pink lemonade!”
The typical donation at the stand was five dollars for a glass of lemonade, a couple of refills, a hot dog and a sweet treat. Any dogs come by for the free water bowls? “We had one dog who came to the stand this year,” reported Russell. “One dog, two babies, loads of kids and their supportive parents.”
Susannah Rudell, Dan Levy and Artie Carlucci, all of Chappaqua Swim and Tennis Club, where the Raath girls are on the swim team, donated to the lemonade stand, and their coach Henry Simon stopped by the Lemonade Stand before he had to go to CST to perform his lifeguard duties.
Plans for next year’s stand already in the works
“I think next year we’re going to have to get yellow t-shirts printed with the event details,” suggested Russell. “There was so much excitement around it and so many kids who came and wanted to be involved, and a number of parents who said that they’d love to join forces since their kids have been begging them to hold a stand. This way is a fun way to do it, all together.”
Kerry predicted: “We definitely feel next year even more people want to help out and we will aim to raise more than $1000.”
And, Kerry added: “Lily (age 3) lived up to her quote and pretty much kept eating throughout the event and ended up consuming four cupcakes and two brownies!”
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