EAST BRUNSWICK–Equipped with snacks, tons of cups and yellow decorations, Irwin Elementary School held what they dubbed East Brunswick’s Largest Lemonade Stand to raise funds the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Iriwn Principal JoAnn Chmielowicz reported that more than 100 students, teachers, parents and family members helped out at this event.
“Irwin’s School theme is ‘Irwin has the Power to be a Superhero: Use your powers for others’ and we decided as a school to undertake a yearlong philanthropic effort focusing solely on one charitable cause,” Chmielowicz said. “Three options were presented to students and the school as a whole voted to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.”
Chmielowicz said the school participated in a yearlong effort to raise funds for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation which supports children with cancer.
The school’s lemonade stand was held on June 1 at the school on Racetrack Road.
Chmielowicz said, “The lemonade was donated by Irwin families and community members. All the cups and straws were donated by Starbucks of Racetrack Road, [wihch was] one of our event sponsors.”
The event was also cosponsored by the East Brunswick PBA and SOA.
“We sold snacks which were donated by the Irwin community. We also raffled off some prizes which were donated,” Chmielowicz said.
Chmielowicz said this event was the first community-wide event the school has done in her time as principal.
“As part of our continuing effort to involve the entire community in our school, this event was planned to show to our students, that everyone can make a difference in the lives of others,” Chmielowicz said.
On June 5, Chmielowicz said that during a school-wide assembly, students found out that they raised $3,500 at the lemonade stand and $6,458 over the course of the year from their four other fundraisers. The money raised will fund 129 hours of cancer research.
“We were so pleased with the outpouring of help and support we received from the entire East Brunswick community. Mayor Brad Cohen bought our first cup of lemonade and Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin came to visit our event and even tweeted about it on her Twitter feed,” Chmielowicz said. “Having so many people come together and support a common cause in such enjoyable surroundings was a great way to celebrate together and raise money for a very important cause.”
For more information about Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit www.alexslemonade.org/about-alexs-lemonade-stand-foundation-childhood-cancer.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
