By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego County, CA–Applebee’s restaurants throughout San Diego county, along with other locations owned and operated by Flynn Restaurant Group, have transformed into “lemonade stands” in celebration of the restaurant’s 18th annual fundraising campaign with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research and family support programs.
Now through August 21, guests can support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation campaign by visiting participating locations in Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, National City, Oceanside, and San Diego.
Guests can support the cause in a variety of ways, including purchasing a digital lemon in increments of $1 and $5 on Applebees.com or the Applebee’s mobile app, making an online donation when purchasing a gift card on the website, or celebrating National Lemonade Day with Applebee’s.
Participating Applebee’s locations will donate 25 cents from each traditional lemonade and flavored lemonade sale, in addition to 10 cents from each Strawberry Summer Squeeze or Electric Lemon Crush sale, to benefit the foundation. On National Lemonade Day on August 20, all Applebee locations will donate 25 cents from all lemonade sales.
Since 2005, Applebee’s locations owned and operated by Flynn Restaurant Group have raised more than $13.2 million for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
“We’re honored to continue our long-standing partnership with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to help in the fight against pediatric cancer,” said John Cywinski, president of Applebee’s. “Over the past 18 years, together with our restaurant partners and guests, we’ve raised more than $13 million – but we know the fight continues, and we hope to raise even more in 2022.”
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was established in 2005 to continue the mission of four-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Scott. While fighting her own battle against cancer, Alex set up a lemonade stand in her front yard to raise money for “doctors to find a cure” for all pediatric cancers. One in 285 children will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they turn and yet pediatric cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded.
“After 18 years, Applebee’s continues to be a loyal partner who has shown tremendous support of our core mission,” said Liz Scott, Alex’s mom and co-Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. “After all these years, the fight continues, and we’re excited to give Applebee’s restaurants and customers even more opportunities to help kids fighting cancer. We are so grateful to be a part of a community that comes together in support of these families.”
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for all children with cancer. Her spirit and determination inspired others to support her cause, and when she passed away at the age of 8, she had raised $1 million. Since then, the foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement. It is one of the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. and Canada raising more than $250 million so far, funding over 1,000 research projects and providing programs to families affected by childhood cancer.
For more information, visit AlexsLemonade.org.