LemonAid 9-11 Selects Beat the Streets for 2019 Grant

The River Forest residents behind the community charity powerhouse “Lemon Aid” selected Beat the Streets Chicago as one of this year’s two grant recipients for their 18th annual September 11 charity event. Beat the Streets Chicago will share the stage with Oak Park-based Hephzibah Children’s Association.

The event is held on September 11 along the 700 Block of Bonnie Brae Place in River Forest between Oak Street and Chicago Avenue from 3pm - 7pm.  Beat the Streets Chicago, Hephzibah and the LemonAid team will be on hand with information and activities while community supporters provide snacks and, of course, lemonade.  Donors are encouraged to experience the “community block party” that afternoon or enjoy the convenience of the “drive-thru” donation booths on either end of the block. Donors can also make online contributions through the Beat the Streets Chicago website. 

“Beat the Streets Chicago is thrilled to be recognized by this inspirational group,” said Executive Director Mike Powell.  “We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to raise much-needed funds for the youth we serve in Chicago.”

Funds generated for Beat the Streets Chicago through LemonAid will allow us to purchase our first passenger van to safely transport the young wrestlers to practices and events.  In some neighborhoods, a few blocks feels like a world away as violence prevents youth from getting to an after-school sports activity. A van helps meet that daily challenge while making existing programs accessible to children in other neighborhoods as well. Transportation also allows Beat the Streets Chicago to broaden perspectives as children travel both within the City and beyond to participate in wrestling clinics, camps and tournaments on weekends and during school breaks.

This year’s event chairs are River Forest students and Bonnie Brae residents Jake Birmingham and Angie Strand.  They brought the LemonAid team to a recent wrestling practice to announce the selection of Beat the Streets Chicago as one of this year’s recipients.

LemonAid was established in 2002 in memory of the September 11th attacks. The neighbors on 700 Bonnie Brae in River Forest felt called to remember this day by doing something positive in the community. It was decided to hold a lemonade stand with proceeds going to a local charity benefiting children. More than eighty Bonnie Brae residents, mostly kids, participate one way or another to the organization and success of LemonAid. The first year, LemonAid raised $400 for Hephzibah Children’s Association. Last year over $34,000 was raised for A House in Austin and New Moms! KidzExpress, also in Austin, was the beneficiary the prior year.

Residents nominate local organizations to be considered and a vote is taken. A representative from the beneficiary organization(s) gives a presentation to the children to explain their program and how the money will be used. Over the years several teens on the block have stepped up to chair the event. Their role is to communicate information to the rest of the block, oversee the voting process, hold organizational meetings, and contact the media. LemonAid has become a remarkable local tradition that provides an opportunity to remember a tragic event with a positive one. The families of Bonnie Brae have grown by reaching out to the community who in turn have provided tremendous support over the years.In 2011, the Village of River Forest recognized the efforts on 700 Bonnie Brae by designating the street LemonAid Place.

Learn more about LemonAid on their website www.9-11lemonaid.com or check out LemonAid on YouTube:

Photo History: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly8wpH0hAXM

10th Anniversary Ceremony Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0Sb0urgNUc

10th Anniversary Ceremony Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT2t36MRJlY

#lemonaidpride #ittakesacity #nonprofitlife