By Steven Gordon, Lemonade Day National President

“You know what a champion is? A champion is someone who's ready when the gong rings - not just before, not just after - but when it rings.”

- Jack Dempsey, American boxer, World Heavyweight Champion, cultural icon of the 1920s and entrepreneur in his own right

Regardless of whether or not you are a boxing fan, a cursory study of Jack Dempsey yields interesting tidbits of information:  William Harrison Dempsey was his given name and after leaving home at 16 and desperate for money, he started visiting saloons, challenging patrons to join him in fights, and taking bets (he rarely lost these fights). He won 54 of his 75 matches. One of Dempsey’s career matches was billed as a “David and Goliath” fight, which Dempsey (the smaller “David” guy) won.  He became the world heavyweight champion in 1919 and defended his title five times. He lost his title in 1926 to Gene Tunney.  https://www.biography.com/people/jack-dempsey-9271466

So, what does boxer Jack Dempsey have in common with Lemonade Day City Champions?  Lemonade Day wants and needs qualified contenders who are willing to go 12 rounds for youth entrepreneurship and never give up. In the words of Dempsey himself, “A champion is someone who's ready when the gong rings - not just before, not just after - but when it rings.”

City Champions are immensely valuable to Lemonade Day and the youth entrepreneurs whom they support in the United States and Canada.  We acknowledge and celebrate those who are serving in this role now as we seek to identify and enlist others who are willing and able to launch Lemonade Day programs in a new city—or who can be instrumental in expanding Lemonade Day programs in existing markets.  Lemonade Day works best with the complementary talents and leadership of both a City Director and an engaged City Champion. While the City Director is the day-to-day program director, the City Champion is a high-level individual who can assist in high-level aspects of the program.

Here is a list of ten characteristics of an ideal Lemonade Day City Champion:

1. Either is an entrepreneur or has an entrepreneurial mindset

2. Excels at networking with new people and organizations

3. Values and leverages important relationships

4. Has demonstrated leadership abilities (can build teams, set and achieve goals, and launch and manage programs)

5. Is both strategic and creative in thinking and execution

6. Understands, seeks out, and secures publicity and promotional opportunities

7. Has a passion for helping youth develop into responsible adults

8. Can support fundraising needs

9. Is committed to attracting and working well with community partners, volunteers, mentors and Lemonade Day business owners

Lemonade Day City Champions are those who answer the call to “build the future and stir up success” for youth entrepreneurs as Lemonade Day pursues ambitious growth goals. For example, one of our major goals is to register a million kids who will host 250,000 lemonade stands by or before 2023.

I am asking for your help in identifying potential City Champions who may be in your inner circle—perhaps he or she is a co-worker; a fellow member of an executive roundtable, business or professional organization, or chamber of commerce; or a retired educator or community leader looking for a new opportunity.

Debbie Nazarian, National Director of Cities for Lemonade Day, and I appreciate any City Champion candidates you want to send our way. We welcome your calls and emails. Debbie can be reached at 281-217-0634 or Debbie@LemonadeDay.org. I can be reached at 713-936-4107 or Steven@LemonadeDay.org.

ABOUT LEMONADE DAY

Founded in Houston in 2007 by Michael and Lisa Holthouse, Lemonade Day is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching every child across North America the business and financial skills that are the key ingredients of entrepreneurship.  By learning these skills early in life, children will be better prepared to be successful, financially healthy adults.  Through our fun, hands-on program, kids K-5 are empowered to start their very own business—a lemonade stand—and experience the feeling of earning real money, using 100% of their profit to spend, save and share based on their own goals.

Lemonade Day is hosted in 66 territories in North America and is growing. Over the past 10 years, we have served more than 1 million kids in our youth entrepreneur programs. Within the next five years, Lemonade Day leaders estimate that 250,000 mentors and millions more kids will be hosting lemonade stands in North America and on other continents throughout the world.