LEGO Teams with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
LEGO Children's Fund and LEGO Systems Partner with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation to Fight Childhood Cancer
ENFIELD, Conn., February 2, 2012 -- LEGO Children's Fund and LEGO Systems, Inc. announced today that they will partner with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a non-profit organization dedicated to finding better treatments and ultimately cures for all kids with cancer. Together, the groups will seek to drive record participation in National Lemonade Days, the Foundation's national fundraising weekend, June 8-10, 2012. LEGO Systems will build the world's largest Lemonade Stand out of LEGO® bricks to kick off National Lemonade Days, location to be announced, to raise additional funds for the fight against childhood cancer.
The partnership launches this Saturday, February 4 as Toys"R"Us stores nationwide will host a free in-store event to commemorate the launch of LEGO Friends, the company's newest addition to its collection of themed building sets. Children are invited to build mini LEGO lemonade stands then take them home to add to their LEGO cities. For each LEGO lemonade stand constructed in store, the LEGO Children's Fund will donate $1, up to $10,000, to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The in-store events take place from 12-2pm and provide registration information for those children interested in participating in National Lemonade Days later this year.
"We're excited to partner with LEGO Systems to help drive awareness for Lemonade Days and the fight against childhood cancer," said Liz Scott, Alex's mom and Co-Executive Director for ALSF. "Each year we hear from parents that participating in National Lemonade Days helped show their children that a small act can make a big difference in the community, even when it comes to a challenge as serious as childhood cancer. We're excited that together with LEGO Systems and its foundation we will continue to advance our mission to find a cure for all children with cancer."
ALSF emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, four-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501 (c)3 charity, has raised more than $50 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream, funding over two hundred pediatric cancer research projects nationally.
"When we first heard Alex's story, we were inspired by her creative ingenuity to redesign the traditional lemonade stand into a powerful fundraising vehicle," said Michael McNally, brand relations director for LEGO Systems. "LEGO Systems is encouraging this same ingenuity in children everywhere by helping to build 2012 Lemonade Days into the biggest National Lemonade Days weekend ever."
To learn more about participating in National Lemonade Days or for further information about Alex's Lemonade Stand please visit http://www.AlexsLemonade.org/
About The LEGO Group
The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company, based in Billund, Denmark. It was founded in 1932 and today the group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials for children, employing approximately 9,000 people globally. The LEGO Group is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities. LEGO products can be purchased in more than 130 countries.
LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of The LEGO Group. © 2012 The LEGO Group.