One little girl can make a difference
Growing up in the ’60s, there was nothing we couldn’t accomplish. The youth of America protested racial segregation, nuclear war and Vietnam. It was a time of change and we felt nothing was impossible. A few posts back, we told you a little bit about Alex Scott and her dream to cure childhood cancer. Her solution was to sell as much lemonade as she could. Some would say her dream was impossible. A young child who should be dreaming of unicorns, Winnie the Pooh, butterflies, and birds singing, was determined to help children like herself fight cancer.
When we grow older we think of reasons why we can’t do something, Alex didn’t know better and just jumped head first into a battle to save children. With all the political chest pounding we hear these days, there was a little girl who just went out to slay the dragon.
Starting September 1, Volvo Cars of North America announced that we will contribute $10 to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, for every new car sold by our participating retailers. In a sense, we’re buying her lemonade to help her children, as she would have wanted it. This month is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which makes it a perfect time to start giving back to help kids like Alex.
Here are more details about Volvo’s new program:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HELP VOLVO PUT A CHILD’S LEMONADE STAND OUT OF BUSINESS
With the purchase of every new Volvo, $10 will be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (Aug. 30, 2012) – As the founding sponsor of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) is launching an ongoing giving program starting Sept. 1. With the purchase of every new Volvo, participating Volvo retailers will donate $10 to ALSF, an organization that raises money for pediatric cancer research. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Volvo is taking the opportunity to increase support and raise awareness for a cause close to the company’s heart.
The non-profit was started by Alexandra “Alex” Scott who, at the age of 4, held a lemonade stand to raise money to help find cures for other children with cancer. In 2004, Alex died of neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system that occurs in infants and young children. Since Alex set up her first lemonade stand in 2000, the organization has raised more than $55 million to help children with cancer.
“Volvo’s incredible support dates back to the company’s role in propelling Alex to achieve her dream of raising $1 million toward the battle against childhood cancer,” said Jay Scott, Alex’s dad and co-executive director of ALSF. “Volvo has proven that it will continue to walk alongside us as we strive to reach Alex’s mission to cure all kids’ cancer. Their willingness to donate funds per-car-sold beginning in September is only further proof of this commitment.”
“Alex and her cause have touched our employees in a very emotional way for many years now,” said VCNA President & CEO John Maloney. “With this new program, every new Volvo sold helps support her dream. Our hope is that through our collective efforts we will be able to help medical experts get closer to a cure.”
Volvo will support the program with Public Service Announcements and TV, radio and print ads. Across the country, Volvo retailers will be hosting their own lemonade stands to raise awareness and solicit donations from the local community to benefit ALSF.
Alex Scott and her lemonade stand first caught the attention of Volvo in 2002 when she received an inaugural Volvo for Life Award nomination. The awards program honored hometown heroes doing extraordinary things in their communities. Alex’s determination and unwavering support for pediatric cancer research earned her a Volvo for life Award at the 2003 ceremony in New York City. Despite her deteriorating health, Alex continued to raise money through her stands.
Shortly before her death in 2004, Alex set a remarkable goal: she wanted to raise $1 million to fight pediatric cancer. Following Alex’s inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands and other fundraising events began popping up around the country to support her efforts. Sadly, Alex died August 1 at the age of eight, having raised an amazing $700,000. Before she died, Volvo promised to help Alex reach her $1 million goal, and along with other sponsors, the company’s employees and retailers did so in October of that year – by selling lemonade.
By the end of 2004, one little girl had made a world of difference, raising $1.5 million. To empower others to keep Alex’s legacy alive, Volvo is seeking to raise more money through their $10 Contribution Program to fund cutting-edge research projects into new treatments and cures for pediatric cancer.
About Volvo
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, (www.volvocars.com/us) is a subsidiary of Volvo Car Corp. of Gothenburg, Sweden. VCNA provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States. For more information please refer to the VCNA media website at: http://www.volvocars-pr.com/, and follow Volvo’s blog at: http://www.volvoblog.us/.
About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-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 $55 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 250 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.
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