Many of us remember trying to gain our childhood financial independence by mowing lawns, running errands or setting up lemonade stands. When it came to the latter, Mom usually paid for the sugar and lemons (unless we had our own tree) without reimbursement; nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed exercising our entrepreneurial spirits and relished in the act of adding coins to our piggy banks.
With that same entrepreneurial spirit, Cooper Evans, a 6-year-old Signal Hill resident, is setting up his own lemonade stand this Sunday, May 20, from 10am to 2pm at Trani’s Restaurant in Bixby Knolls. Although he found the perfect location for his stand, Cooper is not raising the money to spend or add to his own piggy bank but will instead donate it to the Jonathan Jacques Children’s Cancer Center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. A leukemia patient himself, Cooper is setting up his “Cooper’s Cup for the Cure” at Trani’s, located at 3490 Long Beach Blvd., to help raise money to support other children who are also fighting cancer.
A friend of the Signal Tribune’s, Mo Ashley, found out about Cooper’s plan to set up a lemonade stand and helped him find a suitable location. In an email I received from her, she relayed the following:
“Cooper’s idea was passed onto me by my workout pal. When she said he was setting up a stand, my heart sank. We all know we pass these lemonade stands going 30 mph thinking ‘how cute’ but not stopping. So I came up with the perfect location, Trani’s Restaurant! Once a month Trani’s has a Sunday brunch and classic car show. If you donate $10 or more, Cooper will give you a shot glass, and Trani’s Bar will fill it up with some vodka for your lemonade! [editor’s note: what, no gin?]. We have two generous individuals who will be matching what Cooper raises. Thanks, Rick and Troy! Cooper will accept cash or checks (make checks out to JJCCC/MMCF). We already collected a $200 check! Please come and support Cooper and the fabulous Trani’s brunch!”
We are so glad that Mo filled us in on this event, and I plan to stop by, buy some lemonade from Cooper and snap a few pictures. I hope to see you there!
