Business

Louisiana Lemonade Day 2019 Empowers Lives One Young Entrepreneur At A Time

NEW ORLEANS DATA NEWS WEEKLY — Far beyond making a glass of delicious lemonade, Lemonade Day empowers youth and their families to take ownership of their dreams and encourages them to become productive members of society – the business leaders, social advocates, volunteers and forward thinking citizens of tomorrow.

Published

7 years ago

May 6, 2019

Oakland Post

By Renetta Perry

There’s nothing perhaps more refreshing than riding around New Orleans on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May, seeing brightly decorated lemonade stands with young, smiling faces serving up glasses of sweetness and success. Louisiana Lemonade Day, now in its ninth year, has successfully created a template from which our youth can develop advanced entrepreneurial skills, backed and supported by the expertise of two of Louisiana’s most successful businessmen, John Georges (CEO of Georges Enterprises) and Todd Graves (Founder, CEO, Fry Cook & Cashier of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers). John and Todd both respectively operated lemonade stands as kids, giving them their first taste of business operation.

Far beyond making a glass of delicious lemonade, Lemonade Day empowers youth and their families to take ownership of their dreams and encourages them to become productive members of society – the business leaders, social advocates, volunteers and forward thinking citizens of tomorrow.

Giving Youth The Tools For Success

Though Lemonade Day may seem trivial in its presentation, prior to taking the stage on their stands, young entrepreneurs are given an Entrepreneur Workbook that teaches them the 15 lessons of Lemonade Day including creating budgets, setting profit-making goals, serving customers, repaying investors, and giving back to the community. Along the way, they acquire skills in goal-setting, problem solving, and gaining self-esteem, all which are critical components for future success. They keep all the money they make and are encouraged to spend some, save some and share some.

In addition, young entrepreneurs become versed in financial literacy, economics, college and career readiness, life skills and personal development. There is also the reassurance that comes with the support of the community. Lemonade Day is as much about community and engagement as it is about supporting young entrepreneurs. On Lemonade Day, the community is encouraged to get out there and buy glasses of lemonade and get to know the young entrepreneurs in their communities. There’s also plenty to do in the months and weeks leading up to Lemonade Day. Mentoring youth, serving as a guest speaker in schools, donating funds, sponsoring stands in front of businesses, helping stuff backpacks or any number of volunteer activities.

National Lemonade Day

With the ethic in mind that America was built on the back of small businesses and entrepreneurs taking risks and believing they could realize their dreams if they worked hard, took responsibility and acted as good stewards of their resources, entrepreneur Michael Holthouse created National Lemonade Day. Today’s youth shared the optimism of the American business ethic, but lacked the life skills, mentorship and real-world experience necessary to be successful. In 2007, Holthouse had a vision to empower today’s youth to become tomorrow’s entrepreneurs through helping them start, own and operate their very own business…a lemonade stand. Lemonade Day is a strategic lesson-based program that walks youth from a dream to a business plan while teaching them the same principles required to start any company. Since its launch in 2007 in Houston, Texas, Lemonade Day has grown from serving 2,700 kids in one city to 1 million children across North America. Lemonade Day sparks the spirit of entrepreneurship and empowers youth to set goals, work hard, and achieve their dreams.

Holthouse, is best known in the business world as the founder and President of Paranet, Inc., a computer network services company. As an Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year and a two-time Inc. 500’s list of fastest growing companies winner, Michael grew Paranet in 6 years to 27 offices, 1600 employees and revenues in excess of $100 million and ultimately sold the company to Sprint in 1997. Since then, he has focused on philanthropy, investments and a variety of business interests. Community involvement is an enormous part of Michael’s life, and he has served on a variety of children’s and civic boards.

His family foundation, Holthouse Foundation for Kids, focuses proactively on at-risk youth. His philanthropic venture is called Prepared 4 Life (P4L) which prepares middle school youth for life through fun, proactive and experiential after-school programs infused with life skills, character education and entrepreneurship. The most treasured part of Michael’s life is spending time with his wife Lisa and their four children.

Sweet Success

Louisiana Lemonade Day has grown to become a highly anticipated event each year and continues to impact the lives of countless families in our community. Whatever career paths participants choose, they will be left with indelible impressions of success, derived from the success of their self operated businesses. “Not every kid wants to be or will be an entrepreneur, but we need to help kids achieve something, no matter how big or small,” Charlie Hamilton, Lemonade Day National Board Chairman.

To support Louisiana Lemonade Day or to register your child to participate in upcoming events, visit their website: www.lemonadeday.org. Until then, see you at the stands!

This article originally appeared in the New Orleans Data News Weekly.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Changing the game: Ice Cube’s battle to buy regional sports networks

Don't Miss

Blue Cross Encourages Vaccination Against Preventable Diseases During National Infant Immunization Week

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

7 days ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

3 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.