LemonAID Day raises $100K for kids served by FACS Niagara

Thanks to the generosity of the Niagara community, FACS Niagara is providing nearly 500 weeks of summer camp to more than 330 local children being served by the agency.

The second annual Mountainview LemonAID Day held in June raised more than $100,000 to support local children, a FACS news releaase says.

This year’s event took place on Saturday, June 10 across the region, with 100 LemonAID stands registered in the community. Fundraising teams ranged from families and kids to local schools, and community stands hosted by municipalities and organizations.

“We are so grateful to everyone who gave their time, energy, and effort to run a lemonade stand. From the feedback we received, children had fun and felt good about helping others,” says Caroline Polgrabia, president of the FACS Niagara Foundation board.

“It was especially gratifying to see the event grow as this year’s event was fully subscribed and the community raised more than $15,000 over last year.”

“We all have a role to play in building strong communities,” says Mark Basciano, president of Mountainview Building Group. “We are proud to do our part to help make a meaningful impact on the lives of children in Niagara.”

As title sponsor of the event, the Mountainview Building Group generously provided everything families needed to run a lemonade stand, including the stand, hats, t-shirts, and much more, allowing 100 percent of donations to go directly to helping children served by FACS attend summer camp.

Thanks also to Tim Hortons for providing lemonade concentrate for the stands.

This summer, FACS Niagara expects to give approximately 500 children a summer camp experience. This includes week-long day camps in Niagara, overnight camps outside the region, specialty camps to support children with complex special needs, supporting camping trips with foster parents, and special camp-at-home baskets for more than 100 families, filled with sports equipment, games, and activities.

“At any one time, FACS provides more than 700 families with ongoing services and support,” says Anna Bozza, FACS Niagara chief executive officer. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children we work with as they get to experience everything summer camp has to offer is inspiring. We are proud to help give them the chance to enjoy everything camp has to offer.”

Special awards for the top fundraising team and best decorated stands were also announced at the reveal event at the FACS office on Hannover Drive in St. Catharines. Congratulations to the Citrus Twists stand, which raised more than $4,300! Prizes were also awarded to the best-decorated stands, the release says.

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