Espousing the endeavor as a potential springboard for future entrepreneurs and community leaders, Happy State Bank officials hosted a Lemonade Day 2019 kickoff at the branch's downtown location on Thursday.
Officials said Happy State Bank is joining the Amarillo Education Foundation and the Amarillo Independent School District as presenting investors. They noted the Lemonade Day Program began in Houston in 2007, with the mission of serving as an inspiration for youths to learn the necessary steps to become an entrepreneur by opening their first business in the form of an official Lemonade Day stand.
"It's teaching entrepreneurship," Happy State Bank Chairman and CEO J. Pat Hickman said. "As a young boy I was given the opportunity, through the Boy Scouts, to sell things and put on different kinds of projects that taught me a lot of the basic principles I have today. This program covers everything from getting a business license to understanding government regulations and teaches the important principles of spending, saving and giving."
Officials said more than 600 students have signed up to participate in Amarillo's Lemonade Day 2019 on May 4, via the Amarillo Extended School Day Program, adding participants will have an opportunity to win lemonade stands built by Palo Duro High School students.
The project also involves partnering with Amarillo-based home supply businesses to teach children how to build their own lemonade stands, Hickman said.
"I promise, it's this kind of program that will create future community leaders," he said.
Officials said second through fifth grade students will receive support materials and interested students not registered through the AISD Extended Day Program are urged to register at lemonadeday.org/amarillo before May 4 to receive the free interactive Lemonade Day program, Lemonopolis, online.