Thousands of Louisiana Youth Set to be Entrepreneurs on May 4th

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Malana M. Joseph
(504) 559-0823
malana@spearsconsultinggroup.com

 Thousands of Louisiana Youth Set to be Entrepreneurs on May 4th
Saints and Hornets leading the charge for this year's Lemonade Day

 NEW ORLEANS - More than 13,000 youth across Louisiana are expected to participate in the third annual Lemonade Day on Saturday, May 4. This year will mark the first year that Lemonade Day has expanded statewide for Lemonade Day Louisiana.

Georges Enterprises, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Hornets, Entergy New Orleans, and the Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge are among this year's leading sponsors for Lemonade Day Louisiana.

Saints Owner Rita Benson LeBlanc, Miss Louisiana USA 2013 Kristen Girault, Miss Teen Louisiana USA Bailey Hidalgo, and Entergy New Orleans CEO Charles Rice, will serve as city champions and celebrity spokespersons for the event.

Lemonade Day Louisiana is a free, community wide program that fosters entrepreneurship and character development among Louisiana's youth by supporting them in establishing and operating their own lemonade businesses. Young entrepreneurs are provided with a free backpack which contains detailed support materials including an Entrepreneur Workbook, Marketing Tips and Caring Adult Guide to help them establish their lemonade stand. These "lemonaders" are advised to spend a little, save a little and share a little, donating a portion of their proceeds to a local charity of their choice. After covering their expenses and paying back their investors, children are encouraged to open a youth savings account. Registration is free and all youngsters are encouraged to participate.

"Lemonade Day has become an annual tradition here in Louisiana and will have a lasting impact on our youth for many years to come," said Lemonade Day Louisiana Founder and Georges Enterprises CEO, John Georges. "I am challenging the entire state to get involved and help us open over 13,000 new businesses on Lemonade Day."

On Saturday, May 4, everyone has an important job to do by either buying or selling lemonade. The entire community is encouraged to purchase lemonade from the many stands that will be set-up throughout the state.

"Raising Cane's is proud to support Lemonade Day because we want every child to have the skills they need to find their ONE LOVE and turn it into a successful business," said Todd Graves, founder and CEO of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers. "This is a great program and we are very excited to help bring this program statewide."

The official Lemonade Day Louisiana kick-off press conference will be held at Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans, 5100 Orleans Avenue at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 1. Special guests will include John Georges, Todd Graves, Rita Benson LeBlanc, Charles Rice, National Lemonade Day President Julie Eberly, Miss Louisiana USA 2013 Kristen Girault, Miss Teen Louisiana USA 2013 Bailey Hidalgo, the Honeybees, Saintsations, Hugo, Gumbo, Sir Saint, dozens of youth and many more.

Over 20 corporate sponsors have teamed up to once again bring Lemonade Day to Louisiana on Saturday, May 4 including: Ochsner Health System, Chevron, Reinhart Food Service, Cajun Industries, Galatoire's Foundation, Bollinger Shipyards, Liberty Bank, Louisiana Society of CPAs, MAPP Construction, The Milford Wampold Support Foundation, and Whitney Bank as well as over 50 partners including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, BREC, the West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF), Lemonade Brigade, Bourgeois Bennett CPA's & Consultants, Baton Rouge YMCA, Stars Girls Club, Ladies of Class & Culture (LOCC), Each One Save One, Big Buddy Program, Cox Communications, West St. Tammany YMCA, East Jefferson YMCA, Freshy Foods, Junior League of Greater New Orleans, Junior League of Baton Rouge, Forum 35, Louisiana Technology Park, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Hermann-Grima House, Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children, Directed Initiatives for Youth/Excite All Stars, Youth Empowerment Project, Whole Foods Market, Louisiana SPCA, Urban League of Greater New Orleans, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, STAIR, Ur Way Yogurt and Coffee Bar, Junior Achievement, Audubon Nature Institute, the Louisiana Children's Museum, WWL-TV Channel 4, ClearChannel Radio, Fox 8, ABC 26, The New Orleans Tribune, WBRZ, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Lamar Advertising, WBOK Am 1230, Renaissance Publishing, Data News Weekly, Cenla Broadcasting, Townsquare Media, WYES, KATC, Sylvain Solutions, The Radio People, KNOE/KAQY/NNOE, Nola Baby & Family Magazine, Spears Consulting Group, and Diane Allen & Associates.

Lemonade Day Louisiana was founded in 2010, by entrepreneurs John Georges and Todd Graves and has grown tremendously over the last few years. Over 10,000 youth across south Louisiana from New Orleans to Lafayette participated in last year's program. Thousands of lemonade stands were set-up throughout the area. These young entrepreneurs donated thousands of dollars to charity. Louisiana is one of over 40 regions in the U.S. and Canada to participate in Lemonade Day.

For a complete list of sponsors and partners, to sign up or learn about ways to get involved in Lemonade Day, please visit www.louisiana.lemonadeday.org. For information about sponsorships, partnerships or donations, please contact Lemonade Day City Director Dana Hansel at (504) 710-3866 or danahansel@cox.net. Registration for this year's program will begin in late February.