Lemonade Day 2018 hit the Bering Strait Region with full force! With over 300 participants region wide, budding entrepreneurs all across the region opened for business just for a day selling lemonade, baked goods and much more! They sure brought in the dough, but the profits didn’t just result in adding money to their pockets.

Lemonade Day teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business – a lemonade stand. With their free Lemonade Day backpack in hand and a caring adult by their side, the young entrepreneurs utilized their new workbook to plan for the grand opening of their business. They enhanced their skills around goal-setting, customer service and making change. The youth are able to build their skills year after year with the annual event, taking with them lessons learned they will carry for a lifetime. 2018 marked the 8th year. The annual nature of the event also builds community excitement and anticipation.

“We had such a fabulous turnout here in Shaktoolik. I’ve heard nothing but great comments about the stands. I watched community members support the Lemonade stands…. This was fun and is one our favorite days in summer!!!”

  • Katelynn Evan, Shaktoolik Volunteer Coordinator

Success on the stands surely is dependent upon community involvement and local support of the youth. We are happy to report our youth were very well supported! The young business owners have to plan what they want to do with their profits before sales; they can choose to spend some, save some and also share some. Based on the business results forms submitted in Nome during the “Splash It Up Party” held on Lemonade Day, we can report that the Nome young business owners made $12,809.47 in revenue and shared $2,333.80 of the revenue to causes they choose! Final results from the stands in the region will be tabulated as the business result forms are returned. Results are collected from all participants in Alaska and will be tabulated at the State Lemonade Day Headquarters.

Lemonade Day is successful because of the drive of the youth to operate their stands, but equally successful because of the supportive adults and businesses in the communities. From the customers to the mentors, the volunteers to the financial backers, and the sponsors to the partners, Lemonade Day within the Bering Strait Region is truly a community event. Just one example of this is the generosity of the Shaktoolik clinic  donating a stack of cups to each stand to get them started. There is a tremendous amount of coordination that happens to support the youth. Thank you to all those who have supported our youth and families!

See the Lemonade Day Nome 2018 photos album at: Lemonade Day Album

Lemonade Day is a National program brought to Alaska by:

Alaska Small Business Development Center

With Support from our Local Sponsors:

Kawerak, Inc., Alaska Commercial Company (AC), Safeway Hanson’s, Bering Air, City of Nome, Wells Fargo, Nome Visitors Center, Nome Public Schools, Subway, Sitnasuak, Bering Tea, Bearing Song, Nome Chamber of Commerce, Bering Wellness, Northwest Campus, Bering Straits Native Corporation, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church , Bonanza Express, Aurora Inn, Munaqsri, and Ravn Air.

Special Thanks to the following individuals who helped bring the event to the region:

Regional Coordinators: Darla Olanna (Brevig Mission), Frances Ozenna and Marcia Soolook (Little Diomede), Joseph Murray (Elim), Tami Slwooko (Gambell), Kirstie Ione (Golovin), Jenna Homekingkeo (Koyuk), Alexa Agibinik (St. Michael), Rosemary Akeya (Savoonga), Katelynn Evan (Shaktoolik), Thomas Kirk (Stebbins), Dolly Kugzruk and Cora (Teller), Heather Branch (Unalakleet), JoAnn Keyes (Wales), Carol Smith (White Mountain). Please Note: Teller and St. Michael have postponed their events to a later date.

Andrew McCann (Wells Fargo), John Smith (Wells Fargo), Obie Simonis (Kawerak), Barb Nickels (Kawerak), Alice Bioff (Kawerak,) Patti Lillie (Kawerak), Benny Piscoya (Kawerak), Bryant Hammond (City of Nome), Christine Piscoya (City of Nome), Sara Bioff (Community Member), Walter Rose (Community Member), Ann Whalin (Community Member), Colleen Deighton (Community Member), Leon Broadway (Nome Visitors Center), Mike McNally (Alaska Commercial Company), Tim Motis (Safeway Hanson’s) Bonnie Piscoya (Bering Air), David Miller (Community Member), Richard Beneville (Mayor of Nome), and

All the young entrepreneurs, investors and mentors that made this all possible!