September 1st 2022

Dear Community,

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana is launching a month-long entrepreneurship program at our two Lafayette Clubs, thanks to the 24-Hour Citizen Project. One of our premier programs at the Boys & Girls Club is “Career Launch”. This program is designed club members to learn about leadership, finances, and the impact of businesses on communities. The 24Hour Citizen Project will engage and challenge twenty-two club members to create, build, market, and execute their plans to raise money for two local non-profits.

The week of October 24-28th the Clubs will launch their business selling lemonade with a combined goal to sell 1200 cups, for a profit of $1800. Over the last few weeks, the Clubs have surveyed and selected the youth who will be part of the program. The twenty-two youth, researched, reviewed, and selected two local non-profits to donate a portion of their proceeds. The non-profits identified are United Way and Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness & Housing. Each Club presented a proposal including a budget, supplies, and marketing plan, to the administrative team. The next step of the project includes identifying speakers throughout the community to talk with the kids about how to run a successful business.

The clubs have partnered with individual business owners like Kelsey Sanders, owner and operator of Eat, Fuel, Flourish LLC, Corey McCoy, owner and operator of KOK Wings, Club Blue Young Professional, and Chase Bank to help the youth to design and build their lemonade stands, create their marketing materials to promote sales, and price and purchase the supplies. The week of lemonade sales the youth will invite the community to see the finished product and of course, purchase lemonade! The youth that are part of the program will get the opportunity to present the proceeds to their chosen non-profits, giving back to the community!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana is a 501©3 non-profit organization that serves youth ages 6-18 after school and during the summer. For $50/year, youth are provided a safe place to have fun, receive a meal, and engage in programs in 3 impact areas, academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character and leadership. BGCA has 7 locations in 6 parishes (Lafayette(2), Iberia, Opelousas, Vermilion, Calcasieu, Natchitoches). 

Thanks, Team Lemonade Stand