Carl Olson has a long history with LemonAid – since his literal birth in August 2001.
That was a few weeks before the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York. The residents on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae Place in River Forest wanted to do something – anything – to respond to the tragedy.
The next year, six families launched LemonAid, a literal lemonade stand that raised $400 for Hephzibah Children’s Association.
It’s 2026 now, and over the last quarter century, LemonAid has raised north of $700,000 for nonprofits and charities primarily throughout the Oak Park and River Forest area. Olson has been there for just about all of it. And ah, the memories.
“I remember it being way smaller than it is now,” Olson said. “It was completely different day of. It was more private, I felt like, and I guess my favorite memory is at the end, after the entire block put on a really great show for all the charities, we’d gather as a block and we would sit and all watch a movie and celebrate a good job.”
Most importantly, it was fun with a purpose that’s still paying dividends today, though this will be the last year in its present form. River Forest Township, which has been involved for many years in the event, is providing stewardship so it can continue in the future – whether on the 700 block of Bonnie Brae or elsewhere in the community.
So in a way, it’s the end of an era, kicked off by a July 23 happy hour at 727 Bonnie Brae, which invited block residents and representatives from nonprofits and charities that have benefitted financially over the years from LemonAid. This year’s event will be on Sept. 11, of course, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mary Reynolds, executive director of the Collaboration for Early Childhood in Oak Park, said LemonAid is “such a cool opportunity for a community to come together.
“What it meant for us at Collaboration for Early Childhood was a couple of things,” she said. “One, obviously it’s a great fundraising opportunity, but the other thing is, because it’s such a gathering of community, and it’s such a celebration, a big part of our mission is connecting with families and connecting with people, it gives us the opportunity to do that.”
Ditto for Teri Miller, director of development for Beyond Hunger in Oak Park.
“I think it really stems from this idea around community, and anyone can create a movement to better the community and serve people around you,” Miller said. “Many of these organizations are examples of that. We were started by a Girl Scout troop in 1979. They saw a need and it grew into the organization we are today.
“Being a part of LemonAid, that kind of helps support the work we do.”
Neighbor Chris Hauri was one of the founders of LemonAid way back when, and said the upcoming event will be another extravaganza, with stations for nonprofits and charities where you can learn about their mission and work. There will be a special donation station where people can give to LemonAid, with funds to be distributed to all 26 nonprofits and charities, along with a giant tent with lemonade and baked goods. Best of all, everything is free and people can begin donating to their favorite nonprofit or charity on their websites starting Aug. 15.
“We’ve tried to keep it as simple as possible,” Hauri said, pointing out that LemonAid is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. “Every time we’ve looked into (that), we have to have a board, go through attorneys, pay for a license. We’re like, ‘Let’s keep it simple.’ We have no official leaders.”
But LemonAid has committed co-chairs. Along with Olson, who works in human resources in downtown Chicago, there are Oak Park and River Forest High School seniors Connor Chien, Helen Donoho and Mark Jung, along with Donoho’s Fenwick sophomore sister Miranda and fellow Fenwick junior Ethan Wynne. The younger junior co-chairs are fifth grader Shalva Glick and fourth grader Sophie Sears.
“For me, it’s taught me a lot about philanthropy and how to give back to your community,” said Chien, who co-chaired with Jung his sophomore year. “When I grew up at first, when I would go to LemonAid, I would see it as a big block party and a fun event, and as I got older, I started to realize why it started, the real purpose behind it.
“Making a difference in your community is super important, whether that’s helping people get counseling services or tutoring, it’s about helping other people at the end of the day.”
Wynne said LemonAid is special because “it’s community … this is the area that I grew up in and (it’s great) to see there are people around me that show support to everybody and are there to help and just give back.”
To donate right now LemonAid, visit its website 9-11LemonAid.com