When the YMCA Gives Teens Lemons...

Twelve youth leaders involved in the YMCA East Hampton RECenter Leaders Club, ages 12-14 years old, were divided into teams and joined business professionals throughout the East End community to develop leadership skills. The professionals have been mentoring the children since February including hands-on workshops in management, hospitality, coping with failure and more. The Leaders & Lemonade program will culminate this summer with a four-day lemonade stand competition, during which the youth leaders will compete to sell the most lemonade to raise funds supporting the YMCA East Hampton RECenter.

“This program is a great way for our diverse group of young leaders to venture into the community and put their leadership skills to the test while making them more civically engaged,” stated Glenn Vickers II, Executive Director of the YMCA East Hampton RECenter. “The business leaders have been wonderful in mentoring the youth, and we are all very excited to see which team will emerge victorious.”

The five teams— red, blue, orange, purple and green— consist of YMCA Board members, East End business leaders and the Leaders Club youth. One of the local entrepreneurs, Donna McCue, is an alumna of the hit ABC series Shark Tank. Sponsors for the program include Gurney’s Montauk, Starbucks, CoreysWave Professional Surf Instruction and Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation.

The teams met to discuss the location of their lemonade stands, the price and quality of the product, and how to staff the stand. The lemonade stands will be placed at various locations in from Southampton to Montauk on July 11 and 12, as well as August 15 and 16, 2015. The teams aim to collectively raise $300,000 to provide summer camp scholarships; benefit expanded teen and senior programs; and expand the LiveStrong program, which provides support for cancer survivors.

The YMCA Leaders Club meets once a week to discuss issues in the community, develop leadership skills and put their thoughts into action. The club gives youth the opportunity to become more effective communicators, improve individual leadership and social skills, and experience new ways to give back to the community.

The YMCA is a leader in providing programs that strengthen the mind, body and spirit connection. Long Islanders of all ages and fitness levels learn to live their healthiest lives inside the YMCA’s state-of-the-art facilities in Brookhaven, East Hampton, Glen Cove, Bay Shore, Huntington and Patchogue. The YMCA of Long Island is a cause-driven nonprofit organization that works to strengthen communities through programs that focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For information and locations, visit www.ymcali.org, or call the East Hampton YMCA at (631) 329-6884.

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