News

Rita's Italian Ice kicks off annual fundraiser to fight childhood cancer

June 2, 2014

Rita's Italian Ice has kicked off its 9th annual Paper Lemon Fundraising Campaign with longtime nonprofit partner, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for childhood cancer. From now through June 30, all Rita’s locations will sell paper lemons for $1 each, with all funds going toward “Rita’s Fund of Hope,” a travel fund to help families with children who have cancer.

The paper lemons are used to build a "Wall of Hope" at each Rita's location. Rita’s has partnered with ALSF since 2006. It renamed its original lemon flavor “Alex’s Lemonade” in 2008 in honor of the late Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who died in 2004 at age 8.

According to a news release, throughout the past nine years, Rita's has raised $3.6 million for the organization.

"The work Alex's does to fund cancer research is phenomenal and it is an honor for Rita's to be able to provide funding so that sick children can travel to access their breakthrough treatments. Every year we encourage our franchisees, Treat Team members and guests to help make a difference in the lives of children with cancer, and are thrilled to support Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation with Rita's Fund of Hope again this June,” CEO Jeff Moody said in the release.