Brody Toy, a 10-year-old who attends fifth grade at David Leech Elementary, began selling lemonade in 2016 to raise money for research into Alzheimer’s disease. He started the effort to honor Joseph Kish, his late great-grandfather, who passed away from the disease in 2015. Since he began selling his special brand of lemonade, he has raised $16,000.
Brody has proved to be a wizard with flavors. For this year’s sale, which took place on June 11, he created a new treat – red raspberry limeade. He also offers purple berry, watermelon, strawberry, lemonade with a Popsicle, and traditional lemonade, although he keeps his recipes secret.
Lisa Richards, Brody’s mother, said that he raised about $300 the first year. Last year, his effort brought in about $7,000, and his goal for this year is $8,000. Brody gives the proceeds from his lemonade stand to Joe’s Alzstarz, a team associated with the Butler Walk 2 End Alzheimer’s.
Brody’s first location in the parking lot at Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market in Leechburg was bringing pedestrians into the lot, causing a safety issue, so the success has necessitated a move to South Leechburg Hill Road. An effort like this can benefit if organizers use flyer printing to create handouts about the campaign.
While his parents and others have praised him for his efforts, Brody simply says:
“I’m just a boy with a lemonade stand and a dream of a world without Alzheimer’s.”