Lemonade Day teaches Coastal Bend kids business skills through hands-on entrepreneurship

Young entrepreneurs learn budgeting, marketing and leadership while preparing to run their own businesses across eight Coastal Bend communities.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Lemonade Day is returning to the Coastal Bend, giving children the opportunity to learn real-world business skills while operating their own small businesses.

The program, organized by the United Corpus Christi Chamber Foundation, uses lemonade stands as a hands-on way to teach children how to start, market, and manage a business from the ground up. Organizers say the experience goes far beyond selling lemonade, helping participants develop skills they can use throughout their lives.

There is a registration event happening on Tuesday, June 2, from 4-6 p.m. at the Coastal Bend College in Alice to learn how your child can become a young entrepreneur. 

“This is a curriculum-based opportunity for children to learn everything from A to Z of how to own and operate their own businesses,” said Hope Rangel with the United Corpus Christi Chamber Foundation. “We do it through the premise of a lemonade stand.”

Participants learn how to create business plans, develop marketing strategies, manage budgets and build public speaking and presentation skills.

“They’re learning everything that a small business owner needs to know to be successful,” Rangel said.

While lemonade remains the centerpiece of the event, many young entrepreneurs expand beyond traditional drinks.

“We have so many kids across the Coastal Bend that don’t just do lemonade,” Rangel said. “If they can think it and make it, they can sell it.”

Past participants have sold products ranging from baked goods and arts and crafts to crocheted items and 3D-printed creations.

Among last year’s standout participants were siblings Zoey, Ozzy and Evan Garcia, who earned the program’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Asked about the secret behind their success, the trio credited hard work and family support.

“We just tried our best,” they said. The siblings operated a lemonade stand featuring boba lemonade and said their parents and family members helped them throughout the process.

“Mom and Dad and family,” they said when asked who supported their business. Organizers say community support plays a major role in the program’s success and encourage residents to visit local stands and support participating children.

Lemonade Day activities will take place in multiple Coastal Bend communities, including Corpus Christi, Portland, Gregory, Alice, Kingsville and Ingleside. 

Children interested in participating can register through the United Corpus Christi Chamber Foundation, either online or at participating events.

Rangel said the goal is to help children gain confidence while learning valuable lessons about entrepreneurship, responsibility and leadership.