Laughing for Lemonade: Comedy Fundraiser Aims to Provide FREE Books to Kids With the Help of the Community
Westfield, MA - When life gives Mychal Connolly, Sr., lemons, he knows it’s a gift.
“Everyone is given a gift,” said Connolly, a Springfield entrepreneur. “That’s your lemon. You need to have the ability to turn that into a skill or a product or service that people will buy. That’s your lemonade.”
Creating lemonade in a literal sense gave him an idea for a book about young entrepreneurs, a book that he now hopes to provide for free to students. Lemonade Book follows four youths in their quest to build a lemonade stand, finding success by using basic business principles tied with their own unique gifts. The book was brought to life by author and business journalist Heather Lusk.
“Everything in Lemonade Book is what’s necessary to be financially successful. It’s things not taught elsewhere. Things I learned directly from my millionaire mentors and billionaire mentor.” Connolly said. “It’s a blueprint, and it’s taught in a way that’s easy to understand.”
Providing the book to students is a goal close to Connolly’s heart; the content provides advice and tips that he wishes he’d heard as a youth when he first began his entrepreneurial journey.
Ideally, he aims to donate a copy of Lemonade Book to every student in the area as their own blueprint for being successful in life. To achieve that goal, he’s relying on a comedy fundraiser, with one book donated for every ticket sold.
Delivering Laughs
Finding a way to donate 10,000 books is no laughing matter. Connolly tried smaller methods of sponsorship and donations before he realized he needed a bigger event, one that would raise enough money to fund books before the start of the school year and be enjoyable for attendees.
He created Laughing for Lemonade with the help of Funny 4 Funds as an evening of comedians and fundraising.
“I want people to have a good time,” Connolly said. “I feel that when people give, they should get something too.”
The event will take place on August 12 at Shortstop Bar and Grill in Westfield. Three comedians will headline, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Guests will have an hour to purchase raffle tickets, enjoy dinner and have drinks before the show begins at 7 p.m. Laughing for Lemonade is open to ages 21 and up.
“Everyone is given a gift, that’s your lemon. You need to have the ability to turn that into a skill or a product or service that people will buy. That’s your lemonade.”
Everyone who purchases a ticket will also receive their own signed copy of Lemonade Book.
“I want everyone to have a book,” Connolly said. “Everything in that book are things my mentors taught me to be financially successful.”
He hopes the event will inspire others to make a difference in their community. Connolly is optimistic that helping others can be beneficial to everyone.
“I want it to be a win-win-win. The kids win when they get a book, the donors and sponsors win when they get their name and logo advertised for free on the Stand Out Truck®, the adults win when they see the comedy show, and we win when we get funds to print and publish the book,” he said.
Landing on Lemonade
Connolly’s own entrepreneurial background has ranged from Stinky Cakes to his recent success with Stand Out Truck® and Marketing and Cupcakes™. The Stand Out Truck®, a mobile billboard, has been used to promote businesses, organizations, events, and individuals throughout New England.
He’s utilizing the truck to drive awareness of Laughing for Lemonade, and to promote businesses and individuals who sponsor the event. For $100, sponsors can have their logo on the truck. Donations above $50 can have their name, family name, or memoriam listed. The Stand Out Truck ® ad, with the sponsors logos and donors names, runs daily now - August 12.
Lemonade book is sold on the Marketing and Cupcakes™ website, Connolly’s other enterprise. Through Marketing and Cupcakes™, he introduces marketing and sales concepts to entrepreneurs and youth. It’s during these events in schools that he realized he needed to find a way to get copies of the book directly into kids’ hands.
“When the schools book me to speak, they buy the books, but the books stay in the schools,” he said. “I wanted to create a space where the kids can own copies and take the book home. I want them to be able to share what they’re learning with their families. I want them to have something they can reference and remember what we spoke about in their class or at their after school program. Lemonade book isn’t a children’s book, it’s a story book. A story that can help people of all ages understand what it truly takes to succeed in business, marketing and entrepreneurship.”
Proceeds from merchandise, like t-shirts, mugs and hoodies, sold in the Marketing and Cupcakes® store go towards donated copies of the book. Connolly believes that kids feel special knowing that they receive something thanks to the action of others in their community. And people in the community feel great giving books and educational opportunities to the kids in the community.
With Laughing for Lemonade, Connolly has created many actions people can take to help supply books to local youth, whether as a donor, sponsor of the event or buying a ticket.
“I think it’s a really cool way to raise money,” he said. “It’s something different. It stands out.”
The $30 tickets, donations and/or $100 sponsorships can be purchased online at www.laughingforlemonade.com.
