Laughing for Lemonade: Comedy Event Aims to Provide Books to Kids
Westfield, Mass. - 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 for 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 with help from an upcoming comedy fundraiser.
Laughing for Lemonade will combine comedy and fundraising to enable Connolly to get the book into the hands of students this fall.
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 that book is what I use to be financially successful,” 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, tickets for Laughing for Lemonade will also include 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 who purchases a ticket will also receive their own 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 the 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 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 a business name, family name, or memoriam listed. The logos and names will scroll on the truck whenever it’s not in use for a client.
The book is for sale at MarketingandCupcakes.com, 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 buy the books, the books stay in the schools,” he said. “I wanted to create a space where the kids can take the book home.”
Proceeds from merchandise on his website go towards donated copies of the book. Connolly believes that kids feel special knowing that they receive something thanks to the action of others.
With Laughing for Lemonade, Connolly has created many actions people can take to help supply books to local youth, whether as a 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 can be purchased online at https://www.funny4funds.com/events/laughing-for-lemonade-a-comedy-fundraiser-to-benefit-the-lemonade-book/1119.
Make your own business STAND OUT with Stand Out Truck® - visit standouttruck.com/contact to learn more.
