by Jeanni Ritchie
Paige and Piper LaCaze started their lemonade stand in 2021 to support breast cancer awareness and research after their grandmother, Brenda Tracy, shared her survival story. 2024 marks 25 years Grandma Brenda has been in remission. Fittingly it was also the year the total amount raised by the girls surpassed $25,000.
The LaCaze sisters have poured thousands of cups of lemonade with their slogan “Drink Pink for a Cause!” All monies raised have been donated locally to the Cabrini Cancer Center Foundation.
Recognized locally and statewide for their efforts, the girls have recently been invited by the CEO of Cabrini, Monte Wilson, to visit the hospital. They look forward to seeing their money at work.
12-year-old Paige believes there’s a higher calling on their lives. “I believe that we have been called to raise others in our generation to do God‘s great work and that we are to spear each other on for our good and His glory.”
The sisters are definitely yielding that call. In their first year of raising money for breast cancer research, they raised $1700. In Year 2, they raised $4000. As word grew and they expanded their efforts even more, they amassed $8281 in Year 3. This year they far surpassed their $10k goal by raising a whopping $12,000. With the help of parents Darin and Lacie LaCaze, these young philanthropists are making a giant difference in the world.
Their goal for next year‘s lemonade stand will be $10,000. I have no doubt they’ll reach their goal of both raising funds and showing God’s glory.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.