Young philanthropists across Los Angeles are preparing to host lemonade stands this summer as part of the L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade Kids’ Campaign, a grassroots fundraising effort that has generated more than $550,000 for childhood cancer research over the past decade.
Inspired by Alex Scott, who began holding lemonade stands to raise money for pediatric cancer research before losing her own battle with the disease at age eight, children throughout Southern California continue her legacy by organizing neighborhood lemonade stands and online fundraising campaigns.
This year, Kids’ Campaign Chair Charles Lentz has expanded the initiative by partnering with many of Southern California’s most celebrated chefs and their restaurants.
Through the Chef Sponsor Program, participating chefs are donating $1 from select menu items to the Kids’ Campaign, allowing diners to support pediatric cancer research simply by ordering featured dishes.
Participating chefs include those from Providence, A.O.C., Charcoal, Mozza, Citrin, Redbird, Night + Market, Violet Bistro, The Wilkes, Dear John, Jar, Cookbook, Cara Cara, Valerie Confections, and Big Bar in Los Angeles, as well as Bell’s in Los Alamos, The Hitching Post in Buellton, and Lucky Penny in Santa Barbara.
The son of acclaimed chefs Suzanne Goin and David Lentz, Charles has attended L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade since childhood. Now 17 and entering his senior year of high school, he is encouraging Angelenos to support participating restaurants while helping fund lifesaving pediatric cancer research.
“Alex’s Lemonade has always meant so much to me—not only because it helps children battling cancer, but because it’s a tradition that has brought my family together for years,” said Lentz. “Seeing so many chefs come together to support this cause has been incredibly inspiring. It shows how food can unite a community around something bigger than ourselves. We’re excited to break the $600,000 mark this year.”
Families throughout the region are invited to join the Kids’ Campaign by registering to host a lemonade stand or create an online fundraising page. Each participant commits to raising $300 through lemonade stand sales, online donations, or other creative fundraising efforts.
As a thank-you, every participant who raises $300 will receive one complimentary adult ticket to L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, the annual culinary fundraiser that has raised more than $12 million for childhood cancer research since 2009. During the event, Kids’ Campaign participants will also join a special on-stage presentation to deliver their collective fundraising check to Alex’s family.
As an added bonus for the public’s impact, the World Gold Council is generously matching every donation to the LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade Kids Campaign up to $20,000.
The Chef Sponsor Program runs July through October 15, 2026, with Lucky Penny participating from September 15 through October 15.
Families interested in participating in the Kids’ Campaign can contact Charles Lentz at charleslentz175@gmail.com to register or learn more.
Download a selection of dishes from the Chef Sponsor Program HERE.
To date, are the participating chefs, with others joining each week:
- Alcove / Big Bar – Dust to Side Chicks Cocktail
- Cara Cara at the Downtown LA Proper Hotel – Hamachi Ceviche
- Caroline Styne & Irene Neuwirth
- Daisy Ryan: Bell’s – Egg Salad Sandwich
- Devan Clark: the Wilkes – Brentwood Burger
- Max Anderson: Violet Bistro – Le Double Smashburger
- Frank Ostini: The Hitching Post 2 & Hitching Post Wines Tasting Room – Hitching Post Grilled Artichoke with Smoked Tomato Pesto
- Hans Röckenwagner and Josiah Citrin: Dear John – Old Fashioned, Caesar Salad & Rib Eye
- Hans Röckenwagner and Josiah Citrin: Dear Jane – Smoky Jane & Yellowtail Carpaccio
- Jason Paluska: Lucky Penny Santa Barbara – $1 from EVERY lemonade or strawberry lemonade sold from September 15-October 15 (Santa Barbara location only)
- Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo: Jon & Vinny @ Cookbook – Domino Cookie
- Josiah Citrin: Charcoal – She’s a Rainbow, Cabbage & Skirt Steak
- Josiah Citrin: Citrin – Hamachi Crudo, Tasting Menu, Lobster Bolognese & Need You Tonight Cocktail
- Kris and Sarah Yenbamroong: Night Market – Crispy Rice Salad
- Michael Cimarusti: Providence – $1 dollar from EVERY tasting menu
- Nancy Silverton: Pizzeria Mozza – Mixed Berry Gelato Pie
- Neal Fraser: Redbird – Shishito Peppers
- Suzanne Goin: A.O.C. – Spanish Fried Chicken
- Suzanne Tracht: Jar – Jar Fries & the Wedge Salad
- Valerie Gordon: Valerie Confection – Lemon Chess Pie
- Warren Schwartz: Magpies – Strawberry Lemonade Float
To learn more about being part of the Kids’ Campaign, click HERE
Tickets to L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade on October 4, 2025, may be purchased online HERE. Pricing for Early Bird General Admission tickets is available until September 1, 2026.
Participating Chefs 2026
Adam Perry Lang – APL (L.A.)
Akasha Richmond – AKASHA (L.A.)
Ana Saenz – Sweet Rose Creamery (Santa Monica, CA)
Bob Oswaks – Bob’s Well Bread Bakery (Los Alamos, CA)
Brian Rigsby – The Wilkes (L.A.)
Bricia Lopez – Guelaguetza (L.A.)
Bruce Kalman – Soulbelly BBQ (Las Vegas, NV)
Burt Bakman – Trudy’s Underground Barbecue (L.A.)
Chris Bianco – Pizzeria Bianco (L.A., Phoenix, AZ)
Clark Staub and Jill Davie – Full of Life Flatbread (Los Alamos, CA)
Daisy Ryan – Bell’s Restaurant (Los Alamos, CA)
Dan Richer – Razza (Jersey City, NJ)
David Lentz, Stephanie Mutz, Boe Delashmutt, and Harry Liquornik – Sea Stephanie Fish (L.A.)
Donald Link – Herbsaint & Peche Seafood Grill (New Orleans, LA)
Drew Nieporent – Nobu 57 (New York, NY)
Drew Rosenberg – CUT by Wolfgang Puck (L.A.)
Franklin Becker – Point Seven (New York, NY)
Fred Eric – PI^LA Pizza (L.A.)
Gary Chau – Caffe Luxxe (L.A.)
Gavin Fine – Fine Dining Restaurant Group (Jackson Hole, WY)
Giada De Laurentiis – GIADA (Las Vegas, NV)
Irene Widjaya – Downtown LA Proper Hotel, Cara Cara (L.A.)
Jason Paluska – The Lark Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA)
Jason Winters – Speak Cheezy (L.A.)
Jazz Singsanong – Jitlada (L.A.)
Jeremy Fox and Matthew Schaler – Birdie G’s (Santa Monica, CA)
Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo – Jon & Vinny’s (L.A.)
Jonathan Sundstrom – Lark Seattle (Seattle, WA)
Jonathan Waxman – Barbuto (New York, NY)
Josiah Citrin – Augie’s on Main (Santa Monica, CA)
Kevin Meehan – Kali Restaurant (L.A.)
Kris and Sarah Yenbamroong – Night + Market (Venice, CA)
Kris Longley and Erik Lopez – Hollywood Bowl (L.A.)
Kristin Feuer – McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams (Santa Barbara, CA)
Laurel Amerinda – Huckleberry (Santa Monica, CA)
Lord Maynard Llera – Kuya Lord (L.A.)
Ludo Lefebvre – Petit Trois (L.A.)
Marc Vetri – Vetri Cucina Las Vegas at the Palms (Philadelphia, PA, Las Vegas, NV)
Matt Molina – Hippo (L.A.)
Melody Bishop and Dennis Kelley – Written by the Seasons (Dallas, TX)
Mercedes Rojas – The Arepa Stand (L.A.)
Michael Reed – Poppy & Seed, Poppy + Rose (Anaheim, CA)
Michael Fiorelli – Fiorelli Pizza (L.A.)
Michael Schwartz – The Genuine Hospitality Group (Miami, FL)
Michael Cimarusti – Connie and Ted’s, Providence (L.A.)
Nancy Silverton – Mozza Restaurant Group (L.A.)
Nancy Oakes and Dana Younkin – Boulevard (San Francisco, CA)
Neal Fraser – Redbird (L.A.)
Nok Suntaranon – Kalaya (Philadelphia, PA)
Ori Menashe – Bestia (L.A.)
Paul Kahan and Dylan Patel – Avec (Chicago, IL)
Richard Pink – Pink’s Hot Dogs (L.A.)
Robbie Tutlewski – Little Donna’s (Baltimore, MD)
Rocco Whalen – Fahrenheit (Cleveland, OH, Charlotte, NC)
Sherry Yard – Bakery by the Yard (Manhattan Beach, CA)
Steve Samson – Rossoblu (L.A.)
Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken – Border Grill (L.A.)
Suzanne Goin – AOC (L.A.)
Valerie Gordon – Valerie Confections (L.A.)
Vivian Ku – Pine and Crane (L.A.)
William Bradley – Addison (San Diego, CA)
Wylie Dufresne – Stretch Pizza (NYC)
Zachary Pollack – Cosetta(Santa Monica)
Zak Walters – Sedalia’s Oyster & Seafood (Oklahoma City, OK)
*lists subject to change
*All chefs graciously donate their time, food and talent to the cause for this event***
For more information, visit www.lalal.org
About Childhood Cancer
Childhood cancer is a general term used to describe cancer in children occurring regularly, randomly and sparing no ethnic group, socioeconomic class, or geographic region. Childhood cancer extends to over a dozen types of cancers and a countless amount of subtypes. Just a few of these cancer types include: Ewing sarcoma, glioma, leukemia, lymphoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Wilms’ tumor. In the United States, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15. Every day, approximately 250 kids around the world die from cancer, accounting for 91,250 losing their lives to the disease every year.
About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for all children with cancer. Her spirit and determination inspired others to support her cause, and when she passed away at the age of 8, she had raised $1 million. Since then, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement. Today, ALSF is one of the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. and Canada raising more than $300 million so far, funding over 1,500 research projects and providing programs to families affected by childhood cancer. For more information, visit AlexsLemonade.org.
