New Berlin Girls Sell Lemonade To Raise Down Syndrome Awareness

NEW BERLIN, WI — Two New Berlin girls will raise awareness and sell lemonade to raise money for the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin for the third year.

Maddy Stannis, 12, and Julia Aguilar, 9, will open their lemonade stand at 5640 S. Timber Ridge Drive on Aug. 12. The stand’s hours will be 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

They started it together in 2019, Maddy's mother, Marita Stannis, told Patch. The girls raised $1,000 that summer and more than doubled that in the summer of 2020.

The stand will have some new flavors this year. In addition to regular lemonade, the girls will sell pink and black cherry lemonade, Marita Stannis said. The will also have a bake sale with individually packaged treats, and the possibility of a popsicle vendor joining.

The girls, who both have Down syndrome, will get help from friends and family. “We have a crew if you will,” Marita Stannis said. “At the end of the day, we have a blast.”

See Also: Girls Raise Over $2K From New Berlin Lemonade Stand For DSAW

The association will feature the girls on an electronic billboard. They won the top fundraiser prize last year, Marita Stannis said. The billboards are all over southeastern Wisconsin and will be shown at random times of the day, she said.

The girls have been friends for four years. Aguilar loves to dance, sing along to musicals and swim, Marita Stannis said. Maddy is friendly and outgoing, loves singing and gymnastics, she added.

“[Maddy] loves [selling lemonade] and meeting people” Marita Stannis said. “This is kind of our way of teaching her that she needs to be an advocate for herself. For her to be comfortable in her own skin and know she is able to do all these things.”

The lemonade stand shows that people with Down syndrome contribute to society and are wonderful people, Marita Stannis said. Other kids and teens with Down syndrome are invited to help sell lemonade as well.

Maddy and Julia’s Lemonade Stand will offer “virtual lemonade” this year for those who can’t attend, Marita Stannis said. Donations can be made through PayPal (maritastannis@live.com), Venmo (@marita-stannis) or Zelle (kstannis@hotmail.com). For more information visit the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin website.