Make Lemon Aide Foundation for Cerebral Palsy

The Make Lemon Aide Foundation for CP was created and inspired by Lauren Walier, a young woman living with CP. We follow her motto - Be Courageous - in everything we do and we won't stop until we accomplish all of our goals. Lauren was inspired at 12 years old after attending a meeting at the Center of Disease Control (CDC) learning there was no federal funding for CP research affecting 17 million people. At that point, she understood why CP was known as the "forgotten disability." Soon after she began her new journey making a difference for those affected by CP.

Established in 2013, the Make Lemon Aide Foundation for Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a 501c3 nonprofit foundation aimed at raising awareness of CP, fostering acceptance, inclusion and kindness, creating a loving, supportive community and providing cutting-edge, effective physical therapy at First Step PT who specialize in the neuro population like CP. We are so passionate about our work because it affects 17 million people worldwide, 1 million in the US alone and there’s little to NO federal funding for CP research. Without research there’s nothing. This is why CP is known as the forgotten lifelong disability. At 12 years old, founder Lauren Walier was heart broken when she learned all of this information at the CDC and was on a mission to be a voice for those with CP who do not have their own. The Make Lemon Aide Foundation for CP was then created and Lauren wanted to embrace lemonade, a fun happy platform for individuals of all ages to embrace using the motto of “when life gives you lemons, make lemon aide” to lift and bring the CP community together. A lemonade platform that when embraced builds self esteem and one’s confidence which then creates the feeling of everything is possible with hard work and dedication even when you have challenges. As well time Lauren wanted to form of community for those with CP because there was no community. During the past 11 years, we’ve created a CP community for individuals with CP to feel loved, accepted, included and celebrated for who they are as people. Our foundation has facilitated bringing this neuro based physical therapy clinic (First Step PT) to Buffalo from Atlanta, GA. Supporting the Make Lemon Aide Foundation for CP during 716 can provide new hopes and dreams for our CP community by receiving PT grants that can positively change their lives with physical & functional goals. Please help us make some sweet lemon aide to give the gift of mobility and function to those who don’t have it!