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player ready...A Lockport Township High School sophomore whose lemonade stand recently raised more than $15,000 to benefit children and young adults battling cancer said the two-day event far surpassed expectations.
Austin Bielski, 15, has been running his Cups 4 Cancer lemonade stand each year since he was 8 years old.
Over the years, the proceeds have supported several organizations that help children dealing with cancer, including the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, CC2 Forever Foundation and Cal’s Angels. In seven years, he raised $34,917.
But after hearing that Dylan Krestan, his former baseball teammate from Homer Junior High School, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, Austin knew he couldn’t retire from Cups 4 Cancer.
He dedicated this year’s fundraiser to Dylan, and the 8th annual event held July 22 and 23 was the best yet, Austin said.
Between the lemonade stand and subsequent donations that poured in, Austin will send a check for more than $15,000 to the Weish4Ever foundation, which provides direct financial assistance to families with adolescents and young adults battling cancer.
“I think it’s really good that I can give all that to the Weish4Ever foundation,” Austin said. “It was a lot more than I expected. It makes me happy.”
Austin said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of guests and the number of people who stopped by to buy a cup of lemonade or make a donation.
“It exceeded expectations,” he said.
The Homer Glen Village Board took time Wednesday to recognize Austin for his contributions.
He has now reached one of his ultimate goals, raising more than $50,000 through the years to support cancer foundations. He thanked the community for all its support.
Austin’s contribution will help at least four families who have adolescents or young adults battling cancer, said Maggie Sommer, executive program director of the Weish4Ever foundation.
The foundation has granted more than $3.7 million since 2012, when 21-year-old Andrew Weishar, a Midlothian resident and Brother Rice High School graduate, died of colorectal cancer. Before he died, his request was to pay forward the kindness, generosity and compassion that was shown to him and his family during his cancer battle.
More than 660 families from across the country have received financial assistance from the foundation, Sommer said. Grants are unrestricted and can go toward whatever the family needs at the time, including medical bills, housing or a much-needed vacation, Sommer said.
“Our aim is to help more people,” she said. “People like Austin allow us to do that.”
Sommer said she believes it’s a first to have a teen raise so much money for the foundation.
About 500 people stopped by during the two-day event last month. They sold about 22 gallons of lemonade in the 90-degree heat. Smiles were free.
Supporters included friends and neighbors, teachers and staff from Homer District 33C and Lockport Township High School, members of the Lockport baseball team and the Lockport Athletic Boosters and Homer Glen and Homer Township officials.
“It was just overwhelming,” said Austin’s mom, Candice Bielski, who is the Homer Glen village clerk.
The organization 72 Acts of Kindness, named in honor of Colin Brown, who was killed by a stray bullet on the way home from a hockey game, made both a financial contribution and donated candy to sell.
Lemont real estate agents Christine Wilczek and Jason Bacza, who have sponsored the event and assisted with logo design, custom collectible cups, T-shirts, marketing and supplies, wrote a check for $5,000.
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Hinsdale resident Lisa Marth donated $1,100.
Several Homer Glen area businesses also made donations.
The lemonade stand has come a long way since 2018, when Austin made his first charitable contribution, a $110 donation to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.
Each year, Austin wanted to surpass the previous year’s proceeds.
“I never thought it would turn into something so big,” Bielski said. “We are very grateful. It leaves me speechless.”
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.