• July 15, 2009

Sunkist has added a social media twist to its six-year-old "Take A Stand" annual program, which encourages kids to give back to their communities by running an old-fashioned lemonade stand to raise money for their favorite charities.

This year, kids who work with their parents to post their stand designs on Sunkist's Facebook page are eligible for a chance to increase their donations and win cash prizes.

With help from their parents, kids 5 to 12 can recycle boxes and materials from home and draw or paint pictures of themselves, their communities and why their charitable causes are "near and dear to their hearts." Parents or legal guardians with Facebook membership can then upload pictures of their children's stand designs and their pledges, for the opportunity to win prizes.

Since its inception, the Take a Stand program has raised an estimated $3 million for charity by kids in every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada. Charities must have 501(c)(3) status to qualify to receive donations from the program. --Karlene Lukovitz