By: Annabelle Chipps, ALSF Intern Summer 2024
My time as a writing Intern at Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) has been extremely rewarding and educational. I was able to greatly increase my knowledge about copywriting, nonprofits, and the professional world. However, the most eye-opening part of this summer has been a closer glimpse into the world of childhood cancer.
Kicking off
Over winter break, I scoured the internet for an internship that might be even slightly related to writing. In the end, I applied to more than 70 places. I was lucky enough to land a few interviews and even some acceptances, but none were as appealing as ALSF.
I learned about ALSF when I was in elementary school and respected the Foundation’s work. Plus, an internship at ALSF would offer me a unique opportunity to combine my passions for writing and charity work. I was so invested in this opportunity that I made the choice to leave my home in Western PA and spend the summer in Philadelphia. Leaving everything I had ever known was terrifying, but Team Alex made me feel welcome.
I spent most of my first week adjusting. We had a very thorough introduction and were given time to review the guidelines before jumping in. I was ready to get hands-on and wrote my first hero story by the end of that week.
My mentor asked what my goals were, and I told her I wanted to learn as much as I could. Since then, I haven’t been bored once. Whether it be research on my laptop or packing Lemonade Days kits, there is always a way for me to lend a hand. This has enabled me to truly diversify my skillset. I get to write emails, hero stories, blog posts, website content, biographies, and more.
The communications team also helps run programming and keep things on schedule at Foundation events. This was something I had no background in, but now feel confident about! It made me appreciate just how much is necessary behind the scenes to make events successful.
Oh, the places I went
As an intern, I got to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Lemonade Days at our founder, Alex Scott’s elementary school. The event, Alex’s “Original” Lemonade Stand, is a family-friendly day with yard games and fun. It’s great practice for anyone who loves being around kids. I also got to spend the afternoon at the Urban Outfitters headquarters at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for the Great Chefs Event Philadelphia with gourmet chefs and generous donors. This event was probably my favorite, and not just because of the tasty treats. I even got to appear on CBS Philadelphia for the Alex Scott: A Stand for Hope Telethon! That day, ALSF supporters raised thousands of dollars and I got to spend time in the unique setting of a TV studio.
During a tour of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), I saw what cancer research looks like up close. One of the researchers showed us the first thing she ever bought with an ALSF grant: a microscope used to observe the growth of tongue cells. While I may not have understood the science, I did understand the cutting-edge nature of this research and how crucial it is for the future of pediatric cancer. I realized the truth behind the Foundation’s phrase “one cup at a time": any amount of money could help save or improve a child’s life.
The Alex Scott Day Hospital is also at CHOP. There, we saw the type of families her legacy affects each day. She was an advocate for making everything kid-friendly — including the cures themselves. The result of this work is not lost on the children who get to be more comfortable during treatment, or the siblings who have somewhere to play while they wait for their families.
I was educated about this challenging world even further when an ambassador family spoke to us. A childhood cancer hero and her family came to the office to tell us their story. The hero’s mom shared that foundations like ALSF helped her feel less alone when her daughter was in treatment. She explained how supported she felt to know other people had been in similar situations before.
That experience really put things into perspective for me. Childhood cancer can affect families in ways I would never even think of. This is why ALSF has all the services it has to help families. It means everything we do, even copying and pasting text, can truly make a difference for kids with cancer.
The friends we made along the way
When I say “we,” I am referring to myself and the four other interns I worked with this summer.
ALSF offered summer internship positions for Family Services, Fundraising, Social Media, Special Events, and Writing. Three days a week, we sat in the corner with our desks facing each other. We shared what we were working on, helped each other mail packages, and had great conversations. ALSF understands the importance of collaboration in the workspace, so we were given a project to work on together. They utilized our knowledge of college campuses and had us compile a recommendation report for marketing to our age range. This allowed us to gain professional teamwork skills, as well as learn from each other.
To Orion, Hannah, Emilia, and Meralia — thank you for all the laughs and five-person adventures. I love you guys!
Do YOU want to make a difference?
If you are a college student or recent graduate interested in interning with ALSF, I strongly recommend applying. This paid internship program takes place for 12 weeks every summer. It operates on a 40-hour schedule with two remote days each week. Applications for internships open in early 2025.
