Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

www.sun-sentinel.com
By: Christiana Lilly
1/23/2012

Life gave some kids lemons, and Bailee Madison is making lemonade.

While visiting her native Fort Lauderdale, the 12-year-old actress stopped in Plantation to raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

"I meet kids every day who are younger than me... who have no hair and are battling this crazy disease," she said.

As kids peered through the windows of the BLUEDOG School of Acting for Kids to get a look at the "Wizards of Waverly Place" TV actress, Bailee helped set up the yellow balloons, table and lemonade dispensers inside. Staffers popped in Taylor Swift's latest CD. Swift is the preteen's favorite singer and the only person who's managed to make her starstruck.

Students of the school got to meet Bailee an hour before the public. As they lined up, she apologized for keeping them out in the sun. The kids didn't seem to mind, giggling with excitement as they met the girl they'd watched on TV so many times. Boys and girls of all ages chatted with her, got her autograph, posed for photographs and left with a hug.

"Did you guys see 'Wizards' last night? Did you cry? Because I did!" Bailee laughed with a fan, referring to the show's finale, which had aired the night before.

Gia De Jesus, 11, of Davie came with friends to see Bailee and gushed about how nice she is. A student at the acting school for about eight months, Gia said she's seen Bailee's movies and that her class watched one together before Bailee's visit.

"She's living the dream, and she's making money for a great foundation," she said. "I hope to see her on the red carpet one day."

In three hours, $2,650 was raised for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, which was started by Alex Scott, then 4, to help end childhood cancer. Alex died at 8, and volunteers around the world have carried on her legacy.

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