O.C. fundraiser for Japan touches families

Milind Kumare, 10, left, of Irvine, serves up lemonade to Alexandria Schachter, 6, right, and her dad Ryan and brother Kent Schachter, 6 months, during closing ceremonies at the the Orange County Great Park Farmer's Market. Kids raised $25,545 for the American Red Cross Japan fund through a series of mostly lemonade stands hosted by kids throughout Orange County and elsewhere.
Andy Baum, right, of Santa Monica, purchases lemonade from Milind Kumar, 10, right, at a "LemonAID" Team Kids stand that raised money for the American Red Cross Japan fund.
Jenna Dupuy, 8, of Irvine, watches the counting of the $1,514.98 that she and her siblings raised with lemonade stands over a two-day period. The "LemonAID" campaign organized by Team Kids raised money for the American Red Cross Japan fund. The money was turned in at closing ceremonies at the Orange County Great Park Farmer's Market Sunday.
Kailen Lee, 3, left, and her brother Lucas Lee, 6, make origami cranes which were a fund-raiser organized by UCI students at closing ceremonies for the "LemonAID" campaign by Team Kids. The cranes and money will be sent to Japan.
Ethan Toan, 5, of Irvine, plays with a paper crane which was a fund-raiser at closing ceremonies for the Team Kids "LemonAID" campaign.
Milind Kumar, 10, of Irvine, welcomes visitors to the Team Kids "LemonAID" campaign closing ceremony. Team Kids raised money for the American Red Cross Japan fund.
Nicolas Johnson, of Irvine, brought in $1,796; $1,500 from the Deerfield Elementary school carnival lemonade stand and $296.00 from Boy Scout Troop 643 lemonade stand.
Catalina Alonzo, 6, left, Tara Nicole Leon, 6, middle, and Alexi Casco, 6, right, deliver $167.05 from a Girl Scout lemonade stand in Irvine.
Jonathan Hudash, left, and Lang Pierce, right, pass the time juggling lemons at closing ceremony for the Team Kids "LemonAID" campaign.
Finished cranes at the "LemonAID" campaign, Team Kids fund-raiser.
Yumi Nagao, of Irvine, talks with Emma Fuseya, 4, at the Orange County Great Park Farmer's Market. Nagao's parents are in Japan and she was involved in the "LemonAID" Team Kids fund-raiser with her kids.
Jenna Dupuy, 8, right, of Irvine, watches Virginia Depaola, left, count the $1,514.98 that she and her siblings raised with lemonade stands in a two-day period.
Ethan Toan, 5, and Rhiannon Toan, 9, work on paper cranes which was a fund-raiser hosted by UCI students a the Team Kids closing ceremony Sunday.

By Sarah Tully | Orange County Register

March 28, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

IRVINE – Resident Yumi Nagao longed to return to her native Japan to assist in the earthquake-ravaged country where her parents and relatives live.

Instead, she and her children helped run a lemonade stand and worked on local fundraisers.

On Sunday, Nagao was among members of about 75 groups, mostly in Orange County, that raised $25,545 at events, including lemonade stands, bake sales and garage sales, over about a week to benefit the American Red Cross’ relief fund. The project by Team Kids LemonAID Japan project, based in Irvine, concluded Sunday with groups giving their funds at a stand at the Orange County Great Park’s Farmers Market.

The Japan project is the most lucrative so far for Team Kids, which began about six years ago as a way for children to raise funds. The previous record was $11,700, said Julie Hudash, founder and chief executive officer. The group’s reach is extending beyond Orange County with Japan fundraisers in Hawaii, Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area.

Locally, the Dupuy family and friends have raised money since the group’s start. On Sunday, they submitted $1,515. But the family plans to save up more money at home for donations after deciding to stop spending money for half the month, said mother Sue Dupuy of Irvine.

The family is paying basic bills, but members are avoiding grocery trips in favor of food stocked up at home. The family ran out of milk, so the four children ate cereal with water, Dupuy said.

“We think it’s good to help others,” said Jenna Dupuy, 8, about the lemonade stand. “If we had the bad earthquake, we would want the help, too.”

Nagao, who moved to Orange County from Japan nine years ago, said she wasn’t sure how to help out shortly after the March 10 disaster. A fellow parent at Alderwood school invited Japanese American families to join a lemonade stand. The school also organized a Jammies for Japan event, having parents and children pay $1 to wear pajamas to class.

“I still want to do something for my country,” Nagao said. “I realize now I can do anything, even here.”

Contact the writer: 714-704-3793 or stully@ocregister.com