Calgary youth slings lemonade to raise money for Autism Asperger's Friendship Society
Inflation does not appear to exist at Dane's Lemonade Stand.
"No, it does not," Dane Benesh said.
Monday, in Copperfield, a tall glass of his lemonade cost the same $1 it did when he started in 2018.
He was eight years old then.
He's 13 now.
In that time, Benesh has raised $7,575.30 for the Autism Asperger's Friendship Society (AAFS) -- about $88 that first year, and just over $3,000 last year.
Originally, he'd intended to use the lemonade stand to buy his mom a house.
But, you know, inflation. Helping out AAFS is just a more attainable goal.
"He chose the Autism Asperger's Friendship Society here in Calgary," said mom Maria Petersen.
"The programming they do for our youth in the community with autism is amazing.
"What better way to give back than a place that we utilize? We love them."
Petersen noted AAFS's garage, earn-a-bike, LEGO, lacrosse and crafts programming as some that her son's been involved in and benefitted from.
"I have autism and ADHD, so I want to support them. ... I give them the money every year," Benesh said.
Despite cooler weather and rain on Monday, he was true to his word.
He always is.
He said it does not matter what the weather does, he will still be out there, slinging refreshments.
"Sometimes, we're in the cold. Sometimes, we're in the rain. Muddy. It doesn't matter for us -- we're always going to be out," he said.
It's enough to make a mother beam.
"I'm just a proud mom," Petersen said.
"He comes out and he gives it his all each time that we're at events."
Petersen noted the lemonade stand has also helped her son grow.
Through the endeavour, she said, Benesh has learned how to count, and now, how to budget, as well as social and organizational skills.
"This opportunity has given him priceless life skills that he was strongly struggling with," she said.
Benesh received the 2021 Youth Philanthropist Award in Calgary.
His goal is to run the lemonade stand until he's 16.
He also accepts e-transfer donations online, at daneslemonadestand@hotmail.com.
With files from Tyler Barrow
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bloc MPs will vote confidence in Liberal government next week: Blanchet
The Conservatives' first shot at toppling the Liberal government is likely doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government.
RCMP feared they didn't have enough evidence to hold terror suspect sought by U.S.
Court documents filed in the case of a Pakistani man arrested in Quebec for an alleged plot to kill Jews in New York City reveal the RCMP didn't have enough evidence to hold him in Canada.
Should I get my flu shot at the same time I get my COVID-19 vaccine? Here's what one expert
With all these shots, some Canadians may have questions about the benefit of each vaccine, whether they should get every shot and how often to get them, and if it's safe to get them all at once or if they should space them out.
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack
A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge.
'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga
Video of a brazen daylight auto theft which shows a suspect running over a victim in a stolen luxury SUV has been released by police west of Toronto.
DEVELOPING Exploding electronic devices kill 14, wound 450 in second day of explosions in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that at least 14 people were killed and 450 others wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country. The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000. Here are the latest updates.
Royal Canadian Mint's new toonie commemorates 100th anniversary of Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Mint unveiled in Winnipeg a new toonie, which began circulating Wednesday, highlighting the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Federal government to further limit number of international students
The federal government will be further limiting the number of international students permitted to enter Canada next year. It’s the government’s latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians' ongoing housing and affordability concerns.
What to know about the deadly electronic explosions targeting Hezbollah
Just one day after pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded, more electronic devices detonated in Lebanon Wednesday in what appeared to be a second wave of sophisticated, deadly attacks that targeted an extraordinary number of people. Here's what we know so far.