LIVERPOOL, New York — Ava Marie Musci set up her first folding table on a suburban Liverpool sidewalk when she was eight years old. Ten years later, that yellow curbside pitcher has poured $22,000 directly into paediatric cancer laboratories. The sustained effort funded 450 hours of specialized childhood cancer research through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
She never stopped pouring. What began as a child’s weekend reaction to cancer patients her own age evolved into an enduring municipal campaign across Central New York. Musci drew inspiration directly from the story of Alexandra Scott, the founder who launched the national movement from her front yard while fighting neuroblastoma. Musci adopted the same stripped-down model and stuck with it through middle school and high school.
Local institutions soon stepped in to shoulder the overhead. Retailers Wegmans, Costco, and Walmart began supplying cups, lemons, and storefront footprints, while deputies from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office showed up at the curb to drop cash into her collection jars. The grassroots drive transformed from a suburban front-lawn setup into a coordinated district effort.
What Ava built with her lemonade stand shows her strong leadership skills and ability to rally people together to make a difference and to push for a better future.
Sarah McIntosh, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
The figures reflect a relentless decade of neighbourhood micro-fundraising:
| Campaign Metric | Milestone Record |
|---|---|
| Total Funds Raised | $22,000 |
| Research Time Funded | 450 hours |
| Duration of Drive | 10 years (started at age 8) |
| Beneficiary Organization | Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation |
| Civic Honour | 2026 Best and Brightest Awards |
Ten years on the pavement altered her career path. Musci turned her focus toward public service, enrolling in the competitive BOCES New Visions Criminal Justice Program while playing varsity soccer, wrestling on the girls' team, marching in the school band, and working shifts as a youth soccer referee.
Honours arrived on November 5 at the Redhouse Arts Center in Syracuse. Organizers selected Musci as one of 20 regional seniors honoured at the 2026 Best and Brightest Awards, a distinction requiring a minimum 3.0 grade-point average alongside sustained civic leadership. With high school completion approaching for the Class of 2027 cohort, Musci is preparing for her next stop: the University at Albany, where she plans to enrol to study criminal justice and digital forensics.