PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — Most 5-year-olds dream about new toys or their next birthday. But when Caden Graham learned that some children don’t have a bed to sleep in, he asked his mother a question that changed everything: “Can I give them my bed?”
That heartfelt response inspired Caden and his mother, Carly Graham, to apply for Riley Construction’s Good Stand Project, an initiative that helps young people turn compassion into action. Out of more than 200 applicants from across Southeast Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, Caden was selected as the Racine/Kenosha recipient.
Now, Caden will host Caden’s Lemonade Stand on Aug. 8 and 9, raising money for Sleep in Heavenly Peace WI–Racine/Kenosha, a nonprofit organization that builds and delivers beds to children who don’t have one of their own.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 916 Creekside Circle in Pleasant Prairie. In addition to frozen lemonade slushies, visitors can purchase cookies, cake pops and other treats donated by Honey & Sprinkles, Four Hearts Bakery, and Sweet Joyful Moments, with proceeds also benefiting the cause.
Riley Construction built Caden a custom lemonade stand as part of its Good Stand Project and has pledged to match every dollar raised, up to $2,500. With community donations and the company match combined, Caden hopes to raise $5,000 to help provide beds for children in need.
Behind the project has been Caden’s mother, Carly Graham, who has worked tirelessly to promote the fundraiser and share her son’s story with the community. What began as a simple question from a kind-hearted little boy has grown into a community-wide effort involving local businesses, volunteers and donors, all united by the goal of ensuring more children have a safe, comfortable place to sleep.
According to Riley Construction, the company created the Good Stand Project to empower young people to support charitable causes that are meaningful to them. The company said it was overwhelmed by the response, receiving more than 200 applications before selecting recipients from communities across southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a volunteer-driven nonprofit whose mission is simple: No kid sleeps on the floor in our town. The organization builds and delivers beds, complete with mattresses and bedding, to children who would otherwise sleep on the floor or without a bed.
Community members who cannot attend the lemonade stand in person can still support Caden’s effort through the fundraiser’s Venmo account, with every dollar helping move the project closer to its $5,000 goal.
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