Local News

Nine-Year-Old Lomita Girl Named National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year for 2021

Lemonade Day, a national nonprofit committed to preparing youth for life through a unique entrepreneurial and experiential program named  9 year-old  Brianna Garcia of Harbor City, California its National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year for 2021.

Quoting the organization’s founder, Michael Holthouse, Lemonade Day’s national CEO, Nicole Cassier-Mason, said, “Attributes of a successful entrepreneur correlate to those of being a successful, thriving human being.”

Cassier-Mason went on to say that Garcia embodied that mantra, and were delighted to recognize her accomplishments.

“Brianna set her business goal, made a plan, worked the Lemonade Day curriculum, and achieved her goals. She is an inspiring model of youth entrepreneurship – all in her very first attempt at owning and operating a business,” Cassier-Mason said. The result of Garcia’s efforts was the founding of Bri’s Frozen Lemonades

Through the process, Garcia learned to set goals, develop a business plan to seek a micro loan, create her lemonade products and other stand items, and market it to run a successful business. Brianna paid back her investor and shared $762.30 of her $1000 profit with Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro. She opened a savings account with the remaining profit and hopes to purchase her own phone and Knott’s Berry Farm season passes.

“I had so much fun doing this whole thing from designing and making my aprons with my mom, to designing and making my stand with my dad, and delivering my ‘share some’ donation to the Marine Mammal Care Center. It was all great,”  Briana said.

The Lomita chapter of Lemonade Day is also in its inaugural year. More than 100 children set up 37 stands in Lomita. Lemonade Day will celebrate National Entrepreneurship Month in November and National Entrepreneurship Day Nov. 16, 2021.

Lemonade Day is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching youth important business, financial, character-building and life skills that are the key ingredients of entrepreneurship. Playing a vital role in the education and workforce ecosystem, Lemonade Day is in 84 licensed markets in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, six U.S. military bases, and growing. Visit

lemonadeday.org.

Melina Paris

Melina Paris is a Southern California-based writer, who connects local community to ARTS & Culture, matters of Social Justice and the Environment. Melina is also producer and host of Angel City Culture Quest podcast, featured on RLN website and wherever you get your podcasts.

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