Mercury Insurance and Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Turn a Toyota into Cash for Pediatric Cancer Research

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2013) – Mercury Insurance and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) recently partnered to auction a 2013 Toyota Sienna for $13,200, with all proceeds going to the Foundation, which is dedicated to finding cures for kids with cancer.  The new Toyota, donated by Mercury, was available to hundreds online and a packed house of live bidders at an Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA) branch in Anaheim, Calif.

Back in 2000, four-year-old cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott began selling lemonade in her Manchester, Conn. front yard to raise funds to find a cure for children with cancer.  Thirteen years later, Alex’s good deed has blossomed into a nationwide charity that has raised more than $60 million via various fundraisers.

Monday’s event was coordinated by IAA, which auctions vehicles live in six languages at 160 sites throughout North America and on the internet to buyers in more than 110 countries.

“I was shocked to learn only three percent of cancer research dollars goes to pediatric research.  Those are lousy odds for parents of children with cancer. It’s up to us to raise awareness,” said Debbie Zdrazil, mother of Corey, an ALSF Hero. “Selling lemonade or having Mercury donate a car is a wonderful way to support pediatric cancer research.  We know the importance of giving back and being a supporter of other kids going through this.”

Mercury Insurance, a Southern California-based company supplying personal automobile and homeowners insurance in 13 states, has been participating in local and regional charities for more than five decades.  Monday’s event is the second consecutive year Mercury has provided a vehicle for auction on behalf of ALSF.

“Mercury strives to play a significant, ongoing role in the community and to assist our local citizens in need,” said Doug Menges, Mercury’s chief claims officer. “We’re proud to lend support to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, an amazing organization focused on eradicating childhood cancer, which annually kills more innocent children than any disease in the U.S.”

To donate a vehicle like Mercury Insurance did, go to AlexsLemonade.org/auto-donations or call (855) CAR-ALSF.  Your truck, car, van snowmobile, personal watercraft, farm and construction equipment will be auctioned by the IAA with proceeds going to ALSF. 

About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (www.alexslemonade.org)

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $60 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 300 pediatric cancer research projects nationally.

About Mercury Insurance (www.mercuryinsurance.com)

Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization predominantly offering personal automobile and homeowners insurance through a network of independent agents and brokers in Texas, Oklahoma, California, Florida, New Jersey, Arizona, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania.  Since 1962, Mercury has specialized in offering quality insurance at affordable prices – core values that distinguish Mercury in the marketplace.