lemmyawards2025 Archives - Lomita Chamber of Commerce

October 7, 2025

A Winning Tradition: Lomita’s Pilar Gravitte Continues the City’s National Lemonade Day Success

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Lomita, CA (October 7, 2025) — The Lomita Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Pilar Gravitte, Lomita’s 2025 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year and founder of Little Lemon, has been named the 2025 National Lemonade Day Youth Entrepreneur of the Year!

The announcement came during the Lemonade Day National City Directors Conference, where Lemonade Day National CEO Elizabeth Ramasamy praised Pilar for her “grit, tenacity, and fire in her belly.” Ramasamy highlighted Pilar’s entrepreneurial instincts — especially her adeptness in forging a stand partnership with South Bay Credit Union — calling her “a thoughtful, inspiring young dealmaker.” She also spotlighted Lomita’s outstanding legacy, noting this is the third National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year to emerge from the Lomita Chamber’s program, and gave recognition to Heidi Butzine and the local team for their dedication in delivering Lemonade Day in Lomita.

Over four years of participation in Lemonade Day, Pilar has grown from a shy newcomer to a confident young entrepreneur. In 2025, she achieved her strongest results yet: $1,830 in revenue and $1,600 in profit. She repaid her investor, purchased a long-desired iPad, saved $900 in her own account, and donated to Erik’s Way and a golden retriever rescue.

Pilar’s tropical-themed stand at South Bay Credit Union featured pineapple and mango lemonade (with chamoy rims), sugar-free options, and infused waters. She also ran a promotional collaboration with the credit union: new account holders received free lemonade and a reusable cup. “I love working with South Bay Credit Union because they support young business owners like me,” Pilar shared during her acceptance remarks.

“This recognition is a testament to Pilar’s entrepreneurial spirit and generous heart,” said Heidi Butzine, President & CEO of the Lomita Chamber of Commerce and City Director for Lemonade Day Lomita. “As the licensed organizer of Lemonade Day in Lomita, the Chamber is hands-on—coordinating registration, parent outreach, Lemon U workshops, mentorship, and the Lemmy Awards. In partnership with the City of Lomita and our sponsors, we provide youth a real platform to learn business skills, build confidence, and make community impact. Pilar’s national success is a proud moment for our community.”

A Winning Tradition in Lomita

Lomita’s legacy in national youth entrepreneurship continues to grow. In 2021, Brianna Garcia became the city’s first National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2022, Pearl Hope earned First Runner-Up, then went on to capture the National Title in 2024. Now, with Pilar Gravitte bringing home the 2025 National Title, Lomita celebrates yet another milestone in its proud tradition of elevating young entrepreneurs through the Lomita Chamber’s award-winning Lemonade Day program—a powerful affirmation of the program’s lasting impact and strength.

We also celebrated outstanding youth across multiple categories at our 2025 Lemmy Awards, recognizing creativity, business performance, marketing, and community impact. Meet all of our Lemmy Award Winners.

About Lemonade Day Lomita

Lemonade Day Lomita is organized and licensed by the Lomita Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Lomita, and supported by sponsors like South Bay Credit Union. The program teaches youth the fundamentals of launching a small business — from goal setting and planning to financial literacy and community giving. Thanks to the commitment of the Chamber and community partners, Lomita is now one of the most nationally awarded Lemonade Day cities in the country.

For more on how to support Lemonade Day Lomita, visit LemonadeDay.org/Lomita or contact the Lomita Chamber at hi@lomitachamber.org.

August 25, 2025

Celebrating Our Young Entrepreneurs: Recap Of The 2025 Lemmy Awards

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On August 23rd, the Lomita Chamber of Commerce gathered at Lomita Park for a heartwarming celebration — the 2025 Lemmy Awards! This annual event spotlights the talented young entrepreneurs who took part in Lemonade Day, honoring their creativity, hard work, and community-minded spirit. Winners were chosen based on the business results they submitted to the Chamber. Each participant was honored with multiple Certificates of Recognition presented on behalf of our local, State and regional elected officials.

Celebrating This Year’s Achievements
This year, 35 young entrepreneurs operating 24 official lemonade stands showcased their business skills, with 20 stands reporting results. Together they generated $14,316, saved $4,297, and generously gave back $3,509 to their chosen nonprofits and charities.

2025’s Lemmy Awards was an amazing year! Standout moments included:

Best Lemonade Stand: Sweet Sisters Lemonade
Bringing home this honor for the second year in a row, Alexandra and Aubrie won the photo entry contest again for an eye-catching theme, clear signage, and a well-organized setup that showcased their products beautifully, their stand drew customers in with ease.

Highest Grossing Sales: Little Lemon a stand that combined creativity, flavor, and smart marketing to achieve outstanding results. With fresh squeezed classics, tropical mango pineapple lemonade, chamoy rims, and infused waters, their Hawaiian-themed stand was a hit at South Bay Credit Union’s Member Appreciation Day. They brought in an incredible $1,830 in revenue, making them our top seller of the year.

Most Philanthropic: The Lemon Ninjas a stand that showed incredible generosity and heart. With total revenue of $1,714, they chose to give away $800 — nearly half of their earnings — to Community’s Child, supporting families in need right here in our community. What makes this even more special is that this is the second year in a row they’ve been recognized for their commitment to giving back.

Most Creative Marketing: My Hero Lemonade Each flavor matched a character’s powers — from mango and pineapple lemonade to prickly pear
lemon-limeade and cucumber mint jalapeño. They didn’t stop there: customers could add power-ups like tajin, popping boba, and pop rocks, or even grab a Hero Fuel bento box filled with Japanese and Mexican candies.

Most Innovative Twist or Theme : LemonCraft They offered a menu full of unique twists, from Dragonfruit Lemonade and Blueberry-Blackberry Lemonade to a one-of-a-kind ‘Steve’s Lava Chicken-ade,’ complete with a chicken-shaped lollipop and even a song with each cup. They also introduced lemonade flights, giving customers a chance to try every flavor. Their creativity didn’t stop at the drinks — they built their theme into every detail, making their stand a fun and immersive experience.

Best First-Time Entrepreneur: Mimi’s Sweet Lemons! This stand impressed customers with both unique flavors like their signature Coconut Lavender Mint and popular classics like Strawberry and Lavender. They even added a fun twist by offering sparkling or flat lemonade, along with chips, charms, and accessories.

Mayor’s Award: Life of Lemonade Their stand was set up at the Lomita Library and offered a refreshing menu featuring Classic Lemonade,Strawberry Lemonade, Hibiscus Lemonade, and Butterfly Pea Tea Lemonade. They took care to make homemade syrups, shared their stand through flyers and social media, and sold out of every cup they made.

Golden Cup Award Drawing: Jane Lau This winner and entrepreneur supporter made it to every stand that’s some serious Lemonade Day spirit! To recognize the dedication and support these community champions gave to our young entrepreneurs.

BREAKING NEWS!

Lomita has done it again! We’re proud to share that Pilar Gravitte, one of this year’s Lemonade Day Lomita entrepreneurs, has been named the 2025 National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year — marking Lomita’s third national title since 2021. It’s an incredible achievement that highlights the creativity, dedication, and community spirit of our young entrepreneurs.

READ THE FULL STORY

2025 Lomita Youth Entrepreneur of the Year

Youth Entrepreneur of the Year : Little Lemon This year’s Youth Entrepreneur of the Year has gone above and beyond what it means to be an entrepreneur. They combined creativity, planning, marketing, and community impact into one outstanding venture.Their stand transformed into a Hawaiian paradise — complete with flower garlands, music, and unique flavors like mango pineapple, chamoy rim lemonade, sugar-free options, and infused waters. They promoted their business with raffles, social media, and even built a partnership with their location that brought in new customers and created lasting community connections.

Congratulations to all of this year’s Lemonade Day winners — and to every young entrepreneur who brought their creativity, teamwork, and determination to life. You’ve made this a year to remember!

A heartfelt thank you to our presenters, sponsors, volunteers, and families — and to our partners at the City of Lomita — for helping make Lemonade Day possible. Your support and enthusiasm power this program year after year.

Thank You to Our Sponsors & Partners

Lemonade Day Lomita wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our community. Special thanks to our 2025 sponsors who supported every step — from registration to the big day to the Lemmy Awards:

Giggles & Grace Pediatric Dentistry • State Farm Agent Tabitha Pennington • Ambassador Christian Academy • Friends of Lomita Library • Thompson Building Materials • Burnin Daylight Brewing Co. • Lomita Feed Store • Jane Lau Realtor • Ever’s Fantastic Café • Papa John’s • WSS Lomita • M&A Management • Crystal Workspaces • Agustin’s Exotic Birds & Reptiles • Coastal Funeral Center • Athens Services • Skin Topic Skincare • Lomita Harbor City Kiwanis • CalWater • City of Lomita • South Bay Credit Union • Grocery Outlet • Lomita Mail & Print • The Promotions Dept • Macaroni Kid Torrance

Thank you for helping make this year’s Lemonade Day unforgettable!

We also extend our gratitude to our local and regional elected officials for celebrating our young entrepreneurs with Certificates of Recognition, including LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Assessor Jeffrey Prang, LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, Senator Ben Allen, and the City of Lomita Mayor Mark Waronek and City Council.

Your recognition reminds every participant that our community believes in their potential. 🍋

Lemonade Day Lomita, organized by the Lomita Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Lomita, South Bay Credit Union, and community sponsors, empowers youth to experience what it’s like to run a business — from securing permits and microloans to creating their own lemonade recipes, marketing their stands, and managing profits. With encouragement from their families and the community, these young entrepreneurs gain confidence, financial literacy, and real-world experience.

We’re so proud of all our participants and can’t wait to see where their entrepreneurial journeys take them next.
Save the date for next year: July 18, 2026!

Learn more or get involved at LemonadeDay.org/Lomita.

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lemmyawards2025

A Winning Tradition: Lomita’s Pilar Gravitte Continues the City’s National Lemonade Day Success

Celebrating Our Young Entrepreneurs: Recap Of The 2025 Lemmy Awards

BREAKING NEWS!

Thank You Chamber Partners & Sustaining Members