Alex Scott began her initiative with an honest conversation with her mother, Elizabeth Scott, while recovering in the hospital from cancer treatments. The then 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to set-up a lemonade stand to raise money to help her doctors find a cure for all childhood cancers. In July, Alex and her older brother Patrick set up their very first “Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer” in their front yard. With no expectations, that first stand raised $2,000 to fight pediatric cancer and kick started the initiative that would capture the hearts of a nation.

Alex and her lemonade stands first caught the attention of Volvo when she received an inaugural Volvo for life Award nomination. The awards program honors hometown heroes doing extraordinary things in their communities. At the nomination time, Alex had raised $45,000 for pediatric cancer-related research.

Alex’s determination and unwavering support for pediatric cancer research earned her a Volvo for life Award at the 2003 ceremony in New York City. Despite her deteriorating health, Alex continued to raise money through her stands. Following her inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands and other fundraising events began popping up around the country by children, schools, businesses and organizations, all to benefit what became Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF).

In 2004, Alex set a remarkable goal: call upon the nation to raise $1 million to fight pediatric cancer before the year's end. Sadly, Alex passed away Aug. 1 at the age of 8, having raised an amazing $700,000. Volvo made Alex a promise that we would help her raise the million dollars. Shortly after her passing, Volvo stepped in to help Alex reach her goal. Thousands of Volvo employees at dealerships nationwide put their sales skills to the test Oct. 9-11 — to sell lemonade for Alex. By the end of 2004, one little girl had made a world of difference, raising $1.5 million. Since then, Volvo has shown unwavering support of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, helping to keep the inspiration and legacy of Alex alive. In December, Volvo created the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award, a special Volvo for life Award given to an exceptional child hero. The butterfly acts as a symbol of Alex’s life and her fight to end cancer.

Suzie Tipton, a wheelchair bound girl, wins the inaugural Annual Butterfly Award for creating “Suzie’s Closet,” which loans equipment to children with disabilities from the Southern Appalachia area. Volvo retailers once again mobilized in October, this time for nine days, to support ALSF. Retailers held the 2nd Annual Volvo for life Days to help the foundation reach its $5 million goal.

Grace Farnan, who dedicated herself to the Hospice of the North Shore in South Hamilton, Mass., wins the 2nd Annual Butterfly Award.

Samita Mohanasundaram wins the 3rd Annual Butterfly Award. Her volunteering efforts range from collecting and donating thousands of books to impoverished children in India to organizing a card-signing drive for Florida’s hurricane-affected residents

Zach Bonner, winner of the 4th Annual Butterfly Award, has raised awareness, dollars and the spirits of thousands of homeless children. To date, ALSF has raised more than $18 million to fight childhood cancer. That money has gone to funding more than 50 research projects across the country.