MADISON – Four boys applied American enterprise with a lemonade stand to help their school, Mill Creek elementary.

Sage Spiers, from left, Ian Berry, Caleb Sparks and Andrew Davis sold lemonade to raise money for the Maverick Mile fundraiser at Mill Creek Elementary School. (CONTRIBUTED)

First-grader Ian Berry, second-grader Sage Spiers and third-graders Andrew Davis and Caleb Sparks operated the stand at Caleb’s house in Walden to benefit the Maverick Mile, Mill Creek’s annual fundraiser.

“Our students realized we were just shy of reaching our overall Maverick Mile fundraising goal,” principal Dr. Claudia Styles said. At last count, the student body had collected $37,274.56.

Two years ago, Caleb had set up a lemonade stand to raise funds for Swim for Melissa. “We knew the stand would make money,” his mother Pam Sparks said.

Pam thought Caleb might want to keep his profits. “Instead, he said, ‘They are taking Maverick Mile money through Monday. We can donate it to my school.'”

While Caleb gathered his friends on Oct. 19, Pam made the first batch of lemonade. “Just about everyone who passed our house stopped by,” she said. The boys sold all 50 cups at 50 cents each in about two hours.

“The FedEx delivery man even wrote a check to the school for $20,” Pam said. The boys collected $46 and divvied out their shares to give to their Mill Creek teachers on Oct. 21.

“I gave them tips about how to run a successful business,” Pam said. First, the boys made signs, and Pam posted the crew’s photographs on Facebook for marketing purposes.

“They used math to make change and kept their workplace neat and clean,” Pam said. Sanitizing their hands frequently, the boys didn’t snack near the product. “They took turns being supervisor. It was lots of fun … and exhausting.”

Proud parents are Stuart and Amy Berry, Corey and Shea Spiers, Chris and Leigh Anne Davis and Brad and Pamela Sparks.

Styles said the boys’ ingenuity demonstrates “a great example of working together to provide a service for the community while making money for the school. We’re so proud of our little entrepreneurs here at Mill Creek.”