A modern-day lemonade stand 

• PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER
• GOING PLACES : Log onto young Emily Flachman’s website, Kids4kures.org, to purchase greeting cards or to otherwise fund cancer relief (check back if the website isn’t up; it was under construction at press time). Her cards soon will be available in local stores and possibly at SLO Farmers Market.

What began as a fifth-grader’s “Community Action Project” assigned by her teacher has become a full-fledged community enterprise in San Luis Obispo. Ten-year-old Emily Flachman has her own business cards, tax ID number, business license, and even an attorney for her soon-to-be nonprofit organization she aptly named Kids 4 Kures. “I can sign checks too!” the bubbly towhead exclaimed.

C.E.O. (which stands for Creative Enthusiastic Organizer) Emily’s project began only nine weeks ago at Teach Elementary School in SLO. And her progress is no wonder: Enthusiastic is exactly what Emily is; she’s a natural when she encourages kids, and everyone else, to aid in the fight against cancer.

In addition to arranging her own post office box and applying for a fictitious business name the same day, Emily presented her idea to fellow students and her teacher at school at an open house.

Her presentation included a professional-quality poster board covered in details: photos of getting her business license, opening her checking account at Founders Community Bank on Marsh in SLO, (president Reese Davies donated $100 to Emily’s charity, matching the $100 Emily provided from her savings), and samples of what she will be selling to raise the funds— greeting cards.

She was amazed and happy that her efforts that started with merely a school project are “becoming something big and doing all of the stuff for it to become a real business.”

“I wanted to help the community, and raise money for cancer charities, to help cure cancer,” Emily explained. Some friends and family of Emily’s have been diagnosed with cancer, so that was a reason in itself. Her grandmother Nancy was her inspiration for Kids 4 Kures.

“Emily wants some of the money to impact the local community but also to get it some national recognition so the money could go toward local programs and research, so we met with the American Cancer Society, and plan on talking to St. Jude’s and City of Hope,” her father Joe Flachman said. “ACS was pretty floored and amazed when they saw Emily’s presentation.”

Emily’s school project blossomed to a nonprofit business because of community reaction. Printers donated the business cards and artist Peaches Olson’s illustrations were donated, as was the website design.

The greeting cards, with their whimsical 
designs, come in a box of 12 (including envelopes and a bookmark), cost $20, and are good for any occasion, as they are blank on the inside.

Olson herself is a cancer survivor. Art classes taught by cancer survivors are in the works.

Emily will be a guest speaker at Hearst Castle for a Hearst Cancer Resource Center event on April 4. Information or tickets: 542-6234 or 542-6496, or supportfrenchhospital.org.

Emily is as normal as any other kid, participating in gymnastics and hanging out with friends. What sets her apart, what propels her cause, is summed up by the entrepreneur herself: “I’m a 10 year-old kid with a really big dream.”

Fast facts

If you love your pets, tag them.  The American Humane Association has designated April 4 to commence “Every Day is Tag Day,” a drive to make sure all pets have identification.  Lemos Feed & Pet Supply stores in Atascadero, Morro Bay, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, and SLO are offering discounts on personalized tags, as is Tails at 745 Higuera in SLO. A million dogs and half a million cats are taken into U.S. animal shelters annually but only 15 percent are reunited with their owners. To volunteer or to obtain tags contact 489-0689 or e-mail [email protected] …
 
Cherokee Purple, First Light Hybrid, Golden Nugget, and Red Zebra are among the dozens of tomato varieties that will be on sale April 10 and 11 at Poly Plant Shop as part of the annual Cal Poly Tomato Mania. The event will present hundreds of plants specially cultivated by Cal Poly environmental horticulture science students to bring out each strain’s natural flavor. The tomato plant sale will continue through April while supplies last. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and is located on Via Carta, across from the horse unit, on the Cal Poly campus. For more information, including a catalog of the tomatoes, visit polyplantshop.com or call 756-1106 …

The 1st Annual Einhorn Starkbierfest takes place April 3-5 with German food, music, and the long-awaited release of “Unikator Doppelbock.” Starkbierfest is a 400-year-old German tradition happening at Creekside Brewing, 1040 Broad St. in SLO. It’s free. Info and RSVP: 542-9804 or einhornbeer.com.

Calendar Editor Christy Heron compiled Strokes&Plugs this week. Send your business news to [email protected].