The two ran a lemonade stand on Sept. 11 and had such a good response from Winthrop
folks they decided to donate part of the profits to the university. The pair stopped by on Friday to hand-deliver their donation to President Dan Mahony.
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - A Sunday afternoon lemonade stand turned into a sweet
deal for Winthrop University, thanks to two generous local fourth graders.
Nathan Hamel, son of Macfeat Early Childhood Laboratory School Director Erin Hamel, and his friend Guy Echols, both students at Richmond Drive Elementary School, did what many young people do
on hot days: set up a lemonade stand. The difference? Instead of pocketing the proceeds,
the boys have decided to donate 30 percent of their profits to the Winthrop Foundation
to benefit Macfeat.
"We just wanted to give back," said Hamel, with Echols nodding in agreement.
The two friends arrived at Winthrop on Friday, Sept. 16, to personally deliver their
donation. They were greeted by several development staff members and President Dan Mahony, who shook their hands and accepted their donation.
"Nathan and Guy show the true spirit of philanthropy," said Chrissy Catoe '02, '04, associate director of development. "They are all you could ever ask for in a donor, and to be so young and already
willing to help others, is priceless. We wanted to celebrate them and show our appreciation
of their gift."
The boys were given Winthrop pennants and an eagle pin, which Mahony pointed out matched
his own eagle pin.
Erin Hamel said the response to the boys' lemonade stand impressed her and made her
grateful for the sense of community at Winthrop. That's because within an hour of
opening for business, the stand had at least 25 customers, several of whom had Winthrop
connections:
*Winthrop Baseball's Nate Pawelcyzk, pitcher, pulled up for some lemonade and popcorn and invited the boys to the baseball
games. (Nate Hamel rarely misses a game.)
*Former Winthrop students couldn't resist stopping by for a treat and some catch-up
time with Hamel.
*E.J. Murdock, husband of Associate Professor Diana Murdock, pulled over with his
daughter and delightedly accepted their goodies through the car window.
*Winthrop Close-Up staff stopped for an interview.
"The fact that all of these people, current students, alumni and professors would
take the time to buy a simple cup of lemonade from a couple of very grateful children
speaks to the sense of caring and connectedness we have at Winthrop," Erin Hamel said.
Inspired by the boys' willingness to give? Consider your own gift to Winthrop: /advancement/make-a-gift.aspx.
For more information, contact Nicole Chisari, communications coordinator, at 803/323-2236 or chisarin@winthrop.edu.
