Meet Bailey Kinney | Lemonade Day Houston Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bailey Kinney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bailey, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Lemonade Day is a 17-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to teaching children important business and financial skills that are the critical ingredients of entrepreneurship. By learning these skills early in life, children are better prepared to be successful, financially healthy adults.
Through the fun, free, hands-on Lemonade Day program, K-8 are empowered to start, own, and operate their own business, a lemonade stand! Lemonade Day participants keep the money they earn after paying back their investors and are encouraged to spend some, save some, and share some of their profit with a cause that matters to them. Our comprehensive curriculum integrates STEM + SEL + life skills, character development, financial and business literacy, career exploration, and mentorship. By fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, we unlock creativity, explode self-confidence, and develop critical thinking when it matters most— leaving a lasting legacy on youth, their families, and communities throughout Houston and beyond.

The need for programs promoting youth entrepreneurship in Houston cannot be overstated. Research shows that for every state that experiences a 1% increase in entrepreneurship, they see a 2% drop in the poverty rate. Youth entrepreneurship programming fills a void in the school education system by intentionally developing skills in financial literacy and career readiness, as well as areas of positive influence such as personal responsibility, perseverance, communication skills, and self-esteem. Early entrepreneurship education has shown to increase motivation to work harder in school, offer a positive way to channel talents, gain financial independence, and provide a sense of meaning and belonging.

Because the Lemonade Day program began here, the greater Houston metro area needs to always shine brightly as a leader in rallying participants and sponsors, all while serving as the R&D lab for the national organization. Our primary objective is to help youth become the business leaders, social advocates, community volunteers, and forward-thinking citizens of tomorrow. We are dedicated to delivering on our mission of preparing youth for life through fun, proactive, and experiential programs.

Each year, Lemonade Day leaders, sponsors, and community partners encourage parents, teachers, family members, friends, and neighbors to register individuals and groups of children to participate in this impactful program. In 2024, the organization aims to engage 30,000 kids across Greater Houston through this fun and beneficial experience.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

Before joining Lemonade Day in 2021, my nonprofit career experiences consisted of serving as the Interim Executive Director and Development Director for the Nature Discovery Center, as well as working in development at the Contemporary Arts Museum and Rice University. However, over 17 years of my career were spent in the educational and child development field. As a Representative and Sales Manager with Dallas-based Diverse Marketing, I worked with children’s stores nationwide. I then took a leap of faith and purchased, owned, and operated a specialty educational toy store, Toys to Love, for eight years. Owning a children’s toy store helped fulfill my passion for entrepreneurship. I will always treasure the leadership skills and relationships formed through that experience. The store thrives today, and I am proud of how it has evolved under new ownership. The combination of my past business and nonprofit experiences has led me to this point to serve others through our proven life-changing entrepreneurial program.

Of course, there have been challenges and life lessons along the way. The most recent one, shared among the nation’s professionals, was building the Lemonade Day program during and after the pandemic. Our staff worked long hours for two years to relaunch the curriculum in person, all to be shut down repeatedly. It was challenging in 2022 when the country thought we were through the most difficult part, and we experienced a winter surge of COVID-19 that affected youth organizations and schools from allowing outside programs, such as Lemonade Day.

But all in all, these trials prepared us to implement a successful 2023 program by serving at the rate matching our pre-COVID state and tripling our engagement outreach, all while retaining old and attracting new schools and youth organizations. Our team also rolled out a direct-to-consumer strategy through our technology solution, piloted a new faith-based curriculum, and retained legacy donors while cultivating new relationships.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I appreciate the outdoors, art, shopping, and sports, and if given the chance to share these passions with someone, I would plan a broad and exciting Houston experience. We would start each day with exercise through the newly renovated Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum, and the Nature Discovery Center.

I would take them to view the art of the Menil Collection, surrounded by the nature of its adjoining park. Then, after browsing through stores in The Heights, City Centre, and the River Oaks District. We would eat lunch at Hop Dotty, La Colonial, Local Foods, and Escalante’s.

As the visit continues, an Astros or Texan game is a must, creating memories in the heart of Houston’s sports culture. For dinners, our exploration would take us to my top picks, such as the original Carrabba’s on Voss, the Brennan’s, El Patio, and Federal Grill.

Our city, containing a variety of possibilities, makes for the perfect destination for those who appreciate many hobbies and passions. But as a true Houstonian knows, our destinations are robust, but the friendliness and generosity of the people in our city make it what it is today!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As the Lemonade Day Houston Executive Director, my team is responsible for organizing, implementing, promoting, and raising money for the Lemonade Day youth entrepreneurship program. It is a privilege to work with partners and donors throughout the city to help our children grow and thrive in the world we live in today.
I want to give a huge shout-out to Lemonade Day Houston’s partners and sponsors. With their support, the Lemonade Day Houston program is possible. Leading supporters consist of Cadence Bank, Bank of Texas, H-E-B, TEDCU, Kiwanis Foundation of Houston, The Wayne Duddlesten Foundation, The Sterling Turner Foundation, The KKG Charitable Foundation of Houston, The Herzstein Foundation, The Baxter Trust, Gary Petersen Family Fund, AlliantGroup, Raising Cane’s, and our 15 member Lemon Council Advisory Board. Our partners reach over 300 throughout the city, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Great Houston, YMCA of Greater Houston, HISD, Aldine ISD, KIPP, Houston Parks and Recreation, WHAM, PAIR, and Spring Spirit. All sponsors and partners are on our website, lemonadeday.org/sponsor, and we are forever grateful for their support to help us prepare Houston’s youth for life! We always welcome support through time, talent, and treasure. Please get involved if you have a passion for entrepreneurship, financial literacy, or developmental skills and want to help the future of our children.

Thank you to Michael and Lisa Holthouse for creating Lemonade over 17 years ago; because of their intellect, grit, and expertise, Lemonade Day prepares youth for life in the most crucial way!

On a personal note, I would not be able to do my job without the support of my husband, my high school son, and my college-age daughter. They are always willing to help with events and understand our busy seasons when I need to work longer hours. Also, I am truly blessed by my parents and two brothers, who are my biggest cheerleaders and support Lemonade Day by helping with their time, talents, and treasure.

Website: lemonadeday.org/houston

Instagram: lemonadedayhouston

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bailey-kinney-687980146/

Facebook: lemonadedayhouston

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/lemonadeday