Five Below presents $345,000 check to cancer nonprofit

PHILADELPHIA — Customers and employees of extreme value retailer Five Below have raised nearly $345,000 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer for all children.

The bulk of Five Below’s donation is the result of the company’s three-week-long lemon pinup campaign, during which all 250 Five Below locations across 18 states sold lemon-shaped pinups to customers for $1, which were then signed and displayed on a wall at all stores. The donation also includes the proceeds of Five Below’s limited-edition, lemon-scented Fresh Paint nail polish sales and employee fundraisers held at Five Below’s corporate headquarters and distribution centers.

“Once again our customers have shown that Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and its mission to find a cure for all pediatric cancers are close to their hearts,” said David Schlessinger, co-founder of Five Below.

“In just two years, Five Below has raised more than $500,000 to support this cause. We couldn’t be prouder, or more eager for next year’s fundraiser,” added Tom Vellios, CEO and co-founder of Five Below.

A group of childhood cancer survivors presented the check for $344,786.39 on the retailer’s behalf at the 8th Annual Great Chefs Event, a yearly fundraiser benefitting ALSF and the Vetri Foundation for Children. ALSF executive director Jay Scott and co-executive director Liz Scott, and mother of foundation creator Alexandra “Alex” Scott, received the check.

Five Below has been a partner of ALSF since 2005 and has raised more than $700,000 for the organization.