Palatine American Legion To Help Family Of Teen Killed In Crash

PALATINE, IL — Palatine American Legion Post 690 is joining pop-up lemonade stands around Mount Prospect this weekend to raise money for the family of a 16-year-old John Hersey High School student who was killed in a car crash July 21 in Wheeling. Alyssa Lendino, of Mount Prospect, died after a speeding car hit her family's stopped SUV, sending it into the intersection, where it was struck by another car.

Alyssa's dad and her 12-year-old sister, Amanda, were seriously injured in the accident at Milwaukee Avenue and Hintz Road. Adam Grunin, 30, of the 500 block of Manda Lane, Wheeling, was charged with reckless homicide in the crash. He was allegedly going 107 mph when his 2014 Hyundai Sonata hit the Lendinos' vehicle, according to Wheeling police.

Organizer Julie Bohannon said the "Lemonade for Lendinos" fundraiser was a way "to help Amanda and her family to get through their recovery." All the money raised by the 12 stands this weekend will go directly to the Lendinos, Bohannon wrote in a Facebook post.

RELATED: Driver Fleeing At 107 MPH In Crash That Killed Hersey Student: Cops

"The community outpouring and support has been amazing," she said. "Everyone was looking for a way to help. We brainstormed and came up with the idea for multiple lemonade stands all over town the weekend of August 4th."

Along with helping to come up with the lemonade stand idea, Bohannon has supplied fliers for the participating stands. Plus, the person or group who raises the most money Saturday, Aug. 4, and Sunday, Aug. 5, will receive $50 in gift cards from AMC Theatres, she said.

Palatine's American Legion post, 122 Palatine Road, will sell "adult lemonades" (vodka lemonade) for $4 through Sunday, with $1 of each sale going to the family. A donation jar for the family also will be set out.

This isn't the only fundraiser that has been held for the family. A GoFundMe page with a goal of $5,000 was created soon after the accident. In 11 days, the campaign has raised more than $54,000.

The following locations will be participating in Lemonade for Lendinos. In some cases, businesses are offering their own fundraising contributions. The stands are in Mount Prospect unless otherwise noted.

• St. Emily Church, 1400 E. Central Road: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
• Woodland Trails Pool, 1500 E. Euclid Ave.: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
• Rob Roy Golf Course, 505 E. Camp McDonald Road: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
• Eric Avenue and Cardinal Lane: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
• 419 N. Willie St.: 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
• Mount Prospect Lions Club Bluesmobile Cruise Night, east commuter lot at Northwest Highway and Emerson Street: 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
• Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market, east commuter lot, Northwest Highway and Emerson Street: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
• 1002 N. Burning Bush Lane: 10 a.m. to noon Sunday.
• VIP Apartments pool, 850 Mark Lane, Wheeling: all day Saturday and Sunday.
• Capannari Ice Cream, 10 S. Pine St.: 10 percent of limoncello sorbet sales Saturday will be donated to the family.
• Mrs. P and Me, 100 E. Prospect Ave.: If "Lemonade for Lendinos" is mentioned by customers Saturday and Sunday, a portion of their bills will be donated to the family.

Email Bohannon at lemonade4lendinos@yahoo.com for more information about Lemonade for Lendinos and donating to the family. Donations also can be made at the GoFundMe page set up for the family.

Alyssa Lendino, 16 (Photo via GoFundMe)