Lemonade stand gets 14 corporate backers

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HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A girl in the Chicago suburbs said she has recruited 14 corporate sponsors for her lemonade stand, which raises money for a horse therapy facility.

Gabriella Cooperman, 12, of Highland Park said she started raising money for the Equestrian Connection seven years ago after her developmentally delayed sister, Danielle, 7, learned to walk and talk with the help of a therapy horse at the facility, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

"She started when she was 2 years old," Cooperman said. "I saw the incredible change in her abilities. I knew not everybody could afford the therapy."

Cooperman said her lemonade stand had five corporate backers last year and raised $6,000 for the Equestrian Connection.

The seventh grader said her sponsors for this year include ConAgra Mills, which donated 180 bags of flour for cookie-making, and Guittard Chocolate Co., which contributed 90 bags of chocolate chips.

She said the Chicago Bears have also pledged to give an autographed football to be auctioned for the charity.

"It makes me feel very wonderful inside," Cooperman said.