April 28, 2020
Addie Loerzel isn’t your average 8th-grade student. When she isn’t learning and doing homework, she is the queen of her own cupcake stand and a 2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Award state honoree.
Addie’s Royal Cupcake Stand
After discovering her dream would be granted from the Sunshine Foundation in the fall of 2013, she immediately wanted to pay it forward. That summer, Addie along with her friends and family started Addie’s Royal Cupcake Stand.
“Starting the cupcake stand brought me so much excitement. I wanted all kids to feel good and happy about something,” says Addie.
Marisa Loerzel, Addie’s mom and royal assistant, said the first summer of operation they raised $700 to donate, and this past summer they raised over $7,000. Through the money raised, Addie is able to give back to other kids.
Her favorite part of running the cupcake stand? “I love talking to people and seeing them enjoy the cupcakes,” Addie says.
Not only does she enjoy running the stand, but she also gets to participate in making dreams come true. One of her favorite memories was traveling to the Twin Cities to reveal wishes being granted. A fairy godmother tapped each kid on the top of their head with her wand. Addie loves being a part of these events, seeing kids happy and getting their wishes granted makes her happy too.
Prudential Spirit of Community Award
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service.
Addie was one of two state honorees this year. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out,” she says. “We were very excited and honored.”
In addition to the recognition, Addie will receive a $1,000 scholarship and she is able to donate $2,500 to her charity of choice, the Sunshine Foundation.
All of the honorees were scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C. for a trip that included recognition, learning and connecting with other state winners. That trip was canceled due to COVID-19, but Addie will still receive her scholarship virtually in early May. Horizon Middle School East Campus Principal Jeremy Larson was able to present Addie with her medallion while she was out delivering cupcakes to community members in mid-April.
Molly McKinnon, special education teacher at Horizon Middle School says, “Having Addie at Horizon has been a joy. She is a great friend, caring, and delightful to all students at Horizon. It has been a joy to get to know Addie more through this award and see all that she aspires to be.”
Giving back won’t stop in middle school for Addie. “When I am older, I would like to help kids with disabilities do the things they want to do,” she says. “My favorite thing is giving something to someone and making them happy. I like getting people to smile.”
Marisa says the support of the community has always been overwhelming. Not only does Addie have the support of dedicated friends who help bake and deliver her cupcakes, everyone across Moorhead supports her mission. “We are so lucky to live in Moorhead. Addie’s name is on the stand, but there are so many volunteers and people that help her out. It’s a community effort to help others out.”