MARBLEHEAD – A community-led initiative by Marblehead’s Dave Aldrich will provide ongoing financial and emotional support to families who lost loved ones in the devastating floods in Texas this summer.
A severe flash flood at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp in Texas, resulted in a tragic loss of life on July 4. The flood, caused by intense rainfall in the Texas Hill Country, overwhelmed the camp, which is located along the Guadalupe River. At least 27 campers and counselors, including the camp owner, died.
“Just imagine thinking you’re sending your daughter off for the magical experience of overnight summer camp, and your daughter never comes home again,” Aldrich said. “After running a girls’ summer institute since 2009, this tragedy really touched my heart.”
That heartbreak became the catalyst for Lemonade Stands during Swampscott’s Porch Fest ’25, where kids will run lemonade stands at designated homes across Marblehead, Swampscott, and Nahant on Saturday, Sept. 20. The event honors the 27 girls who perished and supports the Heaven’s 27 Fund, managed by the San Antonio Community Foundation.
Under the program, every six months funds are distributed into donor-advised accounts for each of the 26 families (one family lost twins). Parents then decide how best to use the money in ways that honor their daughters’ legacies. “It’s an incredible model of giving,” Aldrich said. “It protects the integrity of the fundraising and the legacies of the girls.”
The idea has already drawn powerful community support. At the Marblehead Farmers Market, Aldrich shared his plans with customers. “Everyone I spoke to was incredibly supportive. I told them this isn’t about me – It’s about these girls,” he said.
The lemonade stands will be fully operated by kids, who will set up their tables and signs. Aldrich’s nonprofit, Grab the Torch, will provide the recipe, cups, and ingredients. “The mission is kids helping kids,” he said. “100% of sales will go to the families of the girls lost in the flood.”
He said that one girls who passed away’s father has deep ties to the North Shore. He visited the North Shore as recently as fall 2024 enjoying the beauty of Swampscott, Nahant, and Marblehead. His grandmother spent her summers in Marblehead and her uncle the Boston Globe writer Lucien Price spent his summers in Swampscott and Nahant authoring various books
Aldrich, having run a leadership and ethics program for girls for over a decade, he recalls telling parents that his top priority was ensuring their daughters’ safety.
“When I read about these girls, it really resonated with me,” he said. “Camp should be about joy, independence, and life-changing experiences, not tragedy. It broke my heart.”
The fundraiser is also dedicated to Aldrich’s longtime friend, Alan G. Hassenfeld of Hasbro, who recently passed away.
“Alan always put kids first,” Aldrich said. “He believed there was never a better time than the present to change the life of a child. Honoring him through this event feels right.”
Local families have joined the effort. The Brison and Bova families, representing three generations of givers, will host a porch stand. Aldrich proudly notes that even the youngest family members have “already grabbed the torch for the greater good.”
“The community’s response has been incredible,” Aldrich said. “We’re on to something big, and we’re on to something good.”
He said that the Jewish Community Center’s generosity allows Grab The Bagel to continue giving back.
For more information on the girls and the Heaven’s 27 Fund, visit saafdn.org/heavens-27-fund. All donations are tax deductible, and 100% go directly to the families.
