This middle school entrepreneur’s sweet taste of success has been five years in the making.

Lemonade Day is a nonprofit that empowers students from kindergarten through eighth grade to learn entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Since 2016, Cadence Bank has been proudly supporting their journeys, with more than 150 bankers mentoring hundreds of children this year across our South and Texas footprint.

Cadence also congratulates the Lemonade Day Houston’s 2025 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, Victoria Zara. This Pearland middle schooler squeezed out the competition by selling unique drinks like Cucumber Basil and Strawberry-aide from her custom-made refrigerated ice chest, which she designed at just six years old.

"I love being part of Lemonade Day because I learn a lot from it. Also, from what I have learned in the past, I teach other little kids to become entrepreneurs and not to be afraid. If I did it at the age of 6, they can as well."

Victoria Zara, Lemonade Day Houston’s 2025 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year

Demonstrating true business acumen, Victoria donated 32% of her profits to Kids’ Meals, Inc. and to a charity in Mexico, saved 42%, and used the remainder to cover business expenses.

The Pearland middle schooler has been in business for five years and accepts special orders year-round. In fact, several Houston-area professional baseball players and coaches are rumored to have her on speed dial!

This article is provided as a free service to you and is for general informational purposes only. Cadence Bank makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content in the article. The article is not intended to provide legal, accounting or tax advice and should not be relied upon for such purposes.